The boardwalk and water park at Hershey Park
Usually when I think of fun amusement parks, I think Six Flags, but there is actually an awesome park that has something for all ages in Pennsylvania: Hershey Park. It is about 3 hours away so I would recommend staying overnight. The hotels are kid-friendly, your child can even have a picture taken with a giant Hershey Kiss! We stayed at the Hershey Lodge, which was $179/night. Right now they’re offering a special: Kids Stay, Play & Eat FREE! Kids 17 and under receive FREE daily breakfast and FREE admission to Hershey Park! At the Lodge they have quite a few pools, a playground, and even their own miniature golf course. Nearby there are also spa treatments for mom and golf outings for dad (I don’t believe they offer babysitting services but they do have special packages for teens). There are a multitude of different restaurants at The Park — all very kid friendly. My son had a grilled cheese and apple juice at every place we visited.
We went there in a big group and we have children of all ages, from 1 ½ to 13 years old. They all had an amazing time. Even the adults had tons of fun. There are rides for every age: roller coasters, water rides, kiddie rides, games for all ages, and even a zoo, which was larger and nicer than Prospect Park Zoo but in no way rivals our great Bronx Zoo. Still my son wanted to see monkeys and there they were! My toddler and I rode the Frog Jump together and I’m not sure who had more fun. I do know that we were both squealing with delight! It was wonderful to find a place that catered to every age so that everyone in the family came away very happy. And, when leaving, you can stock up on Hershey’s chocolate! (To see more reviews on the theme park at Trip Advisor, check here.)
You can also stop by nearby Dutch Wonderland which is located 30 miles away in Lancaster and is ideal for families with kids 12 and under. Anyone been there?
Details: Prices for Hershey Park start for one-day admission start at $31.95 for ages 3-8 years and $52.95 for ages 9-54 years. Children 2 years and under are free. Hersey Park is open in 2010 from May 1- September 26th. Here is a list of all the rides they have, height requirements and dining options, and you can also check their official website.
The writer and ALL children on the Frog Jump