A Hersheypark Christmas: Winter Romance and Family Fun at the Hershey Lodge
If I asked you to imagine a “winter escape,” you’d probably picture a sun-kissed island filled with palm trees and tropical, umbrella-topped drinks. But what if winter isn’t something you need to escape? What if you could embrace all the best parts of winter with a family-friendly getaway that ALSO offers romantic vibes and TONS of cozy atmosphere? If that sounds good to you, come with me for a very merry Hersheypark Christmas!
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I’ll take you through our 3-day family getaway, including where we stayed, where we ate, and all the fun, festive things we did!
A Hersheypark Christmas at Hershey Lodge
Much like Walt Disney World, Hersheypark is known for its charming theme park and family-friendly fun. But ALSO like Walt Disney World, Hersheypark is FAR more romantic than you’d think!
Nestled into the rolling hills of Hershey, Pennsylvania, Hersheypark is more than just a theme park. In reality, it’s a full-on resort with TWO beautiful hotels, an entertainment complex, and an interesting history that dates back to the early 1900s, when Milton Hershey developed the area. In case you were wondering, this also means you’ll find chocolate. LOTS and LOTS of chocolate!
Whether you choose the opulent Hotel Hershey or the cozy Hershey Lodge for your stay, you’ll be greeted with full-sized Hershey’s chocolate bars upon check-in (a pretty amazing start, if you ask me!). While we’ve previously enjoyed The Hotel Hershey, my family chose the Hershey Lodge for our winter stay.
It didn’t take long to know that we’d made the right choice! While we did have kids in tow for our weekend getaway, my husband and I also hoped to enjoy a little bit of romance on this trip. And with the beautiful Christmas decor and insanely cozy vibe, it was clear that the Hershey Lodge had a little something for everyone.
The property offers four full-service restaurants, an inviting quick-service spot, a lobby bar, an incredible indoor waterpark, and a gift shop where you can find a mix of seasonal goods, Hershey merchandise, and obviously, CHOCOLATE.
We also really appreciated the spacious guest rooms, which are appointed with charming Hershey details, like the ADORABLE Hershey Kiss wallpaper…
…and complimentary Hershey Lodge toiletries, including cocoa-infused soap, shampoo, body lotion, and conditioner. Honestly, this stuff smells INCREDIBLE!
Indoor Water Park
Finally, here’s a look at the hotel’s indoor waterpark, Hershey’s Waterworks at Hershey Lodge. The facility features several pools, a splash pad with small slides for littles, and even a two-story enclosed water slide that thrill-seekers will love!
If you’re traveling with kids, this place is fabulous (if a little chaotic). If you’re enjoying an adults-only getaway, grab some drinks from the pool bar and stick to the hot tub.
Dining at Hersheypark
You’ll find a nice variety of dining options in Hersheypark itself and the surrounding area – but a Hersheypark Christmas trip means sampling ALL the festive goodies on Hersheypark properties – so we committed to trying the restaurants at the Hershey Lodge.
Stacks at Hershey Lodge
We arrived early at Stacks, a traditional sit-down restaurant where you’ll find breakfast staples like eggs and bacon and an impressive variety of sweet Hershey treats.
I was EXTREMELY tempted by the “Build Your Own Stacks” option, which allows you to choose pancakes, Belgian waffles, or Maple-Vanilla Custard French Toast. This comes in several varieties like Pumpkin Spice Cannoli, S’mores, and Caramel Apple Pie. Ultimately I chose something a little tamer (eggs and toast) so that I could indulge in a specialty hot chocolate!
There are NINE different kinds of hot chocolate on the menu, and I went with the S’mores, which was just as chocolatey and decadent as you’d expect.
To top it all off, we tried the Cinnamon Croissant Beignets. These delicate pastries came dusted with cinnamon sugar and with a side of warm Hershey’s syrup for dipping. Honestly, I’d go back for these alone!
Fire & Grain
Located to the left of the lobby entrance, Fire & Grain is a casual eatery that’s open for lunch and dinner.
The menu was interesting and varied, and we especially enjoyed our adult beverages!
