5 Best Sights in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Pennsylvania

Billed as the "Sweetest Place on Earth," Hersheypark offers more than 65 rides and attractions, a boardwalk with a lazy river and wave pool, a wildlife park called ZooAmerica with hundreds of animals, as well as tons of live-entertainment options. Founded in 1907 as a town park for chocolate factory workers, Hersheypark, set on more than 100 acres, is prized as one of America's cleanest and greenest theme parks. Among its historical rides are the Comet, a 1946-vintage wooden roller coaster, and a carousel built in 1919 that has 66 hand-carved wooden horses. "Chocolatetown" is the latest park expansion that includes Candymonium, its tallest and longest roller coaster to date, a virtual-reality experience, a Hershey merch flagship store, and a full-service restaurant.

Hershey Gardens opened with a single 3½-acre plot of rosebushes at Milton Hershey's request and over eight decades has grown to include 11 theme gardens on 23 landscaped acres. Home to more than 3,000 roses and 28,000 tulips, the gardens come to life in spring as thousands of bulbs burst into bloom. Flowering displays last until fall, when late roses open. The year-round butterfly atrium hosts hundreds of pollinators from around the world. A gift shop is on site.

At Hershey's Chocolate World, a free 30-minute automated ride takes you through the steps of producing chocolate, from picking the cocoa beans to making candy bars in Hershey's kitchens. The Chocolate Tasting Adventure (separate admission) offers a multimedia overview of chocolate history and other trivia, as well as samples of Hershey's chocolate. Those with a more creative sweet tooth can now concoct their own chocolate inventions at the new Create Your Own Candy Bar attraction (additional fee). This is the town's official visitor center, so you can get information while tasting your favorite Hershey confections and buying gifts in a spacious conservatory filled with tropical plants.

One of the largest caves in the northeastern United States has a 45-minute guided walking tour of its underground wonderland. The temperature is always around 52°F, so bring a sweater; strollers are not allowed. The children can enjoy panning for semi-precious stones at Gem Mill Junction. There's a gift shop with gemstones and souvenirs, petting barnyard and picnic area. The caverns are about 3 miles west of Hershey.

The Hershey Story, which replaced the Hershey Museum, is an highly interactive facility that tells all about the life and work of Milton S. Hershey, who founded the town bearing his name and just about everything in it. On display are a working Hershey Kisses wrapping machine and other memorabilia from the company's long history. A highlight is the Chocolate Lab, where you can take classes on grinding cocoa beans by hand, and tempering, molding, and dipping chocolate. The Pantry Cafe offers a range of light meals, snacks, desserts, and a sampler of hot chocolates from around the world.