Christmas In The Land Of Chocolate

As we approach the festive season, some families deck the halls with every conceivable ornament and begin celebrating the second the temperature drops. Others use the opportunity to take off as soon as the temperature drops. If you fall somewhere in the middle - you love the holidays but love to travel too, why not check out Hershey, Pennsylvania for their Hersheypark Christmas Candylane (map)?

Opening on November 19, Hersheypark Christmas Candylane will feature more than 30 rides, Santa and nine live reindeer, live entertainment, games, shops, and food. Guests can also experience N.O.E.L., a beautiful light show featuring more than 125,000 dancing lights synchronized to Christmas favorites.

Warm up in the car with a short drive to “Hershey Sweet Lights, A Holiday Drive-Thru Spectacular.” Beginning November 12, guests can drive a 2.3-mile route through wooded hillsides and enjoy almost 600 light displays, all while listening to the sounds of the season through a customized radio broadcast.

But a vist to Hershey would not be complete without a visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World (map) and, starting in late November, you can check out the second annual Hershey’s Holiday Chocolate House. This life-size house will be completely covered in Hershey’s famous chocolate and confectionery products and will be Santa’s home throughout Christmas in Hershey. Hershey’s Chocolate World also is home of Hershey’s Bake Shoppe, which will offer freshly baked Christmas treats.

And since you’ll surely be too stuffed to head home, best to crash for the night. The Hershey Lodge (map) and The Hotel Hershey (map) will offer overnight accommodations and packages. To top off your stay, you can book “Breakfast With
Santa” at either property.  Hershey Lodge will feature a holiday dinner show called “Christmas in Chocolate Town, A Holiday Dinner Musical” and will include a festive dinner topped off with a chocolate (of course!) dessert and a holiday-themed stage show.

Hershey is conveniently located in Central Pennsylvania, just 3 hours from New York City, 2 hours from Washington D.C., and 1 ½ hours from Baltimore and Philadelphia. For additional information, please visit www.ChristmasInHershey.com

Photos courtesy HersheyEntertainment & Resorts