While the freezing temps of winter may still be lingering, it’s not too early to start planning some summer fun. Summer camp and trips to the beach are great, yet it doesn’t feel like summer without a trip to an amusement park. So if you haven’t been to the Hersheypark recently, now is the perfect time to plan a visit! Hersheypark’s ‘Best Price of the Year’ tickets are currently available to purchase for a limited time.
Jolly Rancher Remix. Photo c/o Hersheypark.
Hersheypark is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the Sweetest Place On Earth®. The park is a popular travel destination, spanning across 121 acres and welcoming over 3 million visitors each year! With the ‘Best Price of the Year’ offering, 1-Day tickets are currently on sale for only $49.99 each. This is more than 40% off the regular price of $84.95. You can save even more with a 2-Day ticket for only $42 per day. When you consider the size and features of the main amusement park, the Boardwalk water park, Hershey’s Chocolate World and ZooAmerica, it’s very easy to spend two full days at the property. When you purchase your specially-priced ticket(s), it is valid for use any day between April 1, 2023 through January 1, 2024. However, you have to order your tickets soon since this offer will be ending on March 31st!
If you plan on spending more than one day at the park, consider staying at The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge or Hersheypark Camping Resort. There are accommodations for a variety of budgets. However, there are also numerous hotels located in close proximity to the park.
Get your 2023 Hersheypark Best Price of the Year tickets now!
Reese’s Cupfusion. Photo c/o Hersheypark.
This year, the park is opening earlier with the debut of Spring weekends. Hersheypark, as well as Hershey’s Chocolatetown® and ZooAmerica, will be open only on weekends between April 1 and May 21.
Summer is the most popular time to visit the park. If you are looking for less crowded times to visit, the park has three other seasonal events. Halloween and Dark Nights will be taking place on weekends in September and October. Then, in early November, Christmas Candylane will return until the end of the year. Regardless of when you feel like visiting Hersheypark this year, now is the time to purchase your tickets to get them with a major discount!
Christmas Candylane is back at Hersheypark for another season of holiday festivities! Our family has never visited an amusement park during the December holidays, so I thought it would be fun for us to head to Hersheypark during Christmas Candylane.
We arrived at the park at 1 PM and headed for Hershey’s Chocolate World. You can spend an entire day here with the free chocolate tour ride, the 4D Chocolate Mystery Show, Hershey’s Unwrapped Chocolate Tasting Journey, Create Your Own Candy Bar and Hershey Trolley Works. Please note that everything but the chocolate tour ride has an additional cost. It was very crowded and we waited 45 minutes on line for the Chocolate Factory tour.
Hersheypark opens at 2 PM. We exited our factory tour about five minutes before the park opened and there was a huge line of people waiting to get in at the main park gates. We were fairly surprised of the popularity of the park on a chilly day. You should know that not all of the rides are open during Christmas Candylane. Although the website shows 46 rides operating, not all of them were open during our visit. A majority of the rides were for younger kids. Because there are a limited number of rides open, the lines for everything were super long!
My husband and daughter rode Candymonium. This is one of the newer rides at Hersheypark and is also the tallest, longest and fastest roller coaster in the park. They got on line as soon as we entered the park and still waited almost an hour. But they both said it was a great ride.
While they were on line, my son and I rode The Howler and Wild Mouse. Then we all rode The Whip.
We waited on line for almost 90 minutes to ride Laff Trakk and almost came within sight of getting on the ride. Then the news circulated that the ride was broken and they didn’t know when it would be open again. Cutting our losses, we moved off the line to other areas of the park. By that time, it had gotten dark and every ride had over an hour wait time.
We grabbed pizza at Dispatch Pizzeria. Dining options are limited in the park, so again, there was a bit of a wait for food. If you want a sit down meal, visit the newly opened The Chocolatier restaurant.
In my opinion, one of the biggest draws of Christmas Candylane is the lights and holiday decorations. And Hersheypark goes all out! There are over 5 million lights throughout the park which is so beautiful to see once it gets dark.
Some of the rides even have themed holiday lights.
As you walk along the path connecting Pioneer Frontier to Midway America you will see the 12 Days of Christmas in lights!
A stop at TREEville at the Boardwalk is a must. There are more than a dozen decorated trees to view and several pretty photo ops. While we were walking around we noticed a cocoa and cookie crawl taking place. We learned that you could buy tickets at the park entrance for $20. There were several booths set up around the Boardwalk serving cocoa and different cookies. You could visit each booth and they’d punch your card.
Little kids will want to visit Santa at his workshop. They have a socially distant couch set up for pictures and he is there through December 24th. You can stop at Santa’s Reindeer Stables to visit his reindeer.
Due to our poor planning and a lack of time we missed the Noel light show. The show, presented by UGI, features more than 250,000 flashing lights synchronized to music. The show plays every half hour starting at 5 PM.
Hersheypark Christmas Candylane is a sight to see for the holidays! Experiences may vary based on the day you visit. However, I recommend that you be prepared for large crowds and long waits. You can make a weekend out of your visit by staying at a Hershey resort or one of the many nearby hotels.
Tickets: $47.95/person (age 3+) when purchased online
Parking: Free during our visit
Hershey Sweet Lights: $22.15/car in advance, $39.15/car at the gate
Tips:
*Download the Hershey app. This will be your guide for your visit. It has a map and shows you the open rides and wait times.
