I love to travel with my kids. But while relaxing moments can happen on a trip with young children, the overall experience is often far more taxing. Here are some of my top family travel tips on surviving and thriving during your next adventure with the littles:

Be early

Everything takes longer with kids in tow. Some little hiccup always seems to occur, be it extra fuss about a toy, an emergency visit to the restroom or something else. I’m a bit of a punctuality nut, but just two weeks ago our family nearly missed our flight to Disney World. We ended up being the last people seated on the plane — first for me. So remember, with kids, always leave and arrive earlier than you think you need to.

Bring distractions

Of my family travel tips, this one is essential on longer journeys. Pack the tablets and headphones, obviously. Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with giving kids iPads or the like on a multi-hour plane ride no matter what some say. Looking out the window gets a bit dull even for me, and I love to fly. Also, if your trip includes long waits in lines, like during our family’s recent trip to Disney World, tablets can be a plus. But don’t rely on just those. Mid-trip for us, one tablet broke (full-screen smash). Our 5-year-old daughter needed something else, and even our 8-year-old son wanted something other than his tablet. Break out the coloring books (Crayola Color Wonder are particularly helpful), the fidget spinners and other similar toys you can keep in your pocket. And don’t forget those easily portable snacks. You will need them all!

Pack light, but pack smart

You don’t need to bring everything to enjoy a trip with kids. Yet, some of the most important items are often overlooked. A reporter at Consumer Reports recently asked me for the most indispensable item for a diaper bag that no one remembers — my response, without hesitation, was toenail clippers. They’re compact, easily pass through airport security, and come in handy for the many times we suddenly need to cut something be it a travel packet of Tylenol or the packaging for a toy the kids are begging to play with right now. Yeah, pack smart.

Patience, patience, patience

It’s so easy to get swept up in the sights, sounds and new experiences on a family trip that you might not realize your kids are struggling a bit. When we traveled to Ireland last summer, we drove a lot from place to place, and moved almost as much from hotel to hotel. We didn’t build in enough downtime, and — boy — did the kids let us know. When you’re on the road, there are different stimuli, different foods, different beds and more. Everyone’s going to have their rough moments. Being patient is critical.

Don’t forget yourself

This might seem opposed to the last one, but it’s not. Parents traveling with kids need to remember that these trips are for moms and dads too. Some trips have built-in breaks, maybe a childcare center on a cruise ship or a family member traveling with you who can give you a break. Even if you don’t, find time for yourself. If there’s something you want to do, don’t sacrifice it because the kids are being grumpy. This can be a juggling act, but remember you’re the one paying for this trip, so the kids shouldn’t have all the fun.

Laugh at the crises

This final one of my family travel tips is the hardest to follow, but it honestly helps a lot. Some bad stuff, more than likely, is going to happen. On our Disney trip, we brought along our au pair. This was only her second-time ever on a plane. We all had only carry-ons with us, and put them in the overhead bins. When we arrived at the Orlando airport, someone got off the plane with her bag. Crisis! We reported the bag and talked to the airline, but in the end, we finally just left. What could we do? My wife and I felt awful, but also assured our au pair she’d have lots of extra shopping time to replenish the clothes she’d lost. Then, lo and behold, the airline called and the bag was returned! It’s not always that simple, but if a crisis happens, try to step back a bit and shrug. It sucks, but you’re still on vacation. And vacations are adventures, after all.

What family travel tips do you have?

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This blog post is part of the #NoDadAlone campaign. Fathering Together/City Dads Group, the National At-Home Dad Network, and Fathers Eve are joining forces to amplify messages that help dads recognize we are not alone! Follow #NoDadAlone on Instagram, and learn more at NoDadAlone.com.

Family travel tips photo by Hanson Lu on Unsplash.

Families will find a Halloween Paradise in Hershey, Pa.! Our family recently went to Hersheypark Halloween for a spooky-filled weekend at “Dark Nights” and it was a spook-tacular experience that exceeded all expectations!

#DarkNights features five haunted houses, three frightening scare zones, rollercoasters in the dark, loads of festive treats, and priceless family fun!

Hersheypark kept all the amazing things you loved about their Dark Nights experiences from last year. And added much more!

Admission tickets to Hersheypark Halloween now include all the Dark Nights haunted houses. This is fantastic that you only pay one price and get all the Dark Nights attractions included!

The scare zones have increased in scale, jaw-dropping immersive features, and have added loads more scare actors. Plus, the pyrotechnic features are a marvel.

The awesome Chocolatier Restaurant Bar + Patio transformed its patio into “Spirits Rooftop” Bar with its own unique, spooktacular menu. We stopped in for a meal and deemed their food to be the best on the property. Can you say Chocolate Martini?

Stay at one of the official resorts of Hersheypark to make the most of your haunted holiday. We stayed at Hershey Lodge and it was as amazing as ever. It allowed our family to make a weekend trip out of our visit from New York City. It also added lots of VIP benefits. These include front gate shuttle service to the park, character meet and greets, and Hershey Chocolate bars for the family at check in. Staying so close to Hersheypark means a short commute to our comfortable beds after staying out late in the thrill park.

A new haunted house, Estate of Evil, is insanity! It features so many rooms (unlucky 13 of them), jump scares, and frightening creativity infused at every turn. We had to go four times during our weekend visit!

Treatville’s Trick-or-Treat Trail is still a star attraction distributing your favorite treats and open until 8:30pm each night. Adults don’t get candy, but you can still “steal” a few favorites from your kids like I did!

NEW THIS YEAR: “Avenue of the Afterlife” scare-free path in the water park featuring a DJ dance party, Dark Nights Character Meet & Greets and street performers. This is the perfect opportunity to meet up-close-and-personal with your favorite Decayed Brigade sliders and snap some selfies.

Experiencing “dark ride” rollercoasters at Hersheypark Halloween when it’s after dark and the lights are turned off was out of this world. It’s a game changer for all coaster fans. Additionally, the light packages on display at some of the rides like Lightening Racer and the Ferris Wheel were truly mesmerizing. If you think Wildcat’s Revenge Rollercoaster was spectacular and thrilling before … try it as a dark ride after the sun goes down! Plus, Laff Trakk is in the pitch-black all day long!

NEW THIS YEAR: ENTERTAINMENT! Performances featuring all of your favorite Hershey characters dressed in Halloween costumes happen at the Music Box Theater several times each day. The infamous Decayed Brigade sliders have their own highlight show with nightly performances. Additionally, there’s an all new “Battle for Spring Creek” Pyrotechnics Show happening by the bridge in Darkstone’s Hollow each night.

Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights happen on weekends from now through Nov. 3, starting at 6 p.m. The closing hour varies by day.

We loved our adventure to Hersheypark for their autumn-themed Halloween festivities as much as we love visiting during the summer. The majority of our favorite rides were open with the added thrill of the Dark Nights attractions, making it a holiday wonderland for our family. What are you waiting for? Plan your family visit to the Sweetest Place on Earth for their Halloween festivities now! There’s only a few more weekends left.

