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Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern

Train station in Kempton decorated with hay bales and ohter fall decorations

Date of Visit: October 27, 2019

Berks County is synonymous with railroad history. The legendary Reading Railroad, once the largest corporation in the world and forever immortalized by Monopoly, operated more than 1,400 miles of track across Pennsylvania and neighboring states.

Though the Reading last ran in 1976, its legacy lives on in many of the scenic railroads that still run today.

Kempton train station with two tracks in front

The Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern Railroad (WK&S) operates on a small section of former Reading Company tracks that stretches north from the Berks County town of Kempton to the village of Wanamaker in Lehigh County. The Reading was still running but had already abandoned the tracks when the WK&S was formed in 1963.

Vintage steam tank engine on display at the Wanamaker Kempton and Southern Railroad

Passengers board the train in Kempton, a small borough just a few miles from Route 78. The station complex features a collection of former Reading Railroad stations that have been moved the site. The main ticket office was formerly the Joanna station in southern Berks County. Here visitors can also shop for WK&S and other train merchandise and enjoy a snack from the refreshment stand.

Camelback diesel engine painted red with a green cab at the Wanamaker Kempton and Southern Railroad

Steam was the motive power of choice for many years along the WK&S, and there are long-term plans to bring steam back into service on the line, but today’s trains are pulled by a fleet of diesel locomotives.

Empty seats on a vintage Reading Railroad passenger car

A pair of former Reading Company passenger cars and an open-air flatbed car provide ample seating along the 40-minute journey. During our visit, we practically had an entire coach to ourselves. Though some events will fill up a lot more – and a lot faster – than others.

One-lane road surrounded by foliage-filled trees near Kempton, PA

The ride heads north through the village of Trexler. To the east, the Hawk Mountain Range rises high in the distance. It’s an especially beautiful sight in the fall when the foliage paints the mountains in shades of red, yellow and orange.

Historic barn stands alone in a field along the tracks of the Wanamaker Kempton and Southern

There are a few other scenic spots along the ride, including a small bridge and some historic buildings, but there are more homes and farmhouses along the route than Instagram-worthy locales.

Pond reflecting the clouds on a fall day near Kempton, PA

At the end of the line, the train scoots past the former Wanamaker Station before stopping for the engine to switch ends and pull the train back to Kempton.

model railroad set up inside a vintage railroad car at the Wanamaker Kempton and Southern

Back at Kempton, there is still more to explore. The Schuylkill & Lehigh Model Railroad has an impressive setup in a restored train car behind the station. The layout features engines and cars painted in the colors of the Blue Mountain, Reading and Northern Railroad in scenes reminiscent of Pennsylvania’s Coal Region.

model layout at the Wanamaker Kempton and Southern Railroad

Parked on the same track as the model railroad is WK&S No. 2, one of several steam locomotives that once operated along the line. Today it sits on display and serves as a great photo opportunity.

view from the cab of a speeder car at the Wanamaker Kempton and Southern Railroad

Another unique experience available at the Kempton station are speeder car rides.

Speeder cars are small, gasoline powered railcars that seat one or two people and are used by railroads for routine track inspections. That’s also the primary purpose of the speeder car at the WK&S. During our visit, guests also had the opportunity to hop in for a quick ride through the train yard.

Speeder car drives through the yard at the Wanamaker Kempton and Southern Railroad

After riding one, it is easy to see why they call them speeder cars. While I’m sure it was going slower than the train, there is a much greater sensation of speed when you’re riding so close to the ground in such a small vehicle.

While it may not be the biggest or most popular passenger train ride in Pennsylvania, the WK&S has plenty to offer for families and hardcore railfans alike to make for a memorable day.

When You Go

  • Parking is free in Kempton and train rides are reasonable priced at $12 for adults and $6 for children. All activities in Kempton are included with admission.
  • The WK&S is an all-volunteer railroad that has no outside income. Sales from tickets, merchandise and refreshments are what support the group’s efforts and keep the trains running.
  • Because they are volunteers, everyone at the WK&S wants to be there and are always happy to talk if you want to learn more about the railroad’s history or the region.

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Valley Forge National Historical Park

the National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge National Historical Park

Date of Visit: October 25, 2019

Valley Forge is a special place.

Among the most important sites in United States history, Valley Forge is the place where George Washington turned a loose band of militiamen into the Continental Army that would eventually defeat the British.