*Arrive earlier than the opening. You’ll have to wait on line but you’ll be near the front. Then head to the ride that you REALLY want to go on for the shortest wait time.
*Don’t plan on being able to do everything in one day. It’s very crowded and the lines are long for EVERYTHING!
*If you really want to try to do all the rides and attractions I recommend adding Fast Track to your ticket. Fast Track allows visitors to skip the regular line once on featured rides. With Fast Track Unlimited guests can skip the regular lines on the featured rides all day long. Prices fluctuate by day.
Now that school has started, it’s not as easy to go away with the kids. Plus, COVID is making travel even more difficult. Fortunately, there are many fall weekend getaways close to Westchester County that are perfect for both families or couples looking to rest, recharge and have some fun! I am sharing 7 weekend getaways that we think families will enjoy.
Corning– This is the furthest destination that we are sharing, but it’s definitely doable for a weekend visit. There are some unique experiences to enjoy in the area including the Corning Museum of Glass, Watkins Glen State Park and more.
Crystal Spring Resort – This is the only New Jersey weekend destination that we have traveled to so far, but it’s a good one! Your family may never want to leave the biosphere pool. They offer both complimentary activities and those that have an additional cost. There are several onsite restaurants to choose from.
Emerson Resort – The Emerson Resort is located in the Catskills and is perfectly situated for some fall foliage viewing. This resort is also dog friendly if you want to bring your pet with you. Here you can find the world’s largest kaleidoscope. They offer several onsite activities and also have a spa. The Catskill Rail Explorers and plenty of fall hikes will keep you busy when you’re not enjoying the resort.
Kalahari Resort – If you don’t want to have to worry about the weather, take a visit to Kalahari. You can enjoy the indoor water park, arcade, mini golf and more. With several onsite restaurants, you won’t have to leave the resort. And if the weather is nice, they also have an outdoor treetop adventure course.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania – Only three hours from most of Westchester County, Lancaster, Pennsylvania is a great weekend getaway. Experience “Pennsylvania Dutch Country” for an educational and fun experience.
Pine Ridge Dude Ranch – Pine Ridge Dude Ranch is great if your family enjoys horseback riding. This is an all-inclusive dude ranch experience with both outdoor and indoor activities to keep the family occupied.
Villa Roma Resort– Villa Roma Resort offers a variety of activities for families with kids of all ages including go karts, a bowling alley, a zip line and more. Dinner and breakfast are included in the price of your stay.
Dana and I are fairly new to the bed and breakfast scene. Besides our recent visit to Cranberry Manor, the only other bed and breakfast that we visited was a couple of years ago when he turned 40. When my 40th arrived last month, I decided that I also wanted to go to a B&B to celebrate my birthday. After a little research, we decided to stay at the Cranberry Manor Bed and Breakfast in the Poconos. It’s roughly a two hour drive from northern Westchester County, a perfect distance for a one night stay. Plus, all of the reviews I read were very positive.
Why a bed and breakfast?
Bed and breakfasts are small and intimate. They are usually old houses that have been renovated and restored to accommodate guests. A big plus is the “breakfast” part of a bed and breakfast. Not only is the home cooked meal included in the price of your stay, but it’s usually delicious and filling. But most importantly, bed and breakfasts cater to adults. All of the B&Bs that I’ve looked into do not allow children to stay.
Cranberry Manor Bed and Breakfast
The Cranberry Manor Bed and Breakfast is a house that dates back to the 1880’s when it was a boarding house. Its most recent owners Sharon and Ric Anderson have been running the bed and breakfast since 2007. Sharon formerly had a career in IT support. She and her husband moved up to Pennsylvania from the South for what she thought would be a tech job. But when that fell through, they ended up purchasing the bed and breakfast.
Cranberry Manor has a cozy, homey feel. I love the holiday tree that Sharon made out of grape vines and decorates for the different seasons.
There’s a community sitting room that has books, games and lots of brochures for local attractions and restaurants. The walls are decorated with antique Collier’s magazine pages that were discovered in the walls during a renovation! There’s a large dining room where guests dine for breakfast.
The dining room also has a billiards table that visitors are welcome to enjoy. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a chance to play during our short stay.
There’s a Butler’s Pantry in the dining room as well. It includes a refrigerator stocked with sodas and bottles of water, and tea and hot cocoa can also be made at anytime. It was nice that, after returning from dinner, Dana was able to walk downstairs and make me a hot mug of tea. Sharon asked him what time we were planning to be downstairs the following morning; a fresh pot of coffee waiting for us when we came down.
Cranberry Manor has five different rooms, each uniquely decorated with a Victorian feel. My husband and I just happened to stay in the “Victorian Room”. It has a queen bed with a half-canopy.
There is a small seating area and a gas fire place. Although space is a bit tight for modern amenities, I would have enjoyed a larger television in the room. It was hiding with the cable box in the little nook above the fireplace.
Each room has its own private bathroom with both a shower and large soaking tub.
One of my favorite parts of Cranberry Manor is the large wraparound porch. There are a variety of seating arrangements, including a bench swing, several rocking chairs and cushioned seating areas. It was nice to be able to sit out there before breakfast and read, while we enjoyed a cup of coffee.
