An Intern's Guide to Visiting Hershey, PA

12 weeks ago, I kicked off my summer as a Communications Intern for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts (HE&R). Not only was I lucky enough to work in one of the coolest industries of entertainment, amusement and hospitality, but I had the pleasure of learning from an incredible team of communications professionals. Throughout my experience, no two days were the same. From attending early morning news broadcasts to drafting content for our social media channels, this experience has provided me with great opportunities to step out of my comfort zone, and grow through networking and contributing to hands-on projects to expand my knowledge of the communications field. 

As a lifelong Pennsylvania resident, I have visited Hersheypark many times. However, after spending a full summer in The Sweetest Place On Earth, I’ve discovered some hidden gems across the destination that you may or may not be aware of as a guest visiting Hershey. Next time you’re in town, keep these activities in mind to make your stay that much sweeter! 

1. INDULGE IN A SPA EXPERIENCE

After a weekend of conquering coasters and splashing at The Boardwalk, a visit to the spa is the perfect way to relax and unwind. The Spa At The Hotel Hershey resort spa and MeltSpa by Hershey luxury day spa offer a variety of services, ranging from manicures, to facials, to body treatments and much more.  During my internship, I had the opportunity to interview MeltSpa team members to learn more about the work that goes into creating exceptional experiences for all guests. Although I did not have a chance to receive a service this summer, The Hotel Hershey's chocolate treatments and MeltSpa's dark chocolate treatments come highly recommended.

Read more about What Makes MeltSpa So Sweet in this story that I worked on for more reasons why you should visit MeltSpa by Hershey, or apply to join their team! 

2. MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR DAY AT HERSHEYPARK

Hersheypark is perfect for all coaster enthusiasts, with 15 coasters from mild to wild for the whole family. After a long morning of roller coaster rides, and indulging in sweets and snacks around the Park, it’s nice to take a break and enjoy other attractions and offerings that are included with your Park admission. 

If you are looking to relax and take in the scenery of Hersheypark, the Monorail and Dry Gulch Railroad are great attractions to do just that. If you'd like to see Hershey from a different angle, Skyview and The Kissing Tower offer incredible views of not just the Park, but the destination as a whole. My personal favorite way to break up a Park day is by visiting ZooAmerica, a North American Wildlife Zoo located inside of the Park. Admission to the zoo is included with your Park ticket, and inside you can find all kinds of North American Wildlife like bears, mountain lions, snakes, and much more.  

3. EMBRACE THE ENTERTAINMENT

Hershey, PA is a premier location for concerts, shows, sporting events and family entertainment. Throughout my life, I have attended several concerts at Hersheypark Stadium, watching iconic artists like Selena Gomez and One Direction step into the spotlight.  This summer, I had the chance to escort media at the New Kids On The Block concert featuring special guests DJ Jazzy Jeff and Paula Abdul. Despite the rainy weather, I had an incredible experience connecting with local photographers and gathering content to post on our Hershey Entertainment Instagram story throughout the show. 

I was also lucky enough to be involved with HE&R this summer as The Hershey Bears defeated the Coachella Firebirds for their 13th Calder Cup. I attended an early morning news broadcast with Monumental Sports to kick off the AHL Eastern Conference Finals and observed a live hit featuring Bears player, Hendrix Lapierre. Throughout the Eastern Conference Finals and the Calder Cup Playoffs, I helped the marketing and communications teams set rally towels upon every seat in the GIANT Center to prepare the arena for the thousands of fans expected to fill the stands at each game. 

Check out the Hershey Entertainment  show schedule to see when your favorite act is visiting The Sweetest Place On Earth! 

4. DINING AROUND HERSHEY

Although Hershey is known as the town built on chocolate, there is an array of restaurants offering different specialties and cuisines across the destination. From sports bars, to fine dining experiences, I guarantee that there are options for everyone. Whether you’re staying at an Official Resort of Hersheypark, in town for a day trip, or live local everyone is welcome to dine at any restaurant location, including those on resort property. Early on in my internship experience, I attended showcases at Hershey Lodge and The Hotel Hershey, where I was able to connect with team members from various departments, including culinary. At these events, each restaurant offered samples of one of their dishes, and each one was truly spectacular. 

Start your day at STACKS at Hershey Lodge, serving delicious breakfast, lunch, specialty cocktails, decadent hot chocolate and espresso beverages all day. You can also find amazing Happy Hour's at different locations around the destination. Fire & Grain at Hershey Lodge has incredible deals on beverages, as well as half off select appetizers, including their signature flatbreads. Devon Seafood + Steak hosts a great social hour at the bar top and patio, offering discounted signature cocktails like their Sparkling Butterfly Martini, and $9-$11 appetizers. Lastly, visit Iberian Lounge or any bar across the destination for a must-try Hershey's Kisses Signature Chocolate Martini!

5. EXPLORE THE PROPERTIES

Throughout the summer, myself along with the marketing interns were given tours of nearly all properties within Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, including the Hershey Country Club, The Hotel Hershey, Hershey Lodge, MeltSpa by Hershey, and Founders Hall at the Milton Hershey School. We also experienced The Hershey Story, where we learned about the life and legacy of our founder, Milton S. Hershey, and walked through an interactive museum filled with all sorts of Hershey artifacts. 

Each tour gave me a better understanding of the work that is done back in the office. Not only did I get to see the properties in detail, but I was also able to observe how they operate and how they serve our guests. Although every property is beautiful, nothing compared to visiting the Milton Hershey School. Learning about all of the incredible work that is done by the students and faculty at the School was absolutely fascinating and makes me more proud to be a part of a company with such a powerful core purpose. 

My experience with Hershey Entertainment and Resorts has taught me much more than I ever expected. Each day, I was given the chance to experience something new to prepare for my future career, all while exploring the town that has been so special to me throughout my life. My role as a communications intern this summer allowed me encourage guests to visit The Sweetest Place On Earth, and I'm incredibly grateful for the small part I have played in creating memories for thousands of families, all while supporting the Milton Hershey School. As sad as I am that my internship has come to an end, I will forever be thankful for this very impactful step of my career journey. Next time I'm in need of a sweet escape, Hershey is where you can find me.