Disclosure: Lance Somerfeld is a member of Hersheypark’s Sweet Insiders Program. The program includes complimentary park passes and one-night hotel accommodations provided by the kind folks at Hershey’s Entertainment & Resorts. His thoughts and opinions are genuine and have not been influenced by the brand. All photos were provided by his family. Photos: Somerfeld family.

Looking for the perfect family destination this summer? Our family’s happy place is Hershey, Pa. — the sweetest place on earth! Home to Hersheypark — the absolute, best amusement park in the entire Northeast — it boasts 15 rollercoasters, a massive waterpark, and endless treats to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.

Our goal is to help your family enjoy all the fun, thrills and food of Hersheypark. Plus, we can help you possibly get through the gates for FREE. Scroll to the bottom for a chance to win an epic family four-pack of tickets to visit this summer or later in the year.

How do we do Hersheypark? Glad you asked!

1. Become season pass holders

After visiting Hersheypark for the past eight summers, we made the leap to becoming first-time season pass holders this year. If you plan to visit a few days during summer, Dark Nights in Fall around Halloween, and Christmas Candylane during winter, a season pass it’s where it’s at. It includes many great benefits and perks — early entry, exclusive pass-holder events, free or reduced parking — in addition to saving lots of money. Financially, if you plan to visit more than three days per year, we recommend purchasing a season pass.

2. Play spot the Big 5

We love hugging, smiling, and posing with the lovable Hershey Characters: Hershey Bar, Reese’s, Jolly Rancher, Twizzler and Kisses. Which is your favorite?

New this year: In addition to being out and about, the characters this year were strategically stationed at some specific photo op points more than we’ve ever experienced. In the past, we had to seek out the famous Hershey characters. Now, it seemed like they were always popping up around the grounds for a high five or quick hug. Also new, sometimes surprise characters like Hershey’s Syrup and Cupfusion’s Gum Drop and Commander Cup show up for the fun. So keep a close eye out.

3. Always stay overnight for 2 or 3 days

We usually make a 3-day weekend out of our adventures because you need at least two days to do Hershey, Pa., and the park right. We just stayed at The Hotel Hershey – a stunning, majestic hotel located directly across the street from Hersheypark. Staying at one of the “official resorts” of Hersheypark comes with a range of awesome perks, including SWEET START! Being a season pass member OR if staying on property at one of the Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, unlocks this priceless experience: one hour of early park access!

Other exclusive benefits of staying at an official Hersheypark resort include:

• free bus shuttle service to and from the front gate
• “Preview Plan”- up to 3 hours at the park the night before your park admission tickets
• best pricing on Hersheypark tickets
• free chocolate at check-in
• an abundance of on-property activities to keep the whole family entertained

Talk about being entertained: The outdoor pool complex at The Hotel Hershey is something out of a fairytale. It features waterslides, mushroom waterfalls, an adult-only infinity pool, a hot tub, a zero-entry pool, and drink service with delicious frozen cocktails. Then, we play glow-golf (mini-golf after dark), roast s’mores, tie-dye shirts, play ping-pong, corn hole, chocolate bingo, and so much more.

4. Conquer the coasters

With 15 rollercoasters, each with their unique quirks, surprises, twists, and thrills, rollercoasters are always our top priority. Buckle up because Hersheypark has some of the most high-octane coasters on the planet!

New this year: The fan favorite and classic Comet wooden coaster is sporting all new, updated trains celebrating over 75 years in operation! Additionally, the thrilling Skyrush coaster got “first class” upgrades with new trains and an awesome lighting package in the station. Come prepared to conquer the coasters and make sure to ride the award-winning and our family favorite, Wildcat’s Revenge!

5. YES DAY! Saying YES to our children!

Just say:

• YES to your kids helping to plan your daily itinerary
• YES to that ice cream sundae, s’more treat, or sweet confection
• YES to going on that ride again and again. Looking at you Wildcat’s Revenge!
• YES to staying until the park closes
• YES to coming back to the SWEETEST PLACE on EARTH

Free tickets to Hersheypark giveaway

Want to win a family four-pack of tickets to Hersheypark? Enter below for a chance to win four general admission tickets this summer or later in the year for the park’s Halloween event, Dark Nights, or Christmas Candylane? Winning tickets will be sent via email.

Important details:

• We’re giving away one family four-pack of one-day ticket general admission to Hersheypark. (Each winner will receive four one-day passes.)
• The contest runs from June 28 through July 10, 2024.
• Entrants must be 18 years or older and residents of the United States.
• One winner will be chosen randomly using Rafflecopter after the entry period ends July 10, 2024.
• The winner must follow Rafflecopter instructions for getting entries
• The winner must supply an email address to receive four electronic tickets to Hersheypark 2024. Tickets are for one daily admission to Hersheypark. The tickets expire on Jan. 1, 2025.
• Hersheypark charges a separate fee for parking, which is NOT included with these tickets. The winner will need to pay for parking if needed.
• City Dads Group is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets.
• The winner must respond to the prize notification within 48 hours otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: Lance Somerfeld is a member of Hersheypark’s Sweet Insiders Program. The program includes complimentary park passes and one-night hotel accommodations to his family provided by the kind folks at Hershey’s Entertainment & Resorts. His thoughts and opinions are genuine and have not been influenced by the brand. All photos were provided by his family.

Hersheypark, the Sweetest Place on Earth, has become a Halloween fan’s heaven! We went to the opening weekend for the 2023 Hersheypark Halloween celebration and its Dark Nights experience and it was an absolute dream (or is that “scream”) that exceeded all expectations.

This year, you’ll find five haunted houses (one more than last year) and three epic “scare zones” in addition to loads of rides, trick-or-treating at “Treatville,” awesome lights-out rollercoasters, and priceless family fun. Hersheypark kept all of the amazing things you loved about their Dark Nights extravaganza from last year and elevated it.

After spending an entire three-day weekend at Hersheypark Halloween, we’ve got the scoop on what’s new as well as insider tips for getting the most from this action-packed, electrifying family experience.

But hurry up! There are only two weekends left before Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights disappear!

Dark Nights Tickets

New this year, your admission ticket to Hersheypark Halloween ALSO includes admission to all the Dark Nights haunted houses and scare zone attractions. This is a significant cost savings! Previously, you needed to pay for an “add-on” or wait at an automated kiosk to get a wristband. Beware, though: Since every visiting guest has access to the haunted houses, the lines are longer this year.

Scare zones

Fallout Zone, Midway of Misery, and Darkstone’s Hollow have increased in scale. Jaw-dropping immersive features and loads of scare actors have been added. We loved the floating “fobbles” (fog inside bubbles), mesmerizing pyrotechnics, and watching the Decayed Brigade team of actors “sliding” across the pavement scaring the wits out of unsuspecting guests. Wandering the scare zones at dusk and after dark is a worthy attraction on its own accord.