Breakfast
On Sunday mornings Sharon serves breakfast at 9 AM. Look at how pretty the place settings are!
Our breakfast started with sliced bananas drizzled with homemade caramel sauce.
We then enjoyed blueberry peach french toast, scrambled eggs and sausage. I was stuffed by the time breakfast was over. We were the only guests that night during our stay in September. So Sharon asked if she could join us for breakfast and we had a lovely time chatting with her.
Guests are given two keys when they arrive. One opens the front door and one that opens their bedroom. While Sharon and Ric live on property, they live in the space beyond the kitchen, separate from where guests stay. If you are in need of ideas of things to do or places to eat, Sharon is full of recommendations and information.
If you have never been to a bed and breakfast, I highly recommend giving Cranberry Manor Bed and Breakfast a try. It’s not too far away from Westchester County and is conveniently located to various Pocono attractions and restaurants.
The Details: Cranberry Manor Bed and Breakfast 406 Cherry Lane Road East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 (570) 620-2246
Price: $145 – $175 a night, depending on which room you choose and when you visit.
*Although some weekends require a two night stay, give Sharon a call. Depending on the date(s) of your visit, you may be able to stay for one night like we did.
*There is plenty to see and do in the area. But if you just want to relax and hang out at the bed and breakfast, you are more than welcome to do that as well.
Crossing the state line into Pennsylvania, it’s as if the sign knew what my trip’s purpose was: “Welcome to Pennsylvania- Pursue Your Happiness” This solo mom escape was my very abbreviated, but much needed, respite from everyday life – my job, my kids and my husband. This was my time to focus on myself. For months, I’d been expressing to my husband that I needed to get away. “Go,” he said, supportive of my needs.
And so, after some research, I decided to visit the Lodge at Woodloch. The Lodge fit all of my requirements – a short driving distance from home, adults only, and a focus on health and wellness.
The Property: The Lodge at Woodloch is located in Hawley, PA, less than a two hour drive from northern Westchester County. It is one of the three family-owned and operated Woodloch properties (the family-friendly, Woodloch Resort and the golf course community at Woodloch Springs are the other two) located on over 500 private acres.
The property consists of the main Lodge as well as Little Lake Teedyuskung, a Cranberry Bog and lots of wooded forest. Blackmore Farm is walking distance from the Lodge and supplies some of the produce used in the restaurant.
There are also functioning hives, with bees that help pollinate the garden and will eventually provide honey for spa treatments and the restaurant.
As I pulled up to the front gate, Robert was there with a huge smile and a warm and welcoming greeting. He checked my name off a list of incoming guests and directed me to the Lodge entrance. Once I arrived, the valet was there ready to take my bags and park my car. When I approached the front desk to check in, they greeted me by name and welcomed me with a complimentary refillable water bottle, labeled with my name to avoid confusion with the other guests, and a tote bag. Every employee who I encountered during my visit was always friendly, helpful and had a warm smile.
Activities: The Lodge at Woodloch is an all-inclusive resort with meals and activities included. However, some of the art classes do have fees. What drew me to the Lodge was the variety of activities they offered. With a focus on mind, body and soul, there is something for everyone. The daily activity schedule is conspicuously posted all throughout the Lodge. However, I’m the personality type who printed out the activity schedules for each day of my stay and highlighted all of the activities that I wanted to do!
The third floor of the Lodge contains the three exercise studios (Oak, Linden and Willow) as well as a cardio gym, rowing room and sitting area with a snack and hydration station. One thing I noticed is that there is no shortage of quiet sitting areas. They are everywhere throughout the Lodge and Spa.
I wanted to take advantage of all of the different fitness classes they offered. The first day, I enjoyed Drums Alive with Ashley ,where we drummed to upbeat music using exercise balls placed in step risers. This was such a fun and energetic class. I took a Splash Dance class with Christy using weighted poles in the water and basically pole danced in the pool. I’ve never taken a pole dancing class, so I don’t have anything to compare it to. It was, needless to say, another fun class. Later in the day, I took a Journaling for Self-Discovery Class with Susan, where I was given inspiration and resources to help me journal. I ended my evening with an after-dinner evening kayak ride with Ryan.
I started the second day with an 8 AM Chakra Meditation class with Alicia. One of my goals this year was to start meditating. I’m hoping this class helps inspire me to start my journey. Next, I took a Barre class with Retta. I’ve taken barre classes before so knew what I was getting myself into! Right after that, I took a Tower Power Class with Alicia. This is a Pilates class using a Tower (an apparatus attached to the wall). While I’ve taken Pilates classes before, I had never taken a Tower class. I really liked it and felt movements were more controlled using the resistance springs. Immediately after, I took my final fitness class of the day: the Great Wall of Yoga, again with Alicia. I really enjoy yoga and have taken classes at my local gym and have practiced at home. Using adjustable straps in this class took it to the next level, as I was practicing yoga while literally hanging off the wall! In the afternoon, I took The Ritual of Tea class, as I’ve started drinking more tea, especially in the evening.
