Hershey Park For The Whole Family – What To Know Before You Go

Hershey Park is a yearly tradition for many families living on the East Coast. After all, there is nothing better than massive amounts of candy and an amusement park. Multiple generations come together to visit each summer, as grandparents and parents share their favorite rides and moments with the kids. Visiting with a wide variety of age groups can get tricky, but if you divide and conquer, everyone will have a blast.

Start out slow

Hershey Park makes it easy to start out slow when you first enter. Hop on the carousel so the little ones can have some fun right off the bat. Listen to one of the wandering brass bands or acapella groups as your kids dance around. Ride the Helicopters, Dinosaur-Go-Round or Scrambler to get the adrenaline pumping before the older kids head out to the roller coasters. Once you pass the carousel it is easy for families to split up to tackle the rides that they are excited about and old enough to enjoy. Little ones can stick around Founders Way or head to the Boardwalk, while roller coaster lovers will want to head to Pioneer Frontier right away.

Roller coasters for beginners and pros

Hershey Park is known for its roller coasters and for good reason. There are coasters for tiny tots all the way up to daredevil adults. These coasters are made of wood, metal, and even flume down a shoot of water. For kids just getting started on roller coasters, head to the Trailblazer and the Comet. More adventurous roller coaster lovers can’t go wrong with Sidewinder and Fahrenheit. Just remember to check the height requirements so smaller kids aren’t disappointed when they get to the front of the line.

What to do with the kid who hates rides

Not every child is ready for rides, and some may never be. The easiest way to entertain these kids is to settle in at The Boardwalk while the rest of the family enjoys the rides. This waterpark has splash pads, sand castle waterslides, a mini-wave pool, lazy river, and bigger waterslides. It is a haven for sweaty families on a hot day, and the perfect spot to grab lunch while you cool off. Make sure you grab a chair in the shade early in the day, as they are premium spots. A locker is also worth it so you don’t have to haul clothes and sunscreen all over the place or risk someone stealing your wallet. If you still want to see a bit of the park, head to ZooAmerica to observe a few creatures or pop into Hershey’s Chocolate World to learn how the famous Hershey chocolates are created.

Eat your way through the park

You really can’t visit Hershey Park without eating a bit of junk food, although there are healthy options available too. Dunkin’ Donuts will keep you fueled with coffee, while Planet Pepsi can give you your carbonation kick for the day. Salads and non-fried foods can be found at Founder’s Kitchen, Mixed Grille Express and Shoreline Grill. If you want to satisfy that sweet tooth, you can taste a few Pennsylvania favorites like Rita’s Italian Ice, funnel cakes, whoopie pies and best of all, Turkey Hill ice cream. And of course, there is loads of chocolate all over the park to gorge on.

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