Pro Tip: Last year, our 7-year-old daughter was worried about being frightened. We invested in a cute, but pricey “no boo” bat necklace. It lights up, is fun to wear, and alerts the scare actors NOT to scare you. It is available again this year for the faint of heart.

Haunted Houses

Hersheypark Dark Nights has five haunted houses filled with loads of “scare” actors at every turn, shadowy figures, animatronics, and mesmerizing special effects. The newest addition, Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir, is bone-chilling, ghastly and gory. However, our favorite remains The Descent, which had some creative newly added features over last year’s version.

The variety of haunted houses, recommended for ages 13 and over, are:

• Creatures Uncaged — This mainly outdoor experience introduces you to fearful and deadly creatures that lurk. Don’t worry, they’re in their cages. For now.
• Haunted Coal Mine — Enjoy this immersive preshow where you’re thrust onto an elevator down into the coal mines. Then, take a daring trek through the abandoned mines for what becomes an explosive encounter.
• *NEW* Auntie Mortem’s Abattoir — Enter this meat processing plant at your own risk. Prepare to cringe in this gruesome labyrinth as you desperately try to escape.
• The Descent — Who prowls the dark underground tunnels beneath Hersheypark? Follow into the depths of decay where the only way out … is down!
• Twisted Carnevil — Have your tarot cards read by a twisted fortune teller! Then, be forced into a never-ending carnival of nightmares. Was it real or was it all in your mind? This haunted house featured some amazing mirror maze haunts!

The Hersheypark Halloween Dark Nights experience starts at 6 p.m. With sunset around that time, you want to save the outdoor experiences like Creatures Uncaged until it’s pitch black so you enjoy them in all of their eerie splendor.

Note: In addition to the scare actors, inside the haunted houses you’ll find a significant amount of security guards. They made us feel safe and kept the crowd flowing smoothly through the dark mazes. If someone in your party becomes too scared, security will quickly escort them out of one of the numerous exits.

Trick-or-Treating

The Boardwalk water park area is transformed into “Treatville,” a good old-fashioned trick-or-treating trail. You’ll find 10 pit stops to load up on your favorite Hershey candy, take lots of photos in festive settings, and enjoy quality time with your family. The lines at “Treatville” got significantly longer around sundown so plan to enjoy this activity earlier in the day. Note: Treatville closes at 8 p.m.

Foodie Experiences

New this year, is the RIP Dinner Buffet & MEAT the Monsters — a dreadfully delicious all-you-care-to-eat buffet featuring eerie entrées like Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Test Tubes, yummy desserts, and a large dose of dinner theater as several unsavory characters (from the Scare Zones and haunted houses) visit and engage at your table. Our family tried this one evening and absolutely loved the experience.

Plus, as a special RIP dinner guest, you’ll receive a single-use fast-track pass that lets you skip the line for a haunted house or participating ride. This was an excellent perk to jump to the front of the line on the newest haunted house.

Next time, we’d like to try the “Dark Nights Tasting Pass” which enables you to sample up to five specialty menu items throughout the park.

Rides: Are they still open?

The majority of Hersheypark’s most popular rides and rollercoasters are still open during their Halloween and Dark Nights. You can count on riding Skyrush, Reese’s Cupfusion, Laff Trakk, Comet, and Carrousel.

Hersheypark’s “Dark Ride” is out of this world and something every rollercoaster enthusiast should experience. During the last hour of every evening, prepare for an intense, lights-off thrill ride on Wildcat’s Revenge, Comet, Lightning Racer, and Candymonium. Plus, Laff Trakk has its lights off for the entire day.

If you think the award-winning Wildcat’s Revenge was spectacular and thrilling before …wait until you try it as a dark ride!

What’s the best day to visit Dark Nights?

Smaller crowds on Fridays (and even Sundays) meant enjoying more time on our favorite rides and attractions and less congestion in the scare zones and haunted houses. Based on our many past visits, Saturdays are always jam-packed with park guests and that was 100% true for this year’s Halloween visit as well. This means extremely long food lines and lengthy wait times on rides. Make sure to download the Hersheypark app for real-time “wait times” to help plan your itinerary.

Pro Tip: Plan to stay for the last hour or two before the park closes when lines get significantly shorter because most families with younger children have already left to start their bedtime routines.

Hersheypark’s Halloween has become a new family tradition and can’t wait to return in 2024 to see what new attractions, updates, and surprises they have in store for us. Even if you can’t make it to Dark Nights this year, definitely put it on your family’s list of autumn destinations for next year!

Hersheypark Halloween Dark Nights schedule

Hersheypark Halloween and Dark Nights runs weekends through Oct. 29. Unfortunately, it’s closed on Halloween – Tuesday, Oct. 31. Dark Nights begins weekend nights at 6 PM. Closing time varies by the day.

What happens when it rains?

Wait times are usually shortest when it’s raining. The crowds bolt indoors to shop and eat or leave to head home. That means more rides for families that stick it out! We always come prepared with rain ponchos and relish having the park nearly to ourselves during rain showers.

Don’t like getting wet? You can still ride while escaping the rain on several indoor/covered rides: Reese’s Cupfusion, Laff Trakk, Kissing Tower, the carousel and bumper cars, for example. Or head over to Hershey’s Chocolate World for their free and entertaining chocolate factory tour ride.

Pro Tip: If the weather gets severe and causes the majority of major rides and attractions to close for a continuous 60 minutes, a voucher may be issued for a return visit for the current operating season

Disclosure: Lance Somerfeld is a member of Hersheypark’s Sweetest Families Program. The program includes complimentary park passes and hotel accommodations for our family provided by the kind folks at Hershey’s Entertainment & Resorts. His thoughts and opinions are genuine and have not been influenced by the brand. All photos by the Somerfeld family.

Summertime is the perfect time to take the kids to an amusement park. Hersheypark in Pennsylvania makes for an ideal destination and, as seasoned veterans of The Sweetest Place on Earth, we have the ultimate cheat sheet on having a successful, entertaining and sweet vacation! If your family is going to read one article to get you prepared for a Hersheypark Happy visit, this should be your primary source.

In addition to helping your family enjoy all the fun, thrills and food with minimal hassles, we can help you possibly get through the gates for FREE. Scroll to the bottom for a chance to win an epic family four-pack of tickets to visit this summer or later in the year.

Secret #1: “Sweet Start” — VIP status means more rides

A fantastic bonus offered exclusively to guests at the official resorts of Hersheypark and some levels of season-pass holders is the “Sweet Start” option.

Sweet Start allows you to feel like a VIP. At no extra charge, you may enter Hersheypark one hour before the general public and access numerous popular rides in the front half of the park. These include Candymonium, Comet, Skyrush, Sooperdooperlooper and Reese’s Cupfusion. This amazing perk enabled our family to go several times on rollercoasters that usually have long lines and wait times. In fact, we can usually knock off seven or eight rides during Sweet Start.

Additionally, if you come the day before your ticketed visit to the amusement park, the “Preview Plan” allows you to enter Hersheypark three hours BEFORE closing that night. That’s three hours of bonus fun time to enjoy the rides and attractions.