I didn’t take any of the “Creative Discovery” classes during my stay. It’s not because I didn’t want to. I just didn’t have enough time. Many of the classes they offered were two hours. During my visit, classes included Zendoodle, terrarium building, Dot Mandala Stones, Pebble Art, Patchwork Painting, Basic Calligraphy and Decorative Lettering, Decorative Birdhouses and more. Most art classes had a nominal $10 fee.
For those drawn to nature, there are many outdoor activities including guided hikes, Bog Talk, Basics of Birding, Forest Bathing, Basics of Mountain Biking, Forest Yoga, Garden Tour, Tenkara (a Japanese style of fly fishing) and more. As you can see, there is plenty of wildlife in the woods. On a short walk around the property I saw three deer and was able to get pretty close to them! There is also an archery range and an outdoor exploration center called The Lily Pad that has kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and more.
There is also a Lotus Labyrinth on the property. This is a peaceful place for meditation and quiet reflection.
Every instructor was friendly, encouraging and patient, whether there were two people in the class or 15. They were also all very punctual: starting class on time and ending promptly so you had enough time to get to your next activity.
The Spa:
The spa has separate women’s and men’s retreats that include showers and changing rooms, saunas, steam rooms and whirlpools. There are also a couple of different sitting areas in the spa as well.
The Aqua Garden has an indoor pool where the aqua fitness classes are held. However, the most remarkable features of the Aqua Garden are the two heated soaking pools with HydroMassage Waterwalls. I might have spent the majority of my spa time here! There is also an outdoor whirlpool which is open year-round. The changing room has walls of digital lockers. Inside each locker is a fluffy spa robe. At the spa desk you can request a pair of sandals. It was nice to be able to store my things while I was at my spa treatment and the Aqua Gardens and not have to worry about carrying a key.
The treatment rooms are in the downstairs area of the spa, as well as the co-ed Whisper Lounge which includes an outdoor porch and rocking chairs. Relaxation and comfortable seating are the big focus here!
Prior to my visit, I booked the Rosemary Awakening, the spa’s signature treatment. The treatment starts with a rosemary and mint body polish (exfoliating scrub). A quick shower is followed by a full body massage with shea butter and essential oils. The treatment ends with a scalp massage and a foot massage. Amy, my massage therapist was great. She explained each step of the treatment and checked in to make sure I was enjoying myself. Even though I was completely unclothed for the treatment, she was so adept in draping the towels and sheets that I was never exposed or uncomfortable. Needless to say, this treatment was AMAZING and left me feeling so relaxed.
If full body treatments aren’t your thing, the spa offers facials, massages, sleep treatments, FLOAT therapy and more. You can also visit the Lotus Salon for hair cuts and styling, or to get a manicure or pedicure.
The Accommodations:
I stayed in room 322 during my visit. The room is a Veranda Classic Standard with a King bed. There is a large flat-panel TV and a mini refrigerator. There is also a comfy chair and a rocking chair in the room (again, plenty of cozy seating!). The room also has a desk with a salt lamp on it, which I thought was a nice touch. The bathroom has double sinks, a marble walk-in shower and a private toilet.
The best thing about this room was the private veranda with this view! During the day I kept the veranda doors open and enjoyed listening to the rock garden waterfalls. I woke early and enjoyed drinking my morning coffee on the veranda while I read my book. This was extra special quiet mom time!
The Food:
Executive Chef Josh Tomson, graduate of the French Culinary Institute in NYC, leads the dining team. He incorporates farm-to-table dining into the menus and tries to use local products, including produce from the onsite Blackmore Farm, whenever possible. All meals are served in Tree, the onsite restaurant.
Three meals are included in the price for each night of your stay, (dinner on the day of your arrival and breakfast and lunch the next day). There are menus for each meal where you can choose from several different options. Each selection is labeled as to whether it is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-friendly or contains nuts. Many of the items can also be made gluten-friendly or vegan upon request. They have daily specials at each meal as well. Dinner starts with an amuse bouche and then includes an appetizer, salad, main course and dessert. My dinner started with a chilled strawberry soup amuse bouche, then I chose the Colossal Crab and Shrimp Cocktail, the Signature Salad and the Seared Scallops with a Green Pea Puree. For dessert, I had that night’s special: a Skillet Cookie topped with Vanilla Gelato and Chocolate Sauce.
For breakfast the next day, I enjoyed an Open Faced Mushroom Omelet and some fresh fruit from the buffet. The buffet also had a yogurt and oatmeal bar, as well as a variety of baked goods and even a frittata. For lunch, I ordered the Lobster & Crab Roll, which, according to my waitress, is one of their most popular dishes. I had a small bowl of Potato Leek Soup and made a salad from the salad bar.
As a self-proclaimed foodie, I thought the food was quite good. The presentation was beautiful. Portions aren’t huge, but they are satisfying. All of my seafood dishes were excellent. At lunch and dinner there were several options that looked good and I wished my husband was there so we could share dishes! I found dessert and the sweets offered at the snack bar to be so-so.
I have to admit, eating was the only time during my stay that I felt awkward visiting by myself. I don’t think that I’ve ever previously dined alone in a restaurant setting. I brought my notebook to take notes of my visit and a book and I was okay, but it did feel a little uncomfortable. If you prefer, room-service is available for a small fee.
