Non-theme park activities in Hershey, PA?

[redheadbaker]

H and I are going to Hershey for a weekend in August for a concert, leaving DS at my parents'. The concert is on a Friday night, looking for something or things to do on Saturday. H isn't a fan of theme park rides. I could maybe convince him to get a couples massage at the spa, but he wouldn't enjoy it.

Anything else we could do?

[glw]

Tröegs brewery if you like beer! I've never done the tour, but their tasting area is huge and the food is good too.

[redheadbaker]

Jul 30, 2021 12:28:54 GMT -5 glw said:

Tröegs brewery if you like beer! I've never done the tour, but their tasting area is huge and the food is good too.

Oh, perfect! We both love beer.

[ste]

Jul 30, 2021 12:37:12 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Jul 30, 2021 12:28:54 GMT -5 glw said:

Tröegs brewery if you like beer! I've never done the tour, but their tasting area is huge and the food is good too.

Oh, perfect! We both love beer.

Just be warned that during summer it is PACKED from open til close. I’m not sure if they’ve changed the food situation due to covid, but in the past it was cafeteria style where you stood in line to order (not at your table with your beer server), and then got one of those buzz things to pick it up.

The Hershey Gardens are beautiful, and an enjoyable activity of the weather is nice. The butterfly part is super cool. The Hotel Hershey has a very nice spa if you do think he’d be into it (or want to go yourself!).

Market on Chocolate is the Saturday morning farmers market that has live music, family friendly kind of stuff. It’s off Chocolate Ace at the fire station.

If you’re up to venturing out of Hershey there’s lots of other things too; I admittedly haven’t done much since covid though. But I 10000% would NOT recommend the park on a weekend.

[CrazyLucky]

45 minutes to the Turkey Hill experience. You can make your own ice cream flavor!

[ste]

Jul 30, 2021 12:37:12 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Jul 30, 2021 12:28:54 GMT -5 glw said:

Tröegs brewery if you like beer! I've never done the tour, but their tasting area is huge and the food is good too.

Oh, perfect! We both love beer.

There are other breweries in the area, if you want something else if Troegs is crazy.

[W.T.Faulkner]

Was coming in here to suggest Troegs. Glad it has been covered!

[eponinepontmercy]

Also agree with Troegs!

The Hershey Gardens are absolutely lovely.

The chocolate tasting and Make Your Own Chocolate Bar at Chocolate World were both lots of fun.

[Dagny]

Indian Echo Caverns is just 7 minutes from the park and it's a really cool tour!

indianechocaverns.com/

[yaga]

Jul 30, 2021 12:53:41 GMT -5 CrazyLucky said:

45 minutes to the Turkey Hill experience. You can make your own ice cream flavor!

I grew up in Bucks County PA (and I'm there right now hanging out at my parents' house) and I'm very mad I never knew this was a thing.

[redheadbaker]

Jul 30, 2021 12:54:54 GMT -5 ste said:

Jul 30, 2021 12:37:12 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Oh, perfect! We both love beer.

There are other breweries in the area, if you want something else if Troegs is crazy.

Yes, please!

[redheadbaker]

Jul 30, 2021 13:08:12 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

The chocolate tasting and Make Your Own Chocolate Bar at Chocolate World were both lots of fun.

He may never get me to leave.

[lindyanne]

Hershey Gardens, Troegs, The Hershey Story

[ste]

Jul 30, 2021 15:49:23 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Jul 30, 2021 12:54:54 GMT -5 ste said:

There are other breweries in the area, if you want something else if Troegs is crazy.

Yes, please!

Rotunda is on Chocolate Ave just up from downtown Hershey. The beer is really good, but we stopped drinking it because we were disappointed with how the owners handled the shut down/masking.

Mt Gretna Brewery is about 10 min outside of Hershey and the beer is great. Their food is not my thing, but lots of people like it.

I’ve heard really good things about Tattered Flag, but have never been. They’re also a distillery.

SpringGate is a really fun winery (fruity/off beat/sweet wines, not like CA winery). Their slushees are fantastic, and the atmosphere is very cool. ETA they also have a lot of local beers on tap, and often have food trucks there.

We love the beer from Snitz Creek, but their location is a little further. I haven’t had the food at the restaurant in a while, but it was good when I did.

I’ve also heard good things about Rubber Soul in hummelstown, but I’ve never been. And there are TONS in Harrisburg, if you’re willing to drive that far. If sports are your thing, you could see if the Senators or the Barnstormers are playing, too.