Secret #2: Stay overnight at an official park resort

Hersheypark is our family’s happy place. Rather than cram in over 70 attractions — including 15 top-notch rollercoasters — in one day, we recommend staying two days to experience it all. We stayed overnight at The Hotel Hershey — located directly across from the amusement and water parks.

The Hotel Hershey, one of three official lodging sites, was as magical of an experience as the park. The accommodations were amazing and provided panoramic views of the rides and attractions.

Why is The Hotel Hershey so special?

For us, it was:

• The breathtaking, outdoor pool complex. (There’s an indoor pool on the property, too.) Here, you can sip frozen cocktails under a shady umbrella while watching your kids race through water slides in the pool.
• Roasting s’mores at a family-friendly fire pit EVERY evening was amazing as well.
• My children love the loads of engaging activities throughout the day like making ice-cream sundaes, playing “glow golf” after dark and bingo where the prizes are full-size Hershey candy bars!

When you stay at an official Hersheypark Resort, you receive VIP perks like Sweet Start (secret #1), Preview Plan and free shuttle service to an exclusive drop-off location – just steps away from the front gate of Hersheypark.

Secret #3: Candymonium — timing is everything

One of Hersheypark’s most popular rides is Candymonium. Located in Hershey’s Chocolatetown, right near the front gates, Candymonium the park’s tallest, fastest, longest and sweetest rollercoaster. It’s our second favorite thrill ride at Hersheypark. However, Candymonium often has average wait times of an hour or more.

Candymonium is included in Sweet Start, so make it your FIRST stop when the gates open. We’ve also found wait times for Candymonium usually dip to under 20 minutes in the late afternoon/evening before dark. Why? This is when most guests are deep inside the park. That could be another window of opportunity to ride this not-to-be-missed coaster.

Secret #4: “Rope Drop” — Hustle to your top attraction

Sweet Start is only for the rides in the front half of the park. It doesn’t include ZooAmerica or The Boardwalk waterpark. However, you’ve already been through security, had tickets scanned, and can be perfectly positioned inside the park near the Chevrolet Music Box theater where security guards have another set of gates and ropes set up as a barrier until Hersheypark officially opens. If you position yourselves at the “rope drop” area, it sets your family up to be among the first ones on any of the rides or waterpark attractions in the back half once Hersheypark fully opens. That’s invaluable on busy summer days.

We recommend you have a plan in advance. The entire family should select one popular attraction that can you hustle to (be safe because some guests literally race) when it’s rope drop time. We’ve tried this strategy on all of our visits and usually walk right onto popular attractions like LaffTrakk, Breaker’sEdge Water Coaster or Jolly Rancher’s Remix.

Secret #5: New entertainment – “The Sweet Escapes”

Want another way to brighten your day at Hersheypark? One new, extremely entertaining attraction this summer is the delightful “Sweet Escapes” a cappella group. This colorful and talented bunch is stationed by The Boardwalk waterpark and sings its hearts out four times a day. We timed our lunch each day so we could dine outdoors in the shade and sing along to their catchy tunes.

Secret #6: New rollercoaster — Wildcat’s Revenge

Buckle up! Hershpark’s newest attraction is Wildcat’s Revenge which opened in early June. You definitely need to ride this Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) hybrid coaster. It’s an amazing addition to the iconic rollercoasters at the park. Wildcat’s Revenge is sleek, smooth and so epic that we rode it six times on opening day! Get ready for 2 1/2 minutes of ride time during which you’ll be thrust at 62 mph and rolled for four inversions including the world’s largest underflip!

More importantly, we love how Hersheypark designed this intense coaster with families in mind. Even our 8-year-old daughter was tall enough to enjoy the thrill.

Secret #7: Download the Hersheypark app

Most people enter Hersheypark and start with the rides nearest to the entrance. Then, they either work their way back or follow a rigid agenda that tries to squeeze everything into one day. Forget those approaches.

Thriving in Hersheypark starts with the free and fairly reliable Hersheypark mobile app. It enabled our family to strategize and maximize our fun time.

First, keep a loose agenda. Start by creating it based on park geography using the app’s online park map. Then drill into its useful tools, such as ride descriptions and minimum heights, then apply the app’s “ride wait time” feature — it’s a game changer.

We always kept a close eye on the app for wait times under 25 minutes for our favorite attractions like Sooperdooperlooper, Breakers Edge Water Coaster and Candymonium.

Secret #8: Food and treats exceed expectations

Most people don’t get excited about eating at a theme park. Hersheypark, though, elevates the culinary experience. There are quality, name-brand options across the park. These include many of our favorites, such as Nathan’s Famous, Subway, Chick Fil-A and Moe’s Southwest Grill. East Coast Mini Donuts are also outstanding.

Additionally, we always carve out time for a family meal at The Chocolatier. It’s our favorite restaurant on the property. This not-to-be-missed destination features a diverse menu including crowd-pleasers like nachos, club sandwiches, chicken and waffles, and sweet potato fries. Our best memories, however, are of their drool-worthy dessert menu.

We also love the house-made, custom-created ice creams at Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor located just down the stairs from The Chocolatier. Try the toasted marshmallow! Another tasty option is to grab a batch of homemade cookies or fudge at neighboring The Sweeterie!

Secret #9: Water, water, everywhere

Staying hydrated at Hersheypark is important. You’re allowed to bring in your own sealed water bottles or empty bottles that can be refilled at numerous bottle-filling Coca-Cola Freestyle locations throughout the park. The water at the filling stations is ice cold!

Secret #10: Take the path less traveled

The best way to beat the crowds over to The Hollow Area, especially Skyrush and SooperDooperLooper, is to take “Skyrush Way” which is a little-known secret. This shady path navigates around the winding turns of the Skyrush Rollercoaster and literally drops you off at the entry gate to the ride. During “Sweet Start,” this should be your go-to path. It lets you avoid the massive crowds headed through Founder’s Way.

Secret #11: Hit The Boardwalk waterpark when it opens

Remember, your Hersheypark admission ticket INCLUDES The Boardwalk waterpark as well as ZooAmerica. The lines for waterpark attractions are much more manageable when The Boardwalk first opens for the day. This season, The Boardwalk opens at the same time as the rest of Hersheypark. Lines are also much lighter on weekday visits, so skip weekends if you can.

There’s something for everyone at The Boardwalk, but we recommend making a dash for Breakers Edge Water Coaster. It’s an incredible ride, arguably the best at The Boardwalk. Naturally, it normally has the longest wait time. We usually hit it twice in a row before the crowds descend on it. The nearby Whitecap Racer is a spectacular, timed mat-racing slide, and the entire family can get whisked through looping tunnels to determine who is the champion.

What are you waiting for? Make Hersheypark your next family getaway.

Ticket giveaway for visiting Hersheypark

Want to win a family four-pack of tickets to Hersheypark? Enter below for a chance to win four general admission tickets this summer or later in the year for the park’s Halloween event, Dark Nights, or Christmas Candylane? Winning tickets will be sent via email.