During my stay, the majority of the guests were women; either groups of friends or mothers and daughters. My daughter is still a couple of years short of being old enough to visit, but I can see us visiting the Lodge together. In the meantime, my husband will hopefully accompany me on my next trip here!
If you are looking for a mom escape, I highly recommend visiting the Lodge at Woodloch. Whether you choose to visit solo, like I did, or with a group of friends, your stay here will be super relaxing and fun…everything you need to rest and rejuvenate yourself before returning to reality.
(To see lots more pictures of my visit, please check out my Lodge @ Woodloch Instastories! I received a media rate for my stay as well as a complimentary spa service to facilitate my review. As always, all opinions are my own.)
The Details: The Lodge at Woodloch 109 River Birch Lane Hawley, PA 18428 (570) 685-8500
Check-In Time: 4:00 PM Check-Out Time: 12 Noon However, you can participate in the classes and activities and/or make spa appointments earlier/later than the check-in and check-out times. Luggage can be stored in the bell hop closet until your room is ready or you are ready to leave.
*This resort is for individuals ages 16 and older.
*It is recommended that spa treatments be booked in advance. They do book up quickly.
*Activities on the schedule marked with an asterisk (*) have limited space and require guests to sign up in advance with the spa concierge. Please be courteous and call the spa concierge to cancel an activity or class that you signed up for but are unable to attend.
* Dinner is served from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM but reservations are required. Casual dress is recommended. While resort bathrobes and/or workout attire can be worn in the dining room for breakfast and lunch, it is not permitted at dinner.
*Alcohol is available during meals at an additional cost.
*The Lodge encourages guests to unplug. Cell phone use is not allowed in public areas.
*Gratuities are included in your package rate. However, I did leave a cash tip for housekeeping and the valet.
I’m not a huge fan of water parks. I have flashbacks of growing up visiting Water Country USA with my family. Not wearing contacts at the time, I just remember not being able to see anything and water constantly splashing in my face. Fast forward to today, where I am a parent of two kids, ages 10 and 13, who really like water parks. Our winter trip to Pine Ridge Dude Resort wasn’t as much of a hit as I had anticipated. So, during the kids February break we decided to take them to Kalahari Resort.
Kalahari Resort is located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. In the area is also Great Wolf Lodge and Camelback Resort, both of which we have never visited. My sister has visited both Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari with her two children and recommended Kalahari over Great Wolf Lodge, given the age of my kids.
As the name implies, the Kalahari is an African themed resort. This theme is carried out throughout the whole resort, from the names of the attractions to the decor.
We booked a one night stay at Kalahari, arriving on a Monday and leaving Tuesday. We surprised the kids and didn’t tell them where we were going until we arrived. While room check-in isn’t until 4 PM, you can arrive at Kalahari as early as 9:30 AM, when the water park opens, and enjoy a full day at the waterpark. The resort is approximately a two hour drive from our home in northern Westchester County. I didn’t think it was necessary for us to get up at the crack of dawn, but we aimed to leave our house by 10 AM. We stopped on the road for lunch before we arrived at Kalahari. But when we pulled up to the resort around 1 PM and saw the line of cars……we wished we had left super early.
I thought arriving on the Monday of February break wouldn’t be too bad. However, I stood in line for thirty minutes, waiting to check in. At check in we all received wristbands that were both our admission into the water park as well as our room keys. You can opt to have the ability to link a credit card to the wristband so you don’t have to carry around cash or a credit card, but we chose not do this. Our room wasn’t ready but I was told that I would receive a text when it was. In the meantime, we were free to enjoy the water park.
We had packed a bag with our swimsuits knowing that we could enjoy the water park before getting to our room. But first we had to drop our luggage off in the storage room. That also had a line and a bit of a wait. When we finally got the luggage dropped off and changed into our suits there were no large lockers available to store our bag and my pocketbook. I volunteered to stay and sit with the bags while my husband and kids went off to enjoy the water park. Unfortunately, we had to walk around the park for several minutes before finding an available chair!
The water park itself is humongous! It occupies over 220,000 square feet with more than twenty attractions. There’s a large play area for little kids, a basketball pool, and lots of water slides!
My husband and kids had a great time enjoying all the thrill slides. I think they rode ALL the slides, even the Tanzanian Twister, (the second to last photo on the right), that they dubbed “The Toilet Bowl.” Some of the extreme tube rides, like the Barrelling Baboon, required two or four riders, so I had to go. And just to note, these slides are a bit scarier at night in the dark!
The lazy river wasn’t quite so “lazy” when you’re packed in and pushed by kids trying to race by. When I finally was able to enjoy the water park my own kids enjoyed pushing me under the waterfalls!
There’s a large wave pool, an indoor-outdoor heated spa, a Flowrider wave simulator and more. If you’re hungry while at the waterpark, you don’t have to leave, as there are six different dining venues where you can purchase food or drinks. This includes two swim-up bars for adults 21 and over.
During the afternoon I kept checking my phone waiting for the text that our room was ready. After spending several hours at the water park we decided to ask if the rooms were ready. The check in line was just as long as it was when we arrived, if not longer. Luckily, there was a staff member standing in the lobby who told us that if we didn’t get the text, our room wasn’t ready. She gave the kids complimentary arcade cards to help keep them entertained.