[redheadbaker]

Jul 30, 2021 17:15:12 GMT -5 ste said:

Jul 30, 2021 15:49:23 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Yes, please!

Rotunda is on Chocolate Ave just up from downtown Hershey. The beer is really good, but we stopped drinking it because we were disappointed with how the owners handled the shut down/masking.

Mt Gretna Brewery is about 10 min outside of Hershey and the beer is great. Their food is not my thing, but lots of people like it.

I’ve heard really good things about Tattered Flag, but have never been. They’re also a distillery.

SpringGate is a really fun winery (fruity/off beat/sweet wines, not like CA winery). Their slushees are fantastic, and the atmosphere is very cool. ETA they also have a lot of local beers on tap, and often have food trucks there.

We love the beer from Snitz Creek, but their location is a little further. I haven’t had the food at the restaurant in a while, but it was good when I did.

I’ve also heard good things about Rubber Soul in hummelstown, but I’ve never been. And there are TONS in Harrisburg, if you’re willing to drive that far. If sports are your thing, you could see if the Senators or the Barnstormers are playing, too.

Thanks! 

Sadly, our sport is not in season right now (hockey). 

[lindyanne]

Jul 30, 2021 17:15:12 GMT -5 ste said:

Jul 30, 2021 15:49:23 GMT -5 redheadbaker said:

Yes, please!

Rotunda is on Chocolate Ave just up from downtown Hershey. The beer is really good, but we stopped drinking it because we were disappointed with how the owners handled the shut down/masking.

Mt Gretna Brewery is about 10 min outside of Hershey and the beer is great. Their food is not my thing, but lots of people like it.

I’ve heard really good things about Tattered Flag, but have never been. They’re also a distillery.

SpringGate is a really fun winery (fruity/off beat/sweet wines, not like CA winery). Their slushees are fantastic, and the atmosphere is very cool. ETA they also have a lot of local beers on tap, and often have food trucks there.

We love the beer from Snitz Creek, but their location is a little further. I haven’t had the food at the restaurant in a while, but it was good when I did.

I’ve also heard good things about Rubber Soul in hummelstown, but I’ve never been. And there are TONS in Harrisburg, if you’re willing to drive that far. If sports are your thing, you could see if the Senators or the Barnstormers are playing, too.

Same. I’m so sad they were a$$holes. I don’t know if I’ll ever drink their beer again.

[beerlover]

All I have to add here is I think we're going to the same concert, if its August 13

I'm also going to GNR there tomorrow night. Thanks for the beer recs ste. I'm disappointed to see that about Rotunda since that was on my list of places to check out!

[ste]

Jul 30, 2021 21:07:46 GMT -5 beerlover said:

All I have to add here is I think we're going to the same concert, if its August 13

I'm also going to GNR there tomorrow night. Thanks for the beer recs ste. I'm disappointed to see that about Rotunda since that was on my list of places to check out!

Hopefully they sound better than they have all week… 🙃

The Rotunda thing was SO disappointing. We were huge fans of their original restaurant, and obviously the beer. We won’t be back.

[beerlover]

Jul 30, 2021 21:25:48 GMT -5 ste said:

Jul 30, 2021 21:07:46 GMT -5 beerlover said:

All I have to add here is I think we're going to the same concert, if its August 13

I'm also going to GNR there tomorrow night. Thanks for the beer recs ste. I'm disappointed to see that about Rotunda since that was on my list of places to check out!

Hopefully they sound better than they have all week… 🙃

The Rotunda thing was SO disappointing. We were huge fans of their original restaurant, and obviously the beer. We won’t be back.

Yeah, yesterday my H was like “how bad do you think they’ll sound?” lol. I’m not expecting much but they were my favorite band in my teens and I haven’t gotten to see them yet, and it was cheap, so might as well!

[gummybear]

Yum, Troegs. Now I want one of their giant pretzels. I’ve been drinking their Rasberry Lime Tart Ale and it’s delicious!

If you are into this sort of thing I would do a scenic drive of Amish country. It’s stunning and peaceful and it’s high time for produce right now.

[redheadbaker]

Jul 30, 2021 21:07:46 GMT -5 beerlover said:

All I have to add here is I think we're going to the same concert, if its August 13

I'm also going to GNR there tomorrow night. Thanks for the beer recs ste . I'm disappointed to see that about Rotunda since that was on my list of places to check out!

Yep, same concert Can't wait!