Hershey

Last month I went to Hershey, Pennsylvania ("the sweetest place on Earth"), for a conference. There was indeed chocolate everywhere, and I think I may have OD'd. 

Upon arriving in town, I spent a luxurious afternoon at the Spa at the Hotel Hershey. It was divine.  Later that evening, I visited Troegs Brewery. I have to say, it was pretty close to my ideal day.

I visited Hershey's Chocolate World, home to the company's largest candy store.

At Hershey's Chocolate World, you can take a ride through a "factory tour." They don't actually make chocolate onsite (the factory is down the road and not open to the public).

However, they do show you how chocolate is made through the use of animatronic cows and cartoon Hershey bars.

I'll be frank: this was pretty lame. It doesn't compare to the actual factory tour I used to get at the Hershey plant in Oakdale, California.

Don't be fooled; this is fake chocolate.

As a conference attendee, I got free admission to the Hershey Story museum, which tells the story of Milton Hershey and the company he founded.

Some old-timey packaging and chocolate-making accoutrements.

A chandelier from one of Milton Hershey's shops.

And apparently he was supposed to sail on the Titanic! Here's his payment to the White Star Line. (He didn't go.)

Our conference reception was held at the Antique Automobile Museum. There's something about wandering around a museum after-hours with a glass of wine that is so appealing.

This was the bus used in Forrest Gump.

After the conference, I drove home by way of Lancaster County (Amish country). I stopped at Julius Sturgis Bakery in Lititz, Pennsylvania, the oldest pretzel bakery in the U.S.

Also in Lititz is Linden Hall, the oldest residential school in the U.S.

Lastly, I stopped at Dutch Haven, alleged home of the best shoo-fly pie in Amish country. It's a total tourist trap, but boy, was that pie good! (They also sell "Amish stuff.")

My time in Hershey was capped with a peanut butter cup martini at Hershey Lodge. Delish.

Cheers!