The arcade at Kalahari Resorts is also huge. And it’s conveniently situated, so that you can’t get to the water park without walking through it. The kids enjoyed playing in the arcade on several different occasions, as there is almost any game there that you can think of!
By 6 PM we were getting hungry. Kalahari has several restaurant choices onsite. We opted to go to B-Lux, their most recent addition, which specializes in burgers, shakes and fries. I ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger, my husband had The Cheese Head Burger (beer battered cheese curds, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and Wisconsin cheddar), my daughter the BBQ Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese and my son had the pepperoni pizza from the children’s menu. We all agreed that the mac & cheese was the best dish of the night. Service was good and the food was actually decent. We just wish that our room had been ready so we could have showered and changed before dinner.
After we ate dinner we got our bags from the luggage storage room. We made our way to our room to discover that our bands hadn’t been keyed properly and we couldn’t get into our room! My husband made the trek back down to the lobby and got his band fixed so we could get into our room. We stayed in a Desert room. The room was large with two queen beds and a sleeper sofa. It has a microwave and mini refrigerator in the room. We didn’t spend very much time in the room.
Besides the water park and arcade, there is a lot to do at Kalahari. There is an Escape Room, mini-bowling, Virtual Reality and 7-D Motion Theater and more. Before we left the next day we played a round of Black Light Mini Golf. There’s also a spa and salon and fitness center, which we didn’t try during this visit.
We visited the Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet for breakfast. There was a bit of a wait to get a table. Our server though, again, was super friendly and attentive, even with the crowds. The food at the breakfast buffet wasn’t impressive but they have something for everyone.
For lunch we shared a pepperoni pizza from Cafe Mirage. Again, not super impressed, but we reminded ourselves that we were at a waterpark. Double Cut, a steak house, and Sortino’s Italian Kitchen looked promising though. Hopefully, we will get to try those on a possible future visit.
We visited Kalahari in the winter. When the weather is nicer, there is a smaller outdoor waterpark and Gorilla Grove Treetop Adventures which includes a ropes course, zipline, 36-hole miniature golf course and a Gorilla Express mini train ride.
As I mentioned, my kids really enjoyed our visit. There is a lot to do for their tween/teen age group. We are thinking of giving Kalahari another try, possibly in the spring or fall…..and NOT during a holiday weekend! We’d like to visit Gorilla Grove Treetop Adventures and enjoy the waterpark when it’s still not outdoor pool weather.
I hope my review of Kalahari Resorts in the Poconos wasn’t too negative. My kids had a great time and loved our visit. As parents, after investing our time and money, we expected to have a good experience. Almost all of the online reviews that I had read about Kalahari prior to our visit were reviews by bloggers who had hosted stays. Our stay was not hosted and I hope I gave you a realistic review of the resort, especially during a holiday break.
The Details: Kalahari Resorts & Conventions 250 Kalahari Blvd. Pocono Manor, PA 18349
Rates: Room rates vary by date. They include waterpark admission as well as complimentary access to the fitness center.
Tips: *Try to avoid going during school and holiday vacations.
*Check the website for deals and specials.
*Bring your own beverages (water bottles, juice boxes, etc.) and snacks to save money.
*Free towels can be picked up at a kiosk. However, they are small. We saw many people in the park who brought their own beach towels.
*Remember a waterproof phone case if you want to keep your phone with you.
*There are a limited number of cabanas and bungalows for rent, if you’d like a reserved area for your family to be able to relax in.
*When budgeting for your trip, keep in mind that all food and drinks and activities (minus the waterpark) have additional costs. The price of your trip can add up quickly!
*There are several shops where you can purchase souvenirs as well as water shoes and waterproof phone cases. Of course, these are priced much higher than if you purchased your own outside the resort.
Lancaster County Pennsylvania, a.k.a. “Pennsylvania Dutch Country” is a fun, family destination. With a large Amish community, visiting here is both an educational and fun experience. Only 3 hours from most of Westchester County, Lancaster makes a perfect weekend getaway. Read on to see all the fun that can be had in two days. You can check out the links to read more detailed posts about each attraction. When planning your visit, it is important to note that many attractions in Lancaster are closed on Sundays. Two days didn’t give us enough time to see and do everything, but that’s only the more reason for us to return soon!
Stay: at the Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn. This Inn is a great lodging choice for families, with several different types of sleeping accommodations. This is not a chain hotel and is situated on 23 acres that includes a pool, two playgrounds and even some farm animals. The property is spacious with walking paths and a pond. There is also a restaurant, garden shop and large gift shop onsite as well.
Eat: The Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn has a restaurant on the property that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast at the Smorgasbord is complimentary with an overnight stay and the front desk offers discount coupons if you choose to dine at the restaurant for lunch or dinner. We had a dinner and breakfast here and were highly satisfied with both. The buffet offers a plentiful variety of delicious options including fresh baked goods and desserts.
We also had a delicious meal at Federal Taphouse in Lancaster. This is a great restaurant for beer lovers, as they have 100 beers on tap. The menu is very family-friendly with wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches tacos and more. We tried the Sweet Corn Pizza with creamed spinach, sweet corn, bacon, house tomato jam and ricotta salata. Yes, it was as delicious as it looks and sounds. We then rounded out our meal with a variety of appetizers with a house made soft pretzel with beer cheese fondue, stuffed meatballs and poutine. It was a carb-filled feast!
