Hershey, PA
Got chocolate???
We decided to continue our latest journey through Hershey, PA...parking the Swinger at the Hershey Park Campground. This place is overpriced, and when they say they have an active freight train next door, they mean it! We almost had a site much closer to it, but fortunately thought better, and switched. I'm SO glad we did. We could still hear it, but not nearly as bad. Check the place out at www.hersheyparkcampingresort.com. Clean restrooms, but they're only up near the main office (quite a walk) & to be honest, the staff was not friendly...not at all :(
There is a plus-side to staying on site, rather than off though...discounted tix & free shuttle service. But the catch? The perks are only true IF you are there May-August! We were just fine using Uber, but it was disappointing to learn that the park is only open & the shuttle only operates on the weekends in September :( You'd THINK that the camping costs would be cheaper on their off peak nights, but no. BOO Milton, BOO!
SO, what did we do? Well, we decided to make the most of it, and I think we actually had a much better time. Yes, we missed the roller coasters, but we also missed long lines in 80+ heat and so instead, we went to Hershey Chocolate World to get our chocolate fix.
This place is SO adorable..an absolute gem of a stop to take the grand-kids someday. We rode the free tour ride, which was SO much like It's a Small World at Disney, then we shopped, got some treats for the kids & a chocolate shake for Scott. It was really, really good, but also just over $8 (you do get the take home cup tho)!
We followed up our chocolate fix with a beer fix at Troeg's Independent Brewing Co. Check them out at www.troegs.com.
We HIGHLY recommend this place! We each had a different flight, so we were able to sample seven beers (all fantastic). And the food? SO good & very reasonably priced. We had:
**the Crispy Pork Belly with baked beans, cornbread crumble and jalapeno jam (2 stars), and the Sauteed Clams with cream, corn, salsa verde & grilled toast (5++ stars!!). We will totally recreate the clam dish after we get home!
**and the Charcuterie House-Cured Meats, snack bar pickles & horseradish mustard (3 stars). This was a little too funky...not to mention we think that is liver pate in the upper left corner...if so (we stayed away), yuck!
We called it an early night to get back to Raf & Gracie at the Swinger. They've done SO well with our craziness these last dozen or so days, that we were glad to finally have a night off with just them. Scott fixed up a couple of things around the homestead on wheels, we ate a late-night snack and watch some OITNB on Netflix. Pennsylvania was fun, but we're SO glad to be settled in at Auntie and Ed's place in the woods of Grantsville, MD. Onward to Ohio in the morning.
Until next time...safe & happy trails!
Scott & Natalie