In a previous post I shared my experience in Lancaster, Pennsylvania while visiting the land of the Amish. Well, my friends and I decided decided that since Hershey, Pennsylvania was only 42 miles from Lancaster and none of us had ever been there that we would spend our Sunday in Hershey.

Our first stop was The Hershey Story Museum and from there we went to Hershey’s Chocolate World.

So our first stop was The Hershey Story Museum. I was completely impressed with Milton Hershey. His vision, his humanitarianism and his strong work ethic were just, “Wow!”.

Here is his story straight from the museum’s website:

By the age of 26, Milton Snavely Hershey was penniless. With two failed businesses behind him, he was an unlikely candidate for success. Yet Mr. Hershey, a man with steadfast convictions and an insatiable curiosity, turned his story from rags to riches by persevering, eventually selling his caramel company for $1 million to devote all his energies to making chocolate.

Using equipment purchased at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Milton Hershey began experimenting with boiled milk, sugar and cacao beans in an effort to create affordable milk chocolate that could be mass-produced. In a few years, he perfected his recipe and by 1903 was breaking ground for a new factory in the town that bears his name.

Unlike other industrialists of his time, Milton Hershey’s vision of a company town expanded beyond the brick-and-mortar walls of his chocolate factory. He built homes, parks, schools, public transportation and infrastructure, enriching the lives of those around him. His wealth was accompanied by a profound sense of moral responsibility and benevolence.

When he and his beloved wife, Catherine, realized they could not have children, they founded a school for orphaned boys. His dream had grown far beyond acquiring wealth for his own benefit: “One is only happy in proportion as he makes others feel happy.” In 1918, long before his death, Milton Hershey endowed the school that he and Catherine started with his entire fortune.

Milton Hershey left quite a legacy in so many ways and the museum is just a reflection of that.

Here are some images of that experience.

Then after a very interesting learning and interactive experience at The Hershey Story Museum we walked a short distance to Hershey’s Chocolate World!

Hershey’s Chocolate World offers a free Chocolate Making Tour Ride and I guarantee that you will never look at a Hershey Bar or for that matter any chocolate bar the same way again. They also offer a free Meet and Greet with the different candy characters. The area to buy Hershey products and spin-offs is gigantic but they also have activities that you can pay to experience such as an experience called Make Your Own Candy Bar, the Hershey Trolley Works and Make your own Giant Reese’s.

Here are some photos of the inside of the area.

So if you want a very enjoyable weekend head up to Lancaster and then over to Hershey.

You learn a lot and have fun!