Visit: The Amish Farmand Housefor an educational and fun experience. On the guided house tour you will learn about the Amish history and heritage. You can take a bus tour that will drive you through the Amish countryside. Make sure to leave time to enjoy the 15-acre farm. My kids could have spent all day here feeding the goats and visiting the different farm animals. They also had a great time riding the scooters and enjoying the newest attraction, Tractor Trails, where they pedaled cars around a track. The gift shop sells a variety of handmade Amish goods and on the weekends. (located approximately five minutes from the Hershey Farm Inn).
KitchenKettle Village – Kitchen Kettle Village is made for foodies! We had such a delicious time visiting all the different shops and eating our way through the village. There’s a reason why nearly a million people visit each year. There is something for everyone here, with 40 different shops selling everything from jams and fudge to quilts and Christmas ornaments. (located approximately 12 minutes from the Hershey Farm Inn).
LancasterScience Factory– If you need a place for the kids to burn off some energy, this is the place. With over 60 different hands-on exhibits, kids will (and adults!) will have a great time at the Lancaster Science Factory. While smaller than many other children’s science museums that we have visited, the exhibits held the interest of my two tweens for quite some time. (approximately 15 minutes from the Hershey Farm Inn).
Turkey Hill Experience– Although not in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Turkey Hill Experience is not to be missed. As fans of Turkey Hill ice cream, this attraction was a family favorite. We got to create our own ice cream flavor in the Taste Lab and learn about tea in the Tea Discovery. In the actual Experience, we had endless samples of teas and ice cream (approximately 25 minutes away from the Hershey Farm Inn).
(Thank you to Discover Lancaster and the above attractions for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.)
(Thank you Dorney Park for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.)
Every summer NY Foodie Family tries to visit at least one amusement park. Living in Westchester County, we have many choices within a couple of hours drive. It had been several years since we last visited Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom in Allentown, Pennsylvania and decided to make a stop on our way home from Lancaster.
Dorney Park is both an amusement and water park. We visited on a summer day at the end of June. It was a sunny, but not hot day so we opted not to visit the water park. When we visit an amusement park, we all get to choose a ride that we “must-do.” As we walk through the park to one of the rides on our list, we will stop at other rides if the lines are short.
Well, we lucked out on our weekday visit. The park was not crowded and there were very few lines for the rides.
We love visiting amusement parks now that the kids are older. Having a 10 and 12-year-old means that they can go on all the spinny rides together, like The Kaleidoscope, while my husband and I watch.
Our family loves roller coasters and Dorney Park has seven of them. This includes the mild Wild Mouse, which was my son’s ride of choice, and the Woodstock Express, the kiddie coaster in Planet Snoopy. My ride of choice during our visit was the roller coaster Talon. This is the tallest and longest inverted coaster in the Northeast and riders turn upside down four times. This was our son’s first time riding an inverted coaster. Although he was a bit nervous before riding this, he did enjoy it.
Another favorite ride was Steel Force, which was my husband’s must-ride list. This coaster has a 205-foot drop with speeds reaching 75 miles per hour. I am not a fan of coasters with huge drops and sat this one out, while my husband and kids rode it. Unfortunately, the day of our visit, Hydra, one of the other coasters we would have enjoyed was closed. However, there were plenty of other rides to keep us busy.
For those with young children, Planet Snoopy has a collection of fifteen Peanuts themed rides that are perfect for them.
For thrill seekers, there are many “aggressive” thrill rides that will sure to please. The kids weren’t quite up to riding The Meteor, pictured above.
During the summer, Dorney Park offers a variety of entertainment, including meet and greets, music and dance parties and more. They have a separate entertainment guide with all of the show listings, locations and times. Since we visited so early in the summer, the only show was Cirque Imagine. Many compare this show to Cirque du Soleil, as it’s a 30-minute live show of acrobatics and artistry.
The park has a variety of food options where you can get burgers, pizza, chicken, hotdogs and more. New this year is Burrito Cantina and the Tidal Wave Cafe in the Wildwater Kingdom. Although there are plenty of food options, we didn’t find any really unique or interesting choices. We had a late, big breakfast before we arrived at the park and weren’t super hungry during our visit. At our daughter’s request, we ended up stopping at Chicke’s & Pete’s for some Crabfries. There are plenty of amusement park treats including cotton candy, fried dough and ice cream. For those that plan on spending a full day at the park, the park offers dining plans that may be worth considering.
Visitors can see life-sized animatronic dinosaurs in the park’s Dinosaurs Alive attraction. This walk-through experience costs an additional $5 and visitors can travel back in time to learn more about these prehistoric creatures. The park also has lots of games and an arcade as well, for those looking for some non-ride fun.
Dorney Park is a fun amusement park that kids of all ages can enjoy. The park is large enough that you can make a full day of it. You can even spend a couple of days if you want to enjoy the water park as well.
The Details:
Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
4000 Dorney Park Road
Allentown, Pennsylvania 18104
Hours: Hours vary by day and month. Check the website for specific dates.
Admission: Ticket prices vary but are cheaper when purchased online in advance. Daily tickets start at $42. Check the website for additional info.
