| Author |
Message |
    
Guy
Supporter
Username: Vandalay
Post Number: 937
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 2:15 pm: |     |
I am kicking around the idea of bringing my almost 3 and 7 Year old for a couple of days in August. I have never been there , so any opinions on the place would be helpful. Thanks. |
campbell29
Citizen
Username: Campbell29
Post Number: 178
Registered: 4-2002
| | Posted on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 3:33 pm: | |
My sister just went to Hershey. she said it was great especially for the little ones. Cleaner, fewer lines and not as many "disgusting dirty people" (her words, not mine) as Great Adventure. I think she also said there's a "Thomas" theme park out there as . If you're looking for a great day trip for the little people, try "Land of MakeBelieve" in Hope,NJ (about an hour away). It has a giant wading pool, a bunch of kiddie rides, some tube rides and some other things. |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 1591
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, July 18, 2005 - 6:12 pm: | |
I don't recall the names, but Hershey has I think a couple of hotels. One is tres fancy, and tres gourmet. Others are family-er.
My daughter adores that place. Much pleasanter than Great Adventure, much, much, much.
Another alternative in the Lancaster PA area is Dutch Wonderland. Very tree-lined, shady, reasonable prices. Lots and lots for kids your age -- in fact, more geared to the younger set than pre-teen and teenager. Lots of Amish farm action nearby, though the main route is a LOT of shopping of one sort or another... |
canismajor
Citizen
Username: Canismajor
Post Number: 376
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 12:09 am: | |
Hershey is great....your kids will love it. A much kindler, gentler theme park than Great Adventure. I highly recommend staying at the Hotel Hershey-the rates are steep, but you get to enter the park an hour earlier than the general public.
If you don't end up going to Hershey, another kid-friendly theme park is Lake Compounce in Bristol, Connecticut. It's just under a two-hour drive in a serene, wooded setting. It's half water park and half dry park, lots of rides for little kids. |
AntoninaKC
Citizen
Username: Antoninakc
Post Number: 51
Registered: 5-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 2:42 am: | |
Try staying at the Hershey Lodge- a really nice place to stay that caters to adults as well as kids, I've stayed there about 5 or 6 times. The Hotel Hershey is a top of the line 5 star resort, you will definitely pay lots of $$ and be satisfied thought (Stayed there about 10 times) Hershey is a very family friendly town, not to mention clean and inviting and able to offer a good time through a mix of local history and fun amusements. |
exwoodgirl
Citizen
Username: Exwoodgirl
Post Number: 58
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 - 8:58 am: | |
There is also a campground affiliated with Hershey which brings you all the benefits of staying at one of their properties, for a fraction of the cost. The Gardens are beautiful and worth a trip....there is a butterfly house there as well. |
Guy
Supporter
Username: Vandalay
Post Number: 939
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 9:37 am: | |
Thanks to all for the help. The Hershey Lodge sounds great. The Hershey Hotel was fully booked. |
Duder
Citizen
Username: El_duderino
Post Number: 734
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 10:40 am: | |
Guy- I grew up in Harrisburg, about 10 mins. from Hershey. Lots of places to stay that might be cheaper there. Quick drive to the park.
Hersheypark and Chocolate World are perfectly geared for a 3- and 7-year-old. The park really has rides and attractions for all ages, plus a dolphin/sea lion show.
I've been there 100+ times...let me know if you have any more questions... |
Guy
Supporter
Username: Vandalay
Post Number: 940
Registered: 8-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 10:52 am: | |
Thanks Dude, if I need more help , I will definately get in touch. |
aneighbor
Citizen
Username: Aneighbor
Post Number: 97
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 20, 2005 - 10:15 pm: | |
going to lancaster and staying at Willow Valley Resort Inn & Conference Center - Lancaster County, PA. It's supposed to be just 45 minutes from Hershey. The hotel looks like a park in itself. I'll let you know how it is. |
maplemommy27
Citizen
Username: Maplemommy27
Post Number: 142
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 1:39 pm: | |
anei, let me know how it goes. We are going to PA the end of August. Everything near Hershey is way too expensive.
Have fun! |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 1601
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 7:29 pm: | |
If any of you have kids a little older: Gettysburg and the environs is pretty nice. Good exhibits, walking/biking tours and alla that stuff. Pretty cheap, too.. |
Kristen Williamson
Citizen
Username: Kris219
Post Number: 60
Registered: 4-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, July 21, 2005 - 9:42 pm: | |
I had a flashback to my last trip to Hershey where my family thought it would be fun to camp there. Bad idea, there aren't that many trees, so you and your neighbors better be nice and friendly. To add to that, there sure is a train that ran into the middle of the night and into dawn, obviously didn't get much sleep. Out of all my camping experiences, let's just say Hershey is better done in a hotel. |
Case
Citizen
Username: Case
Post Number: 117
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 3:57 pm: | |
The Lodge is fine, but very expensive... there are plenty of excellent lower-cost options; we always stay at the Marriott in Harrisburg.
The park is extremely clean and well-controlled. You're going to have a phenomenal time! Make sure you leave time for the Factory tour, located near the entrance to the park. |
tulip
Citizen
Username: Braveheart
Post Number: 2633
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 6:59 pm: | |
We have made a family tradition of going to Hershey Park at the end of every summer when the kids were younger. The kids and my husband had the greatest time on the wild roller coasters, and we all went on the water slides, with pictures of our frenzied falls after we landed. We would ride home in a lovely summer euphoria, in the cool of the night, sure that we had pinched the last drop of joy out of the season, and ready to start back to reality. We live about two hours from Hershey, so we couldn't advise as to places to stay. We've paid a very quick visit to the Hotel, and it looks absolutely lavish. There are plenty of alternatives in the area, if you prefer more basic accomodations.
Some other great features and memories include raucous, cheerful and melodic performances on the stage, and wonderful cultural pluralism, with Orthodox Jewish people, Amish, Mennonite, African-American, Hispanic, and others all around.
Another wonderful festival in the area, that was held this year in early July, is the Kutztown Festival. Original Amish crafts, fantastic quilts, iron and copper, wood, leather, glass and other crafts, delicious Pennsylvania Dutch food, music, apple butter, sauerkraut, other delights, to be savored.
|
CageyD
Citizen
Username: Cageyd
Post Number: 358
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, July 24, 2005 - 10:35 pm: | |
I am looking to go to Hershey this august and saw on the web many farms that are also b&b's. Some let your kids work the farm - in a minimal way if they are interested. I am considering this option, has anyone tried this nonconventional accommodation? |
aneighbor
Citizen
Username: Aneighbor
Post Number: 98
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 6, 2005 - 7:52 pm: | |
Just returned from Lancaster and highly recommend The Willow Valley Resort and Conference Center. I went with my daughter who is 3 and nieces and nephews, ranging in age from 9-15 years old.
While it's still 45 minutes to get to Hershey, the hotel is completely kid friendly, has a great staff, is reasonably priced and has a full buffet breakfast which is included in the price. If you go to their Website you'll get a better feel for it. The kids could have stayed in the indoor pool with water slides all weekend. |
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