Important details:

• We’re giving away one family four-pack of one-day ticket general admission to Hersheypark. (Each winner will receive four one-day passes.)
• The contest runs from June 23 through July 7, 2023.
• Entrants must be 18 years or older and residents of the United States.
• One winner will be chosen randomly using Rafflecopter after the entry period ends July 7, 2023.
• The winner must follow Rafflecopter instructions for getting entries
• The winner must supply an email address to receive four electronic tickets to Hersheypark 2023. Tickets are for one daily admission to Hersheypark. The tickets expire on Jan. 1, 2024.
• Hersheypark charges a separate fee for parking, which is NOT included with these tickets. The winner will need to pay for parking if needed.
• City Dads Group is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets.
• The winner must respond to the prize notification within 48 hours otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: Lance Somerfeld is a member of Hersheypark’s Sweetest Families Program. The program includes complimentary park passes and hotel accommodations for our family provided by the kind folks at Hershey’s Entertainment & Resorts. His thoughts and opinions are genuine and have not been influenced by the brand. All photos were provided by his family.

Most people think of Hersheypark — with it’s combined theme park, zoo and water park — as the ultimate summer destination. You might be surprised to know that Hersheypark is open daily for the rest of December (closed Christmas Day) and through January 1, 2023.

During the most wonderful time of the year, you’ll be amazed by the Hersheypark Christmas Candylane spectacular. The seasonal event is a feast for the eyes as it features more than five million twinkling lights. Most incredible is the NOEL light show with lights synchronized to holiday music.

It’s also a sense-tingling thrill time. Several family-friendly rides are open including six awesome roller coasters, including Candymonium and Laff Trakk. Additionally, your taste buds will be dancing. Hersheypark rolls out a host of holiday-themed sweet treats like s’mores carts, king-sized shakes and their signature hot chocolate (see photo).

Their Christmas Candylane event includes photo ops with Santa Claus, of course. But it also prides itself as being the only Northeast destination with an interactive, up-close experience with Santa’s Reindeer, including Rudolph!

The Boardwalk water park becomes a festive holiday adventure trail called TREEville. The trail includes a dozen pit-stops with uniquely decorated trees, each sharing stories about the Sweetest Place on Earth.

Don’t want to be chilly? You can also enjoy some Hershey magic from the comforts of your own car. Just outside Hersheypark is the Hershey Sweet Lights drive-through attraction, open nightly through New Year’s Day 2023. This experience (beware: you need a separate ticket) includes two miles of fields and trails with beautifully designed, animated displays and LED lights galore.

Beyond Christmas Candylane and Hershey Sweet Lights, there is still plenty of fun to be had to make it a Hersheypark happy holiday:

• Make a personalized Hershey chocolate bar or hop on the FREE tour ride on how chocolate is made at Hershey’s Chocolate World.
• Play and stay at one of the Hershey’s Entertainment Resorts.
• View some animals at ZooAmerica.

Coming in 2023: Wildcat’s Revenge roller coaster

Already looking forward to 2023 at Hersheypark? So are we!

The Wildcat roller coaster is back with an exhilarating twist! The all-new wood and steel hybrid coaster, Wildcat’s Revenge, will take riders on a thrilling new Hersheypark experience. Climb a 140-foot hill, hit max speeds of 62 mph, dive into an 82-degree drop, invert four times, and get whisked through the world’s largest underflip. This new coaster will be ready for Summer 2023 and is the most highly anticipated ride opening since Candymonium.

Disclosure: Lance Somerfeld is a member of Hersheypark’s Sweetest Families Program. The program includes complimentary park passes and hotel accommodations for our family provided by the kind folks at Hershey’s Entertainment & Resorts. His thoughts and opinions are genuine and have not been influenced from the brand. All photos provided by Hersheypark.

Hersheypark, the Sweetest Place on Earth, has reimagined its entire Halloween experience for families in 2022! The old “Hersheypark in the Dark” is now “Dark Nights”!

This year at the Pennsylvania theme park you’ll find four haunted houses and three “scare zones” in addition to loads of rides, trick-or-treating at “Treatville,” and awesome lights-out rollercoasters. We just returned from a Hersheypark Halloween weekend with an 11-tip family fun guide for getting the most from this action-packed, electrifying family experience.

But hurry up! There are only two weekends left before Halloween!

1. Trick-or-treat at Treatville early in the day

Head to the festive Boardwalk water park area to indulge in good old-fashioned trick-or-treating. You’ll find 10 pit stops to load up on candy, take lots of photos in creative fall settings, and enjoy quality time with your family. The lines at Treatville got significantly longer around sundown so plan to enjoy this activity earlier in the day.

Family fun guide pro tip: Unlike last year’s Hersheypark Halloween experience, parents get to trick-or-treat as well.

2. Get your Dark Nights wristband early in the day

At this year’s Hersheypark Halloween celebration, you will need a special Dark Nights wristband (additional fee required) for entry to the four haunted houses. We recommend obtaining yours earlier in the day when lines are shorter. Additionally, you can get your wristband at several of the HPGO Stations. However, the kiosks by the park entrance and the Reese’s Cupfusion ride had very long lines. We found kiosks with almost no lines further inside the park, like the one by the Trailblazer ride.

3. Do the two indoor haunted houses first

Hersheypark Dark Nights has four haunted houses filled with loads of “scare” actors at every turn and mesmerizing special effects. For the first year of this transformative Hersheypark Halloween experience, they did an outstanding job.

The haunted houses, recommended for ages 13 and over, are:

• Creature Chaos — This mainly outdoor experience introduces you to fearful and deadly creatures. Don’t worry, they’re in their cages. For now.
• Haunted Coal Mine — Enjoy this immersive preshow where you’re thrust onto an elevator down into the coal mines. Then, take a daring trek through the abandoned mines for what becomes an explosive encounter.
• The Descent — Engaging indoor preshow. Who prowls the dark underground tunnels beneath Hersheypark? Follow into the depths of decay where the only way out … is down!
• Twisted Darkness — Have your tarot cards read by a twisted fortune teller and be forced into a never-ending carnival of nightmares. Was it real or was it all in your mind? This haunted house featured some amazing mirror maze haunts!

The Hersheypark Halloween Dark Nights experience starts at 6 p.m. With sunset around that time, you want to save the outdoor experiences until it’s pitch black so you enjoy them in all of their spooky splendor. We recommend going to The Descent or Twisted Darkness first. They’re both completely indoors so it doesn’t lose its impact if it’s still light out.

The Haunted Coal Mine topped our list of favorites. We loved this immersive, frightening attraction so much we went through it four times.

Note: In addition to the scare actors, inside the haunted houses you’ll find a significant amount of security guards which we were very happy about. They made us feel safe and kept the crowd flowing smoothly through the dark mazes.

Family fun guide pro tip: The Descent and Haunted Coal Mine seemed to have the longest lines. Queue up for those first.