Parking: $20 (credit card accepted)
Tips:
*Buy a refillable souvenir bottle when you enter the park (or purchase online for an additional $2 off). You get to enjoy free refills on your first visit.
*The park may be crowded the day of your visit and you may not be able to enjoy all the rides and attractions that you want. Have everyone choose a “must-do” ride to ensure the whole family has fun.
(Thank you to Discover Lancaster for hosting NY Foodie Family. As usual, all opinions are our own.)
If you are looking for some indoor family fun in Lancaster, make a visit to the Lancaster Science Factory. This hands-on science museum is geared towards children in 3rd through 8th grade. However, children of all ages will have fun interacting with the exhibits.
There are over 60 different exhibits that cover topics of electricity and magnetism, mechanics and motion, light and vision, fluid dynamics, puzzles and brain teasers, and more. Kids are encouraged to build, touch and explore.
My husband and I even got in on the fun and made K’NEX Mini-Racers so we could race them against each other!
We tried our best to get the Giant Arch to stay but, even after several attempts, we were unsuccessful. Only gravity and friction are preventing the foam arch pieces from falling on our heads. Which, of course, they all ended up doing in the end.
My ten and twelve-year-old kids enjoyed all of the exhibits. We discovered that our daughter is an expert paper airplane maker at the Flight Deck exhibit.
I had fun playing around at the Minimal Surfaces exhibit! You’re never too old for bubbles!
The museum is one level with an open floor plan. I liked that each of us could be interacting with different exhibits, but we could see where everybody else was.
The museum isn’t large and can be visited in about an hour. Since we had the afternoon free, we spent about 2 1/2 hours visiting. During this time we saw many different families come and go. Our kids were so involved interacting with the exhibits that we hated to disturb them.
This museum is perfect when visiting Lancaster, when you want to cool off, warm up or stay dry (depending on the weather when you visit!). Kids will have so much fun “playing” and learning at the Lancaster Science Factory.
The Details:
Lancaster Science Factory
454 New Holland Avenue
Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17602
(717) 509-6363
(Thank you to the Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn for hosting NY Foodie Family. As always, all opinions are our own.)
When visiting Lancaster, Pennsylvania there are many choices on where to stay. From campgrounds to bed and breakfast inns, there are accommodations for every budget. On our recent visit to Lancaster, we enjoyed a stay at the the Hershey Farm Inn. This is a great family-friendly lodging choice with lots of amenities.
The Hershey Farm Inn is not a chain hotel. They have 60 rooms, located in three different sections of the property. The two-story Main Inn has the feel of a traditional hotel, with a central lobby and interior rooms.
The Carriage House is the Inn’s more budget-friendly lodging option. These rooms are more motel-like with private outdoor entrances.
Our family stayed in the Amish Farm House. This 2-story house has traditional standard rooms as well as couples suites and 2-room family suites, which we stayed in.
In our suite, the exterior door enters the master bedroom. This room has a king size bed, a chair, dresser, television, refrigerator and coffee maker.
The kids shared the second bedroom, which has a double bed, desk and chair. It was nice for them to have a separate space to themselves. After putting the kids to bed, my husband and I could stay up with the lights on and not disturb them.
There is one bathroom in this suite. I really loved the decor of the bathroom. However, I wish that the sink area was a little larger. Due to lack of space, it was hard for everyone to keep their toiletries around the sink.
The Hershey Farm Inn & Restaurant offers more than just a place to sleep. There is plenty to see and do on the 23 acres of property. For kids, there are two different playground areas for them to climb and explore.
At the back of the property, there is a large fishing pond. Many swans and geese were inhabiting the area when we visited. If we had more time, I would have liked to sit in one of the Adirondack chairs with a book. It was so quiet and peaceful here.
The Inn has farm animals including goats and a barn with chickens and a rooster that wander freely. Feed is available for purchase in the main lobby.
My kids loved swimming in the pool the most. My husband and I enjoyed sitting under the cabanas to keep out of the sun. There is no lifeguard on duty, though, so parental supervision is a must. The pool is open until 10 PM though so the kids even got in some night swimming!
The Inn is located right next to the Sight & Sound Theatre. For guests that have tickets, there is a convenient walking path connecting the two properties.
The Hershey Farm Restaurant is located on the property and overnight guests receive complimentary breakfast at the Grand Smorgasbord. The breakfast buffet has an omelet station and made-to-order eggs. They also have french toast, pancakes, make-your-own waffles, bacon, sausage, cereal, baked goods and more. You will leave stuffed!
There is also a large gift shop and outdoor market onsite. The gift shop sells everything from souvenirs and toys to clothing and sports merchandise. Before we left, I purchased several plants and flowers from the outdoor market. Guests who would like to have lunch or dinner at the onsite restaurant can get discount coupons at the front desk in the main lobby.
When planning a trip to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn is a great lodging choice for your family!
The Details:
The Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn
240 Hartman Bridge Road
Ronks, PA 17572
(717) 687-8635
Rates: Vary depending on dates – please check the website for availability and prices
Location: The Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn is conveniently located near the Sight & Sound Theatre, American Music Theatre, Strasburg Railroad, Dutch Wonderland, the Rockvale and Tanger Outlets, and more.
