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A Chocolate WeekendHershey, PennsylvaniaBy Sheree Bykofsky
IF YOU GO: The Hotel Hershey Golf in Hershey: Circular Dining Room The Cocoa Beanery image picture credit: Hershey Entertainment & Resorts |
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TM
Many
might write off Hershey, PA as a children’s attraction, the birthplace of the
famous chocolate bar and its corresponding amusement park. But adults can find
much to entertain them in this scenic Pennsylvanian town, away from the hustle
and bustle of Philadelphia. You’re more likely to come across a dairy cow than
an aggressive driver, and you’ll feel like a kid again as you enjoy
chocolate-inspired spa treatments, golf, and lodging. In October, when the
amusement park is closed, the town is more of a relaxing place for adults and
romantic couples. Take your significant other here for a deliciously stress-free
weekend.
Make
a reservation at the Hotel Hershey, a vast traditional lodge complete with
palatial gardens and elegant fountains in front of the bucolic Pennsylvanian
vistas. The chocolate-colored touches that make the hotel unique to Hershey are,
pun intended, tasteful and not overdone. Guest rooms are designed with a
sophisticated Victorian feel, and appointed with chocolate soaps and bath foam
and a fragrant rose moisturizer. Of course, expect tiny Hershey Kisses on your
pillow from the turn down service. If that isn’t enough to satisfy the chocolate
cravings you’ll experience immediately upon arriving in Hershey, you can sneak
downstairs to The Cocoa Beanery for some sharp dark chocolate treats or some
milky goodness.
If
you’re looking for a more formal romantic dinner, the Hotel’s AAA four-diamond
rated Circular Dining Room is the perfect choice. You’ll feel like you’re dining
in a room at the White House, with a view of the immaculate gardens outside the
circular walls. The menu features exceptional but classic dishes such as lobster
pot pie and pumpkin ravioli. Try the chocolate-glazed venison to really get the
flavor of the place, and of course you must save room for dessert. The Chef’s
Chocolate Tasting is superb, but if you’re chocolated-out, you can always order
the divine Poached Heirloom Apple.
You
may want to bask all day on the wide verandahs and pretend you’re back in the
19th century, but if you want to stay active the hotel has a fitness center, an
indoor pool, and an array of nature trails. There’s also a full-service spa. No
visit to the Hotel Hershey would be complete without a cocoa treatment at The
Spa at the Hotel Hershey. You’ll never experience anything quite like these
treatments. The Cocoa Massage is wonderfully relaxing, a Swedish massage using
chocolate-scented aromatherapy oils. Also try the Chocolate Fondue Wrap, a mud
and chocolate wrap that ends with a soothing Vichy Shower, or the Whipped Cocoa
bath, a skin-hydrating milk and chocolate bath. You’ll be able to enjoy all the
sensual pleasures of chocolate without ingesting any calories!
Golfing
in Hershey is also a chocolate treat. In the fall, when there are no crowds, the
weather is perfect for golfing and the autumn colors offer a stunning backdrop
for your game. The aroma wafts through the comfortably cool air. The Hershey
golfing experience melts golf and chocolate together to take you into another
realm. There is a three-hole practice course available for guests of the Hotel
Hershey, and the nearby Hershey Country Club, formed in 1930, offers guests
access to their two distinct courses. The East Course takes you past the
chocolate factory and historic buildings. Tee up as the train leaves the
factory. Breathe in the aroma from the original chocolate factory as you drive
your ball past sprawling mansions and other historic buildings. It’s like eating
a chocolate bar and playing golf at the same time. Your entire visit to Hershey
will leave you satisfied, rubbing your tummy in delight!
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