This is our last week of school and we are all so ready to get this summer started!
In fact, because I am a Hersheypark ambassador and get tons of awesome perks (like season passes and overnight stays) we took off a day last week and went up for a quick visit to the park in Hershey, Pennsylvania!
We have been wanting to check out Hershey Lodge, home of the new, indoor swim and water play facility, Water Works, so we made an overnight of it.
I’d be lying if I said my kids didn’t think it was the best hotel stay in forever.
They had so much fun playing in the pool, hitting the slides, and enjoying the water play equipment. And, they even made a friend!
You can check out our video, read more about why we love Hershey Lodge, and then hop over to Facebook to enter to win a family 4-pack of tickets for a day at the park yourself!
Why Your Kids Will Love Hershey Lodge at Hersheypark
They have a kids check-in.
You can spot it towards the beginning of our video. We didn’t use it (because my kids were STARVING), but it is a fun way Hershey Lodge welcomes their youngest guests and makes them feel like they are as important as the big people footing the bill. They get a chocolate surprise (duh!) and a fun lanyard, personalized with their info. You can learn more about how to take advantage of Hershey Lodge Kids’ Check-In on their site.
There is chocolate EVERYWHERE.
Which makes total sense as the town is home to some of the best chocolate the US of A has to offer. From the moment you check-in (they hand you full sized Hershey bars for everyone in your party), until the moment you leave, you will have plenty of access to delicious chocolatey goodness. Take a trip to Hershey’s Chocolate World to learn more about the history of the town and the company that has been making chocolate great since 1894.
The Waterworks swim complex is ah-mazing.
I didn’t expect The Dudes to have so much fun, but I had to drag them out of the place when the staff shut the lights off. They spent hours swimming and playing with newly acquired friends and they wanted to go back the next day too. The cool thing about it was that it wasn’t super crowded, meaning there was no waiting in line for the slide, or fighting over the basketball hoop, but there were still plenty of kids to play with. Perfect balance.
The Bears Den.
Sometimes hotel restaurants can be a little over the top for kids. They loved being surrounded by TVs while Stephen Curry and friends put a beat down on the Cavaliers. I didn’t have to shush them a thousand times and I didn’t have to talk them into eating. It’s the perfect sports bar atmosphere and menu for a pizza loving, sports fan family like ours. And they learned a ton about the local hockey team too, thanks to all of the memorabilia adorning the walls.
It’s super close to Hersheypark.
Which means, you can wake up in the morning, treat yourself to a yummy something at the Hershey Lodge Cocoa Beanery, and be enjoying Hersheypark bright and early. Added awesome, when you stay at an Official Resort of Hersheypark you get to enjoy Hersheypark Sweet Start, which entitles you to entry into the park an hour early. You can get a great parking spot, grab breakfast at Chick-fil-A, and ride some rides before the crowds hit. Winning!
Disclosure: I am a Hersheypark ambassador and receive compensation in the form of tickets and resort stays. All opinions are my own.
The Hershey Lodge looks so fun! When my kids were younger we loved Dutch Wonderland. We haven’t been to Hershey in the Summer only during Christmas. We will have to try during the Summer! Great Review! :)