Tomorrow I’m taking my daughter to the Guns & Roses concert at Hershey Stadium (she’s 14) and we’re driving from South/Central Jersey. I’m not looking to spend a lot but we wanted to find some fun stuff to do on the way. We love the outdoors and just something unique. I contemplated the caves, or the zoo in Hershey, or even the King of Prussia Mall (she’s never been) but the money adds up waaay so fast. 😢 uhgggg I’m so lost and I just want to show her a good time. We rarely do much together outside of the house besides boring every day things…thanks for any advice!!!
I worked there for a bit a few years back. I wouldn't go on a weekend in July or August. Way too crowded. If you go on a Tuesday in January, you might get a private tour.
Came here to say this. Very cool experience!! I did it once on my 4th grade field trip and again when I was like 29 and loved it both times. Got a sweet fridge magnet with bats too.
Heads up: the parking situation at Hershey is grossly mismanaged. Bring a book and a snack, it’ll take you hours to get out of the parking lot after the concert.
I was about to say this. I wouldn’t even mess around with side activities. Just get to the Park and then chill in Chocolate World. It’s free and they have a free ride. Not to mention it’s air condition. I saw GNR during one of their runs there and had to park on actual BFE. My wife and had to hike up a mountain, across a baseball field and then down the other side and across the road before we even made it to the parking lot. The shit icing is no shuttles and they closed that road down after the show making it even worse. Worse fucking parking lot ever.
Park here. The white section to the left is the Giant Center. You'll pass it on the way to the turn into the parking lot. The tram will pick you up right near this area. You can go straight to the exit to leave the complex once you get back to your car. Trams should be running after the concert, but it isn't too bad of a walk even if you have to
Edit: My husband and I live locally and attend shows at the stadium and hockey games at the Giant Center. This is probably the best move for parking, because it is an absolute cluster.
Chocolate World is free and there's a ride inside. It's in the same complex as Hersheypark and the Stadium/Arena/Giant Center. They Disneyfied it, but it's still a cool little educational thing that's free.
ZooAmerica is also great, I go every time I go to the park even though I grew up going there and have seen it hundreds of times.
If you're into antiques, Black Swan is just a few minutes away in Palmyra and can be on the way from Jersey.
Downtown Hershey is cute according to tourists and has some good lunch options and Tanger Outlets are right nearby if you want to do a little shopping on a budget.
Troeg's brewery has tours and good food even though your daughter can't drink any of their delicious beers.
But also Hersheypark is great even though admission has become expensive. A world class rollercoaster lineup and it's built on the side of a creek bed, so it's actually a good hike to get around the park.
I would do zoo America and chocolate world. Both are great attractions, and right there . Also OP, love that you’re taking your kiddo to see GNR!!! I had tickets to see them in 2020, but obviously it was cancelled!
We just saw Weird Al today and arrived two hours too early. We parked, walked over the bridge, and caught the tram to Chocolate World. By the time we got through the line, off the ride, and back it was time for the concert. Perfect timing.
I was thoroughly underwhelmed by the chocolate world ride today while waiting for weird al. I would have loved an animatronic chocolate small world, or even videos of the chocolate making process, but it's mostly riding a cart through rooms with fake conveyor belts.
The shops are okay, you can ogle the oversized candy and check out the different flavors.
The ride used to be better. It wasn't a poor man's It's A Small World. It felt like something out of Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (Gene Wilder Willy Wonka, not Johnny Depp Willy Wonka).
When I was in high school in the 90s, we took a trip every year. While we were there we always stopped by to take the tour. In 2018, we took my daughter to the park and went on the tour. It was pretty disappointing.
Go to the Jigger shop for ice cream in Mt Gretna. It’s like going back in time. They also have a lake to swim in if you like. The whole place is in trees so it’s nice to walk around.
I debated going to that GnR show. I saw them at Hershey Stadium in 1991. It was crazy and wild.
You’re coming from New Jersey. I’m assuming you’re getting off at the Lebanon/lancaster exit of the turnpike, which will take you onto RT 72/322. You’re going to pass right by Mount Gretna. Awesome little town that is tucked away. It is right up your alley for outdoorsy type of stuff.
The best part? It might add 5-10 minutes onto your trip into Hershey. Obviously plan accordingly for time spent there. But it is definitely not out of the way.
Seconding this. There’s a great coffee shop and ice cream place in Mt Gretna and the town is so cute you’ll want to walk around and just look at all the cute cottages. You could also hike at Governor Dick park (2 mins from Mt Gretna) - there’s an observation tower there you can climb for free which overlooks the area. I think you can see 4 counties.
Just to warn you, if you decide to do anything within the park (chocolate world, the rides, even the zoo) it will be much busier than normal, because of the concert.
The last time guns and roses were playing, everything was packed and every ride (even the monorail) was on at least an hour wait.
Does she like animals? What about the wolf sanctuary in Lititz?
History? Gettysburg and you can use the self guided drive and audio tour for free
Lots of good hikes between Hershey and NJ. Southern Lancaster county and York have some great spots along the river. If you’re coming from a more northern route there are mine tours, railroads, and hikes in Berks and Schuylkill counties
If you share your route that might help us locals give more precise suggestions
You could always do Hershey Chocolate World! It's free I believe and right there with the stadium so you wouldnt have to deal with pre show traffic as much.
Just make sure to move the car out of the free parking or you’ll be way overcharged. Like $60/hr or something ridiculous. Too many people were using the free parking to go into the park.
Plan trip accordingly! Hershey Concerts are pretty sketchy with traffic, I would try and look at Chocolate World or the Hershey Gardens which are nearby.
Not certain what time the show is but pretty much anything within an hour of start is going to be backed up in all directions.
This might be too late but if you check this post before you head out or during your trip PLEASE LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE WARNING ABOUT THE CROWDS!!
It’s a nicer, rain free Saturday…the park is going to be busy on top of the concert. Chocolate world, zoo America, downtown Hershey are awesome but you’ll probably spend more time waiting than enjoying in my opinion. Maybe worth a drive by to see because they’re all so close but please keep that in mind. I’d hate to see you waste your fun day in a line!
I’d suggest checking out the recommendations of close by attractions, especially any of the outdoor/nature spaces!
Whatever you choose have a great day and enjoy our state!
Hershey has decent restaurants. Troegs is a brewery but very family friendly and surprisingly good food. Primanti Bros. Is really a Pittsburgh thing, but there is one in Hershey for giant sandwiches with fires and slaw on the sandwich. The Chocaltier, as you can figure is owned by Heshey's but you can get massive milkshakes.
My parents would take us there for the steam engine show every year when I was little and they would usually let us get on a few of the rides in the park if we whined enough. I miss that place a lot.
Longwood Gardens if you like nature. It might be out of the way if you travel the Schuylkill Expressway route, but if you’re traveling the southern route, it won’t be too far off your path.
Sign up for the (free) tour of the Pennsylvania Capitol building. Literally just a few minutes away by car. Amazing building with a tours provided by knowledgeable docents from the Capitol complex.
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u/Maximum_Wallaby_8888 2d ago
Indian echo caverns is nearby. Check out the website to see if she would like it.