The food is good and the atmosphere is cozy (a recurring theme at the Lodge!), but Fire & Grain is pretty standard fare. While it didn’t stand out from some of the other Hersheypark restaurants we’ve tried, it served us well in a pinch, and we all left with full, satisfied bellies.
Revelry Chophouse
Okay, friends, THIS is where things got really good! Revelry Chophouse is located on the second floor of The Hershey Lodge, right at the top of that sweeping staircase.
Since we visited in November, the outdoor patio wasn’t open, but the ambiance inside the restaurant was completely on point!
With its dark, candlelit vibe, this is the perfect spot for a romantic meal (even if you’re eating it at 5 pm with two kids under 7, like us!). The food was incredible, and the service was top-notch. Our server went above and beyond the call of duty, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience.
The Chocolatier at Hersheypark
Veering away from The Hershey Lodge, we knew our Hersheypark Christmas trip wouldn’t be complete without a meal at The Chocolatier.
The casual eatery is located on the second floor of the Hersheypark gift shop (and NO, you do NOT need a park ticket to get in).
The menu is LARGE and features several chocolate-themed dishes for the chocolate lovers in your life.
We’ve eaten here a number of times, and consider it a reliable favorite. It’s a little noisy at peak times, and reservations are generally preferable – although we experienced a minimal wait when we showed up for lunch without one.
The highlight of my meal here was this AMAZING White Chocolate Martini. In my personal opinion, this one blows away the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Martini AND the Hershey’s Signature Chocolate Martini.
If you’re visiting during warm weather, ask for a seat outside on the patio, and you’ll score amazing theme park views!
Festive Fun at Hersheypark
Hersheypark offers quite a few festive experiences, and we were game to try them all (or, at least as many as we could fit into one weekend).
Beginning in mid-November, Hersheypark transforms into Christmas Candy Lane. Prices can vary but expect to pay about $50 per person ages 3 and up. During Christmas Candy Lane, the park is open from 12 pm to 9 pm and features twinkling Christmas lights, festive treats and snacks, and even holiday ride overlays. Be aware that not ALL attractions are open at this time.
We started our Saturday with a visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World, which is free to enter. It’s basically an ENORMOUS gift shop, but it also houses a (free) ride that teaches you how chocolate is made, along with other chocolate-themed experiences.
Hershey’s Chocolate World
During the holidays, you can meet the Grinch, chat with Santa Claus, and check out this MASSIVE Hershey’s “gingerbread” display that’s made entirely of candy.
Christmas Candylane
Afterward, we headed into the park to do some exploring. In the end, we rode a few rides, met with Santa, and saw some (REAL LIVE!) reindeer in the park’s Christmas wonderland.
Hersheypark truly did an AMAZING job with their Santa meet, and we loved the many friendly “elves” who welcomed us at every turn. Luckily, we avoided a line (we walked straight up to Santa!) because we stopped by during the day. If you wait until evening, you’re sure to encounter a wait – but with juggling elves and plenty of entertainment, it’s bound to go by fast.
After a dinner break, we returned to the park to check out the lights.
The displays are everywhere throughout the park and really lend a festive air to the whole experience. It was a lot of fun for the kids, and had we been kid-free for the weekend, it would have made for quite the romantic stroll.
Is Christmas Candy Lane Worth It?
With festive treats, ride overlays, and beautiful, sparkling Christmas lights, Christmas Candylane is definitely worth it! Not every ride is open, but you’ll still find plenty to do, see, and eat!
Hershey Sweet Lights
Christmas Candylane is FULL of dazzling Christmas lights, but if you just can’t get enough, you’ll want to check out the Hershey Sweet Lights. The popular drive-through attraction includes 2 MILES of nearly 600 light displays.
While you’re able to drive through in your own car, we opted to catch a ride on the Sweet Lights Trolley.
You can get your tickets over at Hershey’s Chocolate World!
How Much Does it Cost to See Hershey Lights?
Depending on the date, Hershey Sweet Lights will run you $29.99 or $39.99 per car. Alternatively, you can buy tickets to the Christmas Trolley for $25.95 per person.
Ready for YOUR Hersheypark Christmas?
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