Day 21 - 2025 East Coast Adventure - Hersey Park at Last!

8/7 - Little Buffalo state park to Little Buffalo state park 

It's Hershey Park day!  We had a quick breakfast and then enjoyed a lovely drive to park down the Susquehanna, though still haze from the fires in Canada. 

The park didn't open until 10, but we arrived early which gave us a chance to go to The Hershey Story Museum which had lots of things to buy, but also a ride which gave a pseudo tour of the chocolate factory.  It was a bit "It's a Small World", but it was a nice tour all the same.  Perhaps most importantly, it finished with a free piece of chocolate.  Not bad, right?!!  The only downside was that the ride stopped right as we entered the bean baking zone.  Needless to say Amy, who seems to always be hot, wasn't thrilled.  



We got into the park and immediately split up because Robinson wanted the big coasters and Sebastian did not. So I went with Robinson and Amy went with Seb. We had to wait for them to open the gates, but once they did it was like we had the park to ourselves. In 1 hour, Rob and I had done 4 coasters!  


Seb and Amy also had a good time, but got caught in a few longer lines. 



We regrouped and did a few rides together before we split up again for a few other rides.  Sebastian got brave and rode a piece of history.  The Super Dooper Looper is the first looping roller coaster on the east coast and Sebastian survived!





We took a break and walked out to the car for lunch.  Then we came back in and were going to go to the zoo section before Sebastian noticed the sign that said that the seal/sea lion show was about to begin.  So, we rushed through the zoo (but did see the porcupine perched on top of the tree!) and then sped back to catch the show.  



After the seal/sea lion show, we decided to give the water park a try.  It turned out to be a bit of a bust because Robinson and I got in the line for the water coaster and it was one of the SLOWEST moving lines in ride history.  It took us over an hour to get on the ride and it lasted about 45 seconds.  It was NOT worth it.

The boys and Amy continued to enjoy the water park with a few of the other water slides, but I was actually cold so I decided to sit out.  They seemed to really enjoy the excitement though!


While Amy and the boys were changing out of swim gear, I grabbed us a pizza for dinner.  We sat on a bench and made the entire pizza disappear before we headed back to the main theme park.  We did the Super Dooper Looper as a family together and then, as the park was about to close, we split up again.  Sebastian and I did the tower ride which offered a great view of the park and town.  Then Sebastian also got a chance to drive.  Yikes!




While Sebastian and I were on the tower, Robinson took Mom on launch coaster. Her vertigo got her as they reached the apex and there was nothing but sky around them.  Thankfully the ride is short and she recovered once she was back on the ground.

With the short lines, I asked if I could ride Skyrush which is consistently rated as one of the top 10 coasters in the country.  It delivered!  So, I took Robinson with me on this one and then, because there were a few minutes before the park closed, we also got to ride Candymonium.  This was one of the smoothest coasters I've ever been on and had a number of moments of zero G feelings.  It was fantastic (though I still prefer Skyrush slightly).


We walked out as they were shutting down the park.  While I thought we were done, the boys wanted to go back to the museum for one last investigation. They asked for a few things, though they were not purchased.....




We drove back to camp in the dark and, quietly as we could, tucked ourselves into bed for the night.  

Thanks Hershey Park - that was one FANTASTIC day.




Trip mileage - 3,601
# states - 13
# provinces - 3 

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