4. Enjoy many of the other Hersheypark rides

The majority of Hersheypark’s most popular rides and rollercoasters are still open during their Halloween Dark Nights. You can count on riding Skyrush, Reese’s Cupfusion, Laff Trakk, Comet, and Carrousel. Sadly, the waterpark is closed for the season.

5. Ride a rollercoaster with the lights off!

Hersheypark’s Dark Ride is something that every rollercoaster enthusiast should experience. During the last hour of every evening, prepare for an intense, lights-off thrill ride on Comet, Lightning Racer, and Candymonium. Plus, Laff Trakk has its lights off for the entire day.

6. The Hersheypark Halloween vibe is contagious

Numerous families come to celebrate Dark Night dressed up in Halloween costumes. Dense fog, strobe lights, and spooky music add to the festive charm as you navigate the theme park after sundown.

7. Are the new scare zones scary?

We found the scare zones more fascinating than scary. We spent time relishing in the fog and loved watching flames burst into the sky as guests walked through a creepy gateway in Midway of Misery. The memorable Midway of Misery zone was our favorite and we recommend every guest to head over there to see what it’s all about.

Family fun guide pro tip: My 7-year-old daughter was worried about being frightened. We invested in an adorable, but pricey “no boo” bat necklace. It lights up, is fun to wear, and alerts the scare actors NOT to scare you.

8. Remember to indulge in fall-inspired treats!

Festive king-sized shakes, sundaes, and cupcakes are added to your usual Hershey favorites. You definitely need to seek out the warm, pumpkin-spiced mini-doughnuts for something truly drool-worthy.

9. Go visit Hershey’s Chocolatetown

Yes, Hershey’s Chocolatetown is open during the Hersheypark Halloween Dark Nights extravaganza! Our favorite destination on the property, The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio was exactly what our family needed before our thrilling evening. The weather was mild so we enjoyed dining outdoors on their grand patio with expansive views of Candymonium, Skyrush and more. We loaded up on dessert with local dairy, house-made ice cream at Milton’s, and Halloween cupcakes at the Sweeterie Confectionery Kitchen. Plus, our visit is never complete without adding a new stuffed animal to our collection at The Supply Company.

10. Visit Dark Nights on Friday and/or Sunday during Hersheypark Halloween

Smaller crowds on Fridays (and even Sundays) mean enjoying more time on our favorite rides and attractions and less congestion in the haunted houses. Based on our many past visits, Saturdays are always literally packed with park guests. This means extremely long food lines and lengthy wait times on rides. Make sure to download the Hersheypark app for real-time, “wait times” to help plan your agenda.

Family fun guide pro tip: The “late” bird catches the worm. Plan to stay for the last hour or two before the park closes when lines get significantly shorter because most families with younger children have already left to start their bedtime routines.

11. Stay overnight at an official Hersheypark Resort

A three-hour drive from NYC is too much for us to do twice in one day. We planned our visit in advance and that included an overnight stay at an official Hersheypark Resort. This time it was Hershey Lodge, just a few short minutes from Hersheypark. We loved our experience! The stay included convenient shuttle bus service to/from the front gate of Hersheypark, candy-bar bingo, and frolicking in their indoor “Water Works” waterpark.

Disclosure: Lance Somerfeld is a member of Hersheypark’s Sweetest Families Program. The program includes complimentary park passes and hotel accommodations for our family provided by the kind folks at Hershey’s Entertainment & Resorts. His thoughts and opinions are genuine and have not been influenced by the brand. All photos by the Somerfeld family.

A few weeks before our family left for a weeklong Disney World adventure, I posted a meme. It read, “Vacationing with kids is just parenting in another city.” Now, a couple of months removed from our Florida trip, I began thinking back on a few things I learned along the way. My hope is these theme park hacks might save you some money and frustration during your next family trip.

Maybe skip the rental car

Most of us are programmed to rent a car when we travel simply for convenience. We experienced multiple issues on our trip with two different rental car companies. One was literally the subject of a Seinfeld episode (holding the reservation is the most important part of a reservation!). Then there was the dead car battery four days into our vacation. And, finally, the dead key fob that resulted in us being stranded in a Disney World parking lot for three hours. 

My main takeaway from these incidents: maybe we didn’t need a rental car at all. 

We spent most days swimming at our resort or visiting with family staying at their nearby hotels. On the other days, we went from our resort to the theme parks and back. The rental was basically parked most of the day in an overpriced Disney lot for $25 to $50 a day. That’s on top of the rental car fee that included 10 different taxes and fees not to mention fluctuating gas prices and tolls. In contrast, an Uber from our hotel to the parks was $15 to 20 one way.

So for around $40 a day, we could have been hassle-free. And we would still have our neck pillows which were trapped in our dead car and then lost by the rental company.

Get the “fast pass”

If you are doing Disney or any theme park thing, just go all in. Buying the “fast pass” (or the park’s equivalent) is well worth the extra cost per ticket (the Walt Disney World Genie+ fast pass costs $15 per person). It allows you to skip waits for several rides throughout the day. We used ours to focus on the rides that usually have the longest lines. Then you can save your actual waiting for other less popular rides with shorter or more reasonable lines. 

Buy souvenirs before you get there

I have three kids, and I knew they would want souvenirs at Disney. So, we hit up a nearby Target and let them go nuts (not too nuts but enough to be happy). They got a branded water bottle from the $1 section at the very front of the store and then I let each of them pick three T-shirts (one for each park we were visiting). Buying nine T-shirts with their favorite characters on them for under $12.99 each saved us a bundle when shirts at the parks were $20 and up.

Pro theme park hacks: We also promised we would buy them their own “laser swords” on Amazon so they would be less inclined to want to build their own light saber in the Star Wars park at $150 per person. Not to mention, the more bought when you travel, the more to figure out how to bring back home.

Eat affordably

Breakfast, lunch and dinner add up quickly. One way to save is to stay at a hotel that includes a free hot breakfast. (“Hot” usually means a waffle maker and a tray of scrambled eggs versus cold cereal and fruit). For lunch, many parks let you bring food in, so we hit a supermarket for cold cuts and snacks.

If you want to splurge, save it for dinner. While we would have saved more by eating outside of Disney, having a reservation for one of the themed on-site restaurants proved a fun experience. It also offered a nice time to recharge since those restaurants tended to be less busy and crowded than the walk-up restaurants. 

If your hotel room has a kitchen, making a simple meal for one or two nights can really save you. Think pasta or hot dogs.

Pro theme park hacks: Bring a refillable water bottle! Many parks today have water fountains or refill stations. For example, concession stands at Disney World let you refill with ice and water for free. 

Remember to have fun

You’ll have spent a lot of money just getting to your destination. You’ll spend even more when you get there. But don’t get so caught up in what you have spent that you forget why you are there: to make good memories with your family.

Make sure not only that kids are having fun but also that they are not so tired by day’s end that they won’t want to ever go to another theme park. At Disney World, for example, the parks are huge, and for much of the year, Florida is hot. And, don’t forget, kids love to complain. Be ready for that and be adaptable because kids will be kids.

