As I usually do each summer, I recently went on a road trip to the United States, and while at the beginning of the summer I went to the western part of Pennsylvania, this time I headed east. We went to Philadelphia, but on the way, I took my daughter to visit Hershey Park and Hershey’s Chocolate World (I can’t lie, I was more interested in visiting Hershey!).
In Hershey, there are three main attractions, one of which is Hershey Park. If you love roller-coasters, they have a dozen to choose from, and they also have a great water park to cool off in.
When you’re finished with the thrill rides, there’s Hershey’s Chocolate World, where there are tours, chocolate tasting, photo studios, and a create-your-own-candy-bar factory….a fun time for both young and old.
If you’re into history, there’s also the Hershey museum, where you can walk through and learn about the family, the company, and the city.
Since my wife isn’t into roller-coasters, on the day that I went to the park, she and a friend decided to check out some other attractions in the city, of which there are several. My wife started the day by being adventurous, by going spelunking and exploring the caves at Indian Echo Caverns. After working up an appetite, she then visited Tröegs Brewery, where she took a tour to get a firsthand glimpse into the work that goes into the production process, tried several beers, and enjoyed some great food.
After we spent a couple days at Hershey’s we set off for Philadelphia, and I wasn’t sure of what to expect, but it’s a really interesting place with a lot of history. Most people know the city as the home of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were signed, but there is so much more to Philly!
Down the street from the Liberty Bell are two cool buildings you must see: one side of the street is the mint, where coins are made, and on the other side of the street is the federal reserve where they destroy money. Both buildings offer free tours, and you can pick up some spiffy souvenirs…but no free samples.
Another historical site is the Betsy Ross House, where Betsy Ross lived when she sewed the first American flag. Lastly, for those into history, a short drive from Philadelphia is Valley Forge, the encampment for George Washington’s Continental Army spent the winter. An interesting fact that I learned on the trip is contrary to public belief, no fighting took place at Valley Forge…it was actually where they prepared for upcoming battles.
Of course, when you’re in Philadelphia no trip would be complete without a run up the Rocky Steps: 72 stone steps before the entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The museum is one of many in the area, all of which are interesting and have their own quirks. As an example, you can walk through a human heart in The Franklin Institute.
There are many other sites to check out in the city, including the waterfront area where they have The Rail Park– it’s a green park stretching three miles across Philadelphia on an old rail line.
If you like sports there’s the major league baseball Philadelphia Phillies, the Philadelphia Flyers hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team, and the Superbowl champion, Philadelphia Eagles football team.
As everyone knows, one of my favourite pastimes is food, and one must-visit place is the Reading (pronounced redding) Terminal Market, where it’s a combination of a farmer’s market and food kiosks. Drop by and pick up anything from a deli sandwich to chicken wings, to a Philly cheesesteak. I highly recommend visiting Beiler’s Bakery at the market, for specialty donuts such as the pumpkin pecan maple donut, the key lime pie donut, and the caramel latte donut.
If you’re up for trying something a bit different, there’s Pho 75, where you can get a combination of noodles, protein and veggies in soup for under $12.00 a person. Lastly, there’s John’s Roast Pork, which has a great pork sandwich but is famous for its Philly cheesesteak. Be prepared to line up…. it’s that popular!
Finally, when it comes to food, take a trip down memory lane and visit The Franklin Fountain, an old-style soda shop that serves ice cream, malts, and sundaes. They’re known for their spectacular Root Beer floats which have been featured on a number of television shows.
Lastly, one thing that I often find very useful for city trips is to take the hop-on-hop-off tours. We took ours with Big Bus Tours and the tour guides were extremely knowledgeable and the route featured almost 30 stops to well….hop on and off as you please.
I highly recommend visiting Philadelphia if you get the chance. It’s a beautiful city with lots to offer.
