PA Road Trip + Hershey
My job had asked me to travel to Pennsylvania to serve as a representative for the annual Disson Skating Show presented by Musselman's. Not only was it going to be a unique trip because of the way the travel was set up, but they asked if my husband could accompany me too. What a gift! What an amazing opportunity, and we wouldn't even have to make all of the travel arrangements. We were so grateful and so honored.
The trip was divided into flying, driving/road tripping, stopping, more driving, more stopping, event, and more driving, and then flying. It sounds like a lot but the entire trip was so well planned and each moment was so thoughtful.
The next stop on our trip was Hershey, Pennsylvania. After lunch we road tripped to Hershey, which was only about a 2 hour drive away. We were so excited to the see foliage of the countryside so we took some back country roads and wow, pictures did not do it justice.
So gorgeous! We arrived in Hershey a little before dinner and made our way to the
Hershey Lodge where we were staying.
The Hershey Lodge is super homey and comfortable. They have a shuttle service that runs to all things Hershey in the town. The Hershey Story Museum, the Hershey Hotel, Hershey Park you wanna go to any Hershey attraction, they will take you there.
We ate dinner at The Forebay, one of the Lodge Restaurants and enjoyed chocolate martinis and an exceptional meal. To our surprise we learned that Hershey Park stayed open late every night, and so we decided that we were game to go get on a sugar high rollercoaster in the middle of the night.
HAPPINESS!!!!!! If a child could dream of Heaven, it would look like Hershey. (i.e. my husband's face, haha)
Hershey Park is HUGE and it was shocking at how packed it was even at 10 pm at night. Admission was free with our Lodge stay so we walked around, shopped for family, friends, and co-workers, and wrapped up our night.
The next morning we had some time to explore before the next leg of the trip so we got breakfast at Lebbie Lebkicher's, which has an amazing back story. Lebbie was a friend of Milton Hershey's that mentored him through his early years of a failing confectionary business. Lebbie ended up bailing Hershey out when he had a huge freight delivery that was COD that Hershey could not pay. Milton Hershey never forgot that favor and he ended up assigning Lebbie with the duties of helping with the town's formation. You can read more about Lebbie here. Very cool story.
After breakfast we headed over to see the Hershey Story Museum, The Hershey Hotel, and the Hershey Gardens.
More driving. Another 2 hours up the road to State Collge, PA. The Disson Skating event was taking place later that night at Penn State's ice skating rink which is ginormous! The event is taped in front of a live studio audience, there is a special musical guest, and is centered around famous ice skaters and their families doing performances on ice. It's a very exciting and a fun event.
The after party was a little crazy. I will say, it was awesome getting to meet and speak with some of my childhood ice skating idols. Nancy Kerrigan, Told Eldredge, Paul Wylie, Kristi Yamaguchi, Kurt Browning. They were all very nice...well some more than others ;)
The last leg of our trip was the next morning driving to Pittsburg. I really regret not having my camera ready to take a picture when we came into Pittsburg. Wow, what a gorgeous city! Even just driving through I would love to come back and explore. The river, with the mountains, the bridges, the sky scrapers in the background. Gorgeous.
The trip was divided into flying, driving/road tripping, stopping, more driving, more stopping, event, and more driving, and then flying. It sounds like a lot but the entire trip was so well planned and each moment was so thoughtful.
Leg 1: DFW to Baltimore, MA
We flew from Dallas to Baltimore and for our late lunch all I wanted was to eat down on the bay. Even though it was a little windy and cold I didn't care. I wanted fresh seafood! After doing a quick Yelp search we found Captain James Landing right down on the water.
My first experience eating crabs. Husband, being the Cajun boy that he is, taught me how to properly crack open one of these bad boys. So much work, but so darn good!
The next stop on our trip was Hershey, Pennsylvania. After lunch we road tripped to Hershey, which was only about a 2 hour drive away. We were so excited to the see foliage of the countryside so we took some back country roads and wow, pictures did not do it justice.
Leg 2: Baltimore to Hershey, PA
Hershey Lodge where we were staying.
The Hershey Lodge is super homey and comfortable. They have a shuttle service that runs to all things Hershey in the town. The Hershey Story Museum, the Hershey Hotel, Hershey Park you wanna go to any Hershey attraction, they will take you there.
We ate dinner at The Forebay, one of the Lodge Restaurants and enjoyed chocolate martinis and an exceptional meal. To our surprise we learned that Hershey Park stayed open late every night, and so we decided that we were game to go get on a sugar high rollercoaster in the middle of the night.
HAPPINESS!!!!!! If a child could dream of Heaven, it would look like Hershey. (i.e. my husband's face, haha)
Hershey Park is HUGE and it was shocking at how packed it was even at 10 pm at night. Admission was free with our Lodge stay so we walked around, shopped for family, friends, and co-workers, and wrapped up our night.
The next morning we had some time to explore before the next leg of the trip so we got breakfast at Lebbie Lebkicher's, which has an amazing back story. Lebbie was a friend of Milton Hershey's that mentored him through his early years of a failing confectionary business. Lebbie ended up bailing Hershey out when he had a huge freight delivery that was COD that Hershey could not pay. Milton Hershey never forgot that favor and he ended up assigning Lebbie with the duties of helping with the town's formation. You can read more about Lebbie here. Very cool story.
After breakfast we headed over to see the Hershey Story Museum, The Hershey Hotel, and the Hershey Gardens.
A the museum , which tells the story of Milton you learn from his childhood all the way into his last years that this man was building a legacy. We were completely inspired by his life, how he conducted himself as a businessman, and his immense generosity. My husband would say that after this trip Milton Hershey became one of his role models.
The Hershey Hotel sits high on a hilltop overlooking the entire city. Nearby is the Hershey Gardens, and the Milton Hershey School. This is the view from the hotel.
Hershey Gardens were perfectly landscaped. It boasts of 23 acres of fresh botanicals, a rose garden, butterfly conservatory, Japanese water gardens and more.
Leg 3: Roadtrip from Hershey, PA to State College, PA
More driving. Another 2 hours up the road to State Collge, PA. The Disson Skating event was taking place later that night at Penn State's ice skating rink which is ginormous! The event is taped in front of a live studio audience, there is a special musical guest, and is centered around famous ice skaters and their families doing performances on ice. It's a very exciting and a fun event.
Meeting special musical guest Amy Grant.
The after party was a little crazy. I will say, it was awesome getting to meet and speak with some of my childhood ice skating idols. Nancy Kerrigan, Told Eldredge, Paul Wylie, Kristi Yamaguchi, Kurt Browning. They were all very nice...well some more than others ;)
Leg 4: State College, PA to Pittsburg
The last leg of our trip was the next morning driving to Pittsburg. I really regret not having my camera ready to take a picture when we came into Pittsburg. Wow, what a gorgeous city! Even just driving through I would love to come back and explore. The river, with the mountains, the bridges, the sky scrapers in the background. Gorgeous.
Leg 5: Pittsburg to DFW
On the plane Husband and I were discussing what a wonderful trip this was. It was nothing that we would have ever planned ourselves, but we felt so blessed to be able to have this unique opportunity together. I am SO grateful for a job that allows me the opportunity to travel and experience so many wonderful things. One thing we did decide is that when we have kids, we will repeat this road trip with them together.
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