Pro theme park hacks: Take the opportunity to teach your kids a bit about the value of a dollar. When they ask for some overpriced trinket, see how much they still want it when you tell them to use their allowance. That’s how you raise a smart consumer.

Theme park hacks photo: © Rawpixel.com / Adobe Stock.

Take the kids to an amusement park on a summer weekend? Are you crazy? Not all at. A trip to Hersheypark in Pennsylvania makes for the perfect two- or three-day getaway and, as seasoned veterans of Hershey, Pa., we have insider tips on not just surviving while visiting Hersheypark but thriving there!

In addition to helping your family enjoy all the fun, thrills and food with minimal hassles, we can help you possibly get in the gates for FREE. Scroll to the bottom for a chance to win an epic family four-pack of tickets to visit this summer or later in the year.

Tip #1. There’s a Hersheypark app for that!

Most people enter Hersheypark and start with the rides nearest to the entrance. Then, they either slowly work their way back or follow a rigid agenda that tries to squeeze everything into one day. Forget those approaches.

Surviving Hersheypark starts with the free and reasonably reliable Hersheypark mobile app. It enabled our family to strategize and maximize our fun time.

First, keep a loose agenda. Start by creating it based on park geography using the app’s online park map. Then drill into its useful tools, such as ride descriptions and minimum heights, then apply the app’s ultimate weapon — a “ride wait time” feature.

We’re always obsessed with the app during our visits. We kept a close eye for wait times under 20 minutes for our favorite attractions like Sooperdooperlooper, Breakers Edge Water Coaster and Candymonium. When we see those magic numbers, we take off!

Tip #2: Don’t let rain wash out your good times

Most families cringe when rain starts falling during their visit to Hersheypark. Not us.

Wait times are usually shortest when inclement weather hits. The crowds bolt indoors to shop and eat or leave to head home. That means more rides for us! We always come prepared with rain ponchos and relish having the park nearly to ourselves during showers.

Don’t like getting wet? You can still ride while escaping the rain on several indoor/covered rides: Reese’s Cupfusion, Laff Trakk, Kissing Tower, the carousel and bumper cars, for example. Or head over to Hershey’s Chocolate World for their free and entertaining chocolate factory tour ride.

Visiting Hersheypark Pro Tip: If the weather gets severe and causes the majority of major rides and attractions to close for a continuous 60 minutes, a voucher may be issued for a return visit for the current operating season.

Tip #3: Don’t miss Hersheypark’s Jolly Rancher rides

Everyone always wants to be in on what’s new and trending. Here are two bright additions to Hersheypark’s playscape.

Jolly Rancher Remix is one of 15 Hersheypark rollercoasters. Formerly known as the Sidewinder, this reimagined boomerang coaster takes thrill seekers on a “flavor ride.” Riders and their senses zoom forward and backwards on the same track, inverting six times in 90 seconds while jamming to sweet, catchy tunes. Jolly Rancher Remix features five randomized flavor rides, like Watermelon or Green Apple. Each features completely different music, lights and SCENTS as you blast through the “flavor tunnel.” You’ll definitely want to ride it a few times like we did to compare each immersive experience. 

Mix’d Flavored By Jolly Rancher is steps away from Jolly Rancher Remix. Riders of this family attraction sit in one of the massive four arms and spin 360 degrees. The ride really shifts into gear when it mixes, lifts and drops, providing spectacular park views as you dodge the other riders. My 7-year-old couldn’t get enough of this ride!

While there, don’t miss the Frozen Spoon food truck next to Mix’d. It offers Jolly Rancher Grape, Green Apple, Cherry, and Blue Raspberry sorbets to help keep your family cool and refreshed.

Tip #4: New heights in amusement park food and treats 

We don’t usually get excited about eating at a theme park. Hersheypark, though, elevates the whole experience. There are quality, name-brand options across the park. These include many of our favorites, such as Nathan’s Famous, Subway, Chick Fil-A and Moe’s Southwest Grill. The East Coast Mini Donuts are also unbelievable!

Additionally, we always carve time out for a family meal at The Chocolatier. This culinary destination features a restaurant, bar and an expansive second-floor, outdoor patio with spectacular views.

The largest restaurant in all Hershey, Pa., The Chocolatier features a diverse menu. We enjoyed nachos, chicken and waffles, flatbreads and a host of other unique dining options. Our best memories, however, are of their dreamy dessert menu. It includes Chocolate Fun-Due (like a chocolate fountain), The Chocolatier Cake and milkshakes.

Visiting Hersheypark Pro Tip: Make reservations at The Chocolatier in advance using the Open Table app or the restaurant website. Book as soon as you know the dates you’re visiting the park this summer because wait times can be long!

Visiting Hersheypark Pro Tip #2: Staying hydrated is important. You’re allowed to bring in your own sealed water bottles or empty bottles that can be refilled at various locations throughout the park.

Tip #5: “Sweet Start” — More rides, less waiting

An incredible bonus offered exclusively to guests at the official resorts of Hersheypark and some levels of season-pass holders is the “Sweet Start” option.

Sweet Start allows you to feel like a VIP. You can enter Hersheypark one hour before the general public and access several popular areas in the front half of the park including Candymonium, Skyrush, Comet and Sooperdooperlooper. This amazing perk enabled our family to go several times on rollercoasters that usually have long lines and wait times.

While Sweet Start is only for the rides in the front half of the park, it sets you up to be among the first ones on any of the rides in the back half once Hersheypark fully opens. That’s invaluable on busy summer days.

Lastly, if you come the day before your ticketed visit to the amusement park, “Preview Plan” allows you to enter Hersheypark three hours BEFORE closing that night. That’s three hours of bonus fun time to enjoy the rides and attractions.

Visiting Hersheypark Pro Tip: One of Hersheypark’s newer and most popular rides is Candymonium. Located in Hershey’s Chocolatetown, Candymonium is the park’s tallest, fastest, longest and sweetest rollercoaster. It has become our favorite thrill ride in all the land. With average wait times of an hour or more, Candymonium is easily one of the most popular rides in the entire park. Candymonium is included in Sweet Start, so make it your FIRST stop when the gates open. We’ve also found wait times for Candymonium dip in the late afternoon so that could be another window of opportunity to ride this impressive coaster.

Tip #6: Hit The Boardwalk waterpark when it opens

The lines for waterpark attractions are much more manageable when The Boardwalk first opens for the day. They are also much lighter on weekday visits, so skip weekends if you have the choice.

There’s something for everyone at The Boardwalk, but we recommend making a beeline for Breakers Edge Water Coaster. It’s an incredible ride and usually has the longest wait time. We usually hit it three times in a row before the crowds descend on this ultra-popular attraction.

Visiting Hersheypark Pro Tip: Shade is a rarity in The Boardwalk. Make sure to set up a home base under one of the canopied or umbrella areas when you first arrive. Those spots go quickly!

