Sweet Getaway – You Had Me at Chocolate
Don’t judge me. I love chocolate. Visiting Chocolate World and HersheyPark® in Hershey, Pennsylvania have been on my must-visit list for many years. So, when I was attending a business conference nearby in Harrisburg, I thought it would be the ideal opportunity to make the quick drive over to Hershey.
Tru by Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue – Home Sweet Hotel
When selecting a hotel for my two-night stay, I knew that most activities would be spent outside the hotel. However, I still wanted to find a great hotel in a prime location where I would feel comfortable and safe, while traveling alone. Duly note that the three resorts located on the HersheyPark property are expensive, way higher than my budget.
After researching and reading about some not-so-good affordable Hershey hotels, I chose Tru by Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue, a short, 2-mile drive to Hersheypark. In fact, there are fourteen attractions to see within 0.75 miles of the hotel.
Upon arrival, stepping into the colorful, modern décor of the lobby, I knew I made the right hotel decision. The staff was very friendly, helpful, and it’s nice to see a team work so well together. I also noticed how neat and clean everything appeared despite the hotel bustling with guests at the time.
Modern Amenities to Sweeten the Deal
Though I was busy seeing the attractions, the time I did spend at the hotel was perfect. It was so nice that this hotel provided daily housekeeping as this is not a given at hotels these days.
The free breakfast at Tru By Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue hotel was a nice perk! Over my three mornings, I enjoyed bagels, eggs, sausage, waffles (dozens of toppings to choose from), oatmeal, fruit or yogurt. I appreciated the variety, the perfect start to each morning.
Late afternoon, I enjoyed a nice cup of hot tea. LavAzza coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are available to hotel guests 24/7.
The Tru By Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue hotel features an outdoor saltwater swimming pool and an indoor pool. The indoor pool area was a nice place to relax with lounges and cushioned couches. In addition to a pool table located in the lobby, there is also a game room and fitness center.
More hotel perks:
:: Free on-site parking
:: Free WIFI
:: 24-hour front desk
:: Concierge service
:: Business center
:: Air conditioning
:: Non-smoking rooms
:: Disability accessible
:: Pet friendly – fees apply
:: Self-laundry room – fees apply
Comfortable Accommodations
I was so tired from my fun-filled days in Hershey that I probably could have slept well anywhere but I was quite impressed with my room at the Tru By Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue hotel. I selected a Queen room that had two queen-sized beds. It was nicely decorated, clean, comfortable, and offered everything I needed for my stay. The room had a work desk perfect for my laptop and lots of outlets to charge my devices.
Here’s one caveat: The room was on the small side so I would not describe it as overly spacious. However, for the little amount of time I spent inside the hotel and the fact I was traveling alone, the room was just right.
I also thought it was interesting to have a closet area, not a closet with doors. Rest assured, there was plenty of space to store things, with convenient hooks to hang jackets, backpacks, or travel accessories.
More room amenities:
:: Mini refrigerator
:: Large TV with a premium channel lineup
:: Strong WIFI in the room
:: Ample natural light from oversized windows
:: Black-out curtains ideal for sleeping
:: Hairdryer
:: Iron/ironing board
Accustomed to having a coffee maker in a hotel room? There is not one in the rooms at this hotel, but gourmet coffee is available in the lobby 24-7.
Hersheypark
A Hersheypark admission ticket includes access to three parks: the amusement park with 70+ attractions, The Boardwalk At Hersheypark Water Park, and 11-acre ZooAmerica. I bought a 2-day ticket. The first day I visited the amusement part. The second day I visited the zoo. I skipped the water park. I arrived at Hersheypark early in the morning and only lasted until around 3pm at which time, I chose to go eat a late lunch at restaurants in town.
I’m not into roller coasters but I did enjoy the monorail, carrousel, dry gulch railroad, Ferris wheel and other docile attractions. I especially enjoyed the Friends from the Sea show starring some very cute sea lions and seals.
Important note: Hersheypark is cashless so you must use major credit cards, debit cards, Hersheypark gift cards, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
While some of the popular attractions at Hershey’s Chocolate World may require a fee, each was well worth every penny! Here is what I did during my visit:
>> The Hershey’s chocolate walking tour (with sample chocolate) was AMAZING!
>> Create Your Own Candy Bar was like a real chocolate factory experience, from choosing candy bar ingredients to designing the wrapper.
>> The HERSHEY’S Great Candy Expedition movie and HERSHEY’S Unwrapped theater shows were very good and a nice way to rest my feet.
>> Hershey Trolley Works was a fun theatrical ride through the town of Hershey.
>> Enjoyed a Reese’s Peanut Butter Milkshake.
>> Shopped in the World’s Largest HERSHEY’S Store to buy candy in bulk, so many options allowed me to select my favorites plus try unique Hershey flavors not sold anywhere else.
One minor note: Hershey Chocolate World provides the first three hours of parking free. All-day parking is quite expensive, but some admission ticket bundles include parking so research before your visit.
The Hershey Story: The Museum on Chocolate Avenue
Visiting the museum made for a well-rounded visit to Hershey. Getting to know the story of Milton S. Hershey and how the town of Hershey came to be was very interesting. Typically, museums don’t hold my attention, but this one did. I kept saying “wow” at the museum’s exhibits. It even showed some of Hershey’s early failures in the industry. Chocolate tastings (extra fee) were an added bonus featuring warm drinking chocolates (no alcohol) from around the world.
The Fluttering Surprise at Hershey Gardens
One thing I love even more than chocolate … are butterflies!
The Hershey Garden Butterfly Atrium was the icing on the cake for my visit to Hershey! Walking around the atrium with what seemed like hundreds of butterflies brought tears to my eyes. The butterfly colors … beautiful tropical plants … and the soothing sounds of water were captivating.
Dining in the Hershey Area
Although I could have lived on eating chocolate from the Hershey attractions and the incredible FREE breakfast buffet at the Tru By Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue hotel, I want to point out some of the noteworthy nearby restaurants where I enjoyed a few lunches and dinners.
:: The Chocolate Avenue Grill: Lunch was a delicious Southwest Chicken Wrap with a thirst-quenching Pineapple Pomegranate Fizz.
:: The Hershey Pantry: A scrumptious BLT On Grilled Sourdough bread lunch featured smoked bacon and mozzarella.
:: Soda Jerk Diner & Dairy Bar: I never miss out on Greek food at a diner and the Greek Burger with gyro meat, feta cheese, and tzatziki, and chocolate milkshake exceeded my expectations!
:: Hershey Italian Lodge: Amazing chicken parmesan dinner and tiramisu for dessert was topped off with the restaurant’s fun games including free arcade bowling.
:: Penn Hotel Sports and Raw Bar: I enjoyed fried avocado bites and the best honey BBQ wings I’ve ever eaten for dinner!
My Hershey Visit Was Choc-full of Fun
I could definitely have stayed one more night at the Tru By Hilton Hershey Chocolate Avenue hotel. It was such a welcoming atmosphere and pardon another pun, a “choc-tastic” place to stay. Yes, the chocolate high is kicking in as I brought enough chocolate souvenirs home to enjoy for weeks to come. Hershey is not only a wonderful getaway with delicious chocolate offerings but also an accompanying side dish of Hershey nostalgia.