Tip #7: Don’t do everything in one day – stay overnight at an official park resort

Rather than drive three hours back to New York City after an action-packed day of thrills in Hersheypark, we stayed overnight at The Hotel Hershey — located directly across from the amusement and water parks. The Hotel Hershey, one of three official lodging sites, was as memorable of an experience as the park! The accommodations were luxurious and provided panoramic views of the rides and attractions.

Why is The Hotel Hershey so special?

• You receive Hershey Bars and have photo opportunities with some of the park mascots at check-in.
• Breathtaking, outdoor pool complex (there’s an indoor pool on the property, too) to cool off. Or sip frozen cocktails under a shady umbrella while watching your kids zip and zag through water slides in the pool.
• Roasting s’mores at a family-friendly fire pit EVERY evening.
• Loads of engaging activities throughout the day like making ice-cream sundaes, playing “glow golf” after dark and bingo where the prizes are full-size Hershey bars!

When you stay at an official Hersheypark Resort, you receive VIP perks like Sweet Start, Preview Plan, and free shuttle service to an exclusive drop-off location – just steps away from the front gate of Hersheypark.

Ticket giveaway for visiting Hersheypark

Want to win a family four-pack of tickets so you can visit Hersheypark? Enter below for a chance to win four general admission tickets this summer or later in the year for the park’s Halloween event, Dark Nights, or Christmas Candylane? Winning tickets will be sent via email.

Important details:

• We’re giving away one family four-pack of 1-day ticket general admission to Hersheypark. (Each winner will receive four 1-day passes.)
• Contest runs July 26 through Aug 9, 2022.
• Entrants must be 18 years or older and residents of the United States.
• ONE winner will be chosen randomly using Rafflecopter after the entry period ends Aug. 9, 2022.
• Winner must follow Rafflecopter instructions for getting entries
• Winner must supply email address to receive four electronic tickets to Hersheypark 2022. Tickets are for one daily admission to Hersheypark. The tickets expire Jan. 1, 2023.
• Hersheypark charges a separate fee for parking, which is NOT included with these tickets. The winner will need to pay for parking if needed.
• City Dads Group is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets.
• Winner must respond to prize notification within 48 hours otherwise a new winner will be chosen.

Disclosure: Lance Somerfeld is a member of Hersheypark’s Sweetest Families Program. The program includes complimentary park passes and hotel accommodations for our family provided by the kind folks at Hershey’s Entertainment & Resorts. His thoughts and opinions are genuine and have not been influenced from the brand. All photos provided by Hersheypark.

If your family is like mine, we are raring for adventure, a sense of normality and mouth-watering treats this summer. So, in 2022, we’re heading back to the “Sweetest Place on Earth” — Hersheypark.

Hersheypark continues to be our family’s favorite destination in the Northeast. Why? Because it keeps raising the bar each year by adding new thrills, experiences and sweet things to tastes.

Hersheypark started its summer schedule Memorial Day weekend. This means all three of its parks — the traditional amusement park, The Boardwalk water park, and ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park — are open daily, and one ticket gets you admission to all three! This three-for-one runs through early September.

Here’s the latest and greatest things that have us salivating for another trip to Hersheypark in summer 2022:

New rides, flavors at Hersheypark in 2022

Your senses should be on high alert for two bright new additions to Hersheypark’s playscape. You can’t miss these rides with their special color scheme of bright green, pink, purple, blue and red, representing the Jolly Rancher candy flavors.

Jolly Rancher Remix is one of 15 Hersheypark rollercoasters. Formerly known as the Sidewinder, this reimagined boomerang coaster takes thrill seekers on a “flavor ride.” Riders (who must be at least 48 inches tall) and theirs senses zoom forward and BACK (intense!) on the same track, inverting six times in 90 seconds while jamming to sweet tunes. Each ride, though, is different from the last. Jolly Rancher Remix features five randomized flavor rides, like Watermelon or Green Apple. Each features completely different music, lights and SCENTS as you blast through the “flavor tunnel.” It’s an only-in-Hershey immersive experience. 

Mix’d Flavored By Jolly Rancher is located steps away from Jolly Rancher Remix in the heart of Hersheypark. Riders (minimum height of 42 inches) of this family attraction sit in one of the massive four arms and spin 360-degrees. The ride really shifts into gear when it mixes lifts, drops and spectacular views as its dodges the other riders.

Those are not the only Jolly Rancher inspired additions to Hersheypark for 2022:

• At The Chocolatier Restaurant, Bar + Patio guests can now enjoy a Jolly Rancher Watermelon Cocktail or a Jolly Rancher Sorbet Sundae. (While there, also take a sip of the Twizzlers Frozen Daiquiri!)
• Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor features a sundae with Jolly Rancher Watermelon and Jolly Rancher Blue Raspberry Sorbets.
• Debuting in June, The Frozen Spoon food truck will offer Jolly Rancher Grape, Green Apple, Cherry, and Blue Raspberry Sorbets.

Nearly new, still completely awesome

If you haven’t visited Hersheypark in a few years, brace yourself. One of the park’s most ambitious, most awesome and newest sections is Hershey’s Chocolatetown, opened in 2020. Conquering Candymonium — the park’s tallest, fastest and longest — rollercoaster should be your top priority. It’s our favorite ride.

Of course, Hersheypark is not just thrill rides. It’s tasty treats!

The previously mentioned Chocolatier, opened in summer 2021, is the culinary destination for our family. It features a restaurant, bar and an expansive second-floor, outdoor patio with mesmerizing views of Hersheypark and Candymonium.

The largest restaurant in all Hershey, Pa., The Chocolatier features a diverse menu. This includes nachos, chicken and waffles, Reese’s Peanut Butter Hummus, flatbreads, and a host of other unique dining options. We love their food, but our best memories are of their dreamy dessert menu. It includes Chocolate Fun-Due (like a chocolate fountain), The Chocolatier Cake and milkshakes.

Additionally, if you’re famished and seeking food or dessert more swiftly, the “newish” Milton’s Ice Cream Parlor is also located in Hershey’s Chocolatetown. Opened in spring 2021, it is sure to hit the spot.

Pro Tip: You can now make reservations at The Chocolatier in advance using Open Table. Waits in the past were long. Book as soon as you know the dates you’re visiting the park this summer!

More Hersheypark 2022 updates, giveaway coming

Stay tuned on the NYC Dads Group social media feeds (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) when our family heads to Hershey, Pa., this week!

We’ll have loads of time to cruise on our favorite coasters — again and again, plunge down the waterslides at The Boardwalk water park, hug adorable Hershey characters, and spoil ourselves rotten in all of the new Jolly Rancher delights. Plus, we’ll be sharing our top tips for visiting Hersheypark this summer as well as hosting a ticket giveaway later this month.

Hersheypark, here we come!

Disclosure: Lance Somerfeld is a member of Hersheypark’s Sweetest Families Program. The program includes complimentary park passes and hotel accommodations for our family provided by the kind folks at Hershey’s Entertainment & Resorts. His thoughts and opinions are genuine and have not been influenced from the brand. All photos provided by Hersheypark.