It’s also a place where I spent many a lunch break during my time working in King of Prussia.

This is hallowed ground. Between hunger and disease, many good men never made it out of Valley Forge to rejoin the fighting. Those that did risked everything in the fight for freedom.

But it was Washington, himself, who said it best. “Naked and starving as they are, we cannot enough admire the incomparable patience and fidelity of the soldiery.”

close-up of the underside of the National Memorial Arch at Valley Forge

That quote is forever memorialized on the National Memorial Arch, the signature centerpiece of what is now Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Modeled after Roman victory arches (like the more famous Arch de Triumph in Paris), Valley Forge’s arch celebrates and memorializes those who served. Carved on one side is a list of officers who served under Washington – men like Lafayette, Greene, and von Steuben.

a view from under the National Memorial Arch looking out to a Flagpole at Valley Forge Park

The latter has his own memorial within the confines of the park. Baron von Steuben is credited with bringing discipline to the army through training drills that were perfected throughout the winter of 1777-78 while the army was camped.

A statue of von Steuben stands watch over what was once the parade grounds, the place where he would have inspected the troops.

Both the Arch and the von Steuben statue can be found along the five-mile Joseph Plumb Martin Trail that loops around some of the most important historically significant parts of the park.

The trail starts where any visit to the park should – at the Visitor Center (which has completed a renovation since our visit). Here you’ll find a small museum with artifacts from the encampment and other displays that help tell the story of that fateful winter.

At the Visitors Center, guests can also visit the Encampment Store to purchase memorabilia to take home or to book a Trolley Tour (additional fees apply). Ranger-led walks are also offered during the summer months.

Next door to the Visitors Center is the theater where guests can view a short film that provides more context about what visitors will see throughout the park.

the Muhlenberg Brigade huts at Valley Forge Park

Leaving the Visitors Center, either by way of the trail or doing the driving tour along Outer Line Drive, the Muhlenberg Brigade Huts quickly come into view. These huts are reconstructed based on historic evidence and depict a typical soldier’s quarters during the encampment. They seem big enough from the outside, but you gain a whole new perspective once you see how many bunks (8-12) are packed into each one of these tiny long cabins.

It’s no wonder that disease spread so easily through the camp as men lived on top of each other with a lack of potable water and mild winter that left the ground muddy and at times, impossible for supply wagons to traverse.

Revolutionary War era cannon sits in a field at Valely Forge Park

The Joseph Plumb Martin Trail is named for one of those soldiers who spent the winter in one these huts. Decades after the war, he wrote down his experiences in a memoir, describing in great detail the struggles of the fledgling army. His story is one of the primary resources that helps the park to interpret the history to this day.

Leaving the trail, guests can visit arguable the most important remaining historic building on the property – Washington’s Headquarters.

This is the building where the Commander-in-Chief made his command center during the encampment. Nearly all of the house’s interior is original wood. Here, visitors are literally walking in Washington’s footsteps. Grasping the original handrail that leads to the second floor, you are practically holding hands with history.

Outside the HQ is a more recent, yet still historic landmark – the Valley Forge Train Station. During the days of steam engines, Valley Forge was a regular stop along the main line. Freight trains still carry goods along the tracks that were added a century after the encampment – before there was any notion of creating a National Park.

The Train Station serves today as a small museum, an adjunct to Washington’s Headquarters with displays that speak to the leadership of our Nation’s first leader.

There is much more to explore within the park beyond the history, too. Throughout the sprawling acreage is a system of more than 20 miles of trails, including a swath of the Schuylkill River Trail connecting Phoenixville to Philadelphia and a network of hiking trails on Mount Joy and Mount Misery.

A short hike on these trails leads to more quiet contemplation – away from the crowds that gather around the main historic sites. And the trails have wonders of their own to discover, including the ruins of a bottling plant that was built in the side of the mountain and operated until the early 20th Century.

Driving around this side of the park, you’ll also encounter a covered bridge that has been preserved to continue carrying cars across the meandering Perkiomen Creek which connects to the Schuylkill River in the park.

People go to the park for many reasons – to discover the past, to honor America’s story, to escape the urban sprawl that surrounds this sacred space.

No matter your reason, Valley Forge is a must-visit.

a view from under the National Memorial Arch looking out to a Flagpole at Valley Forge Park

When You Go

  • There is no admission fee to Valley Forge Park, and ranger-led programs are free of charge. There is a cost for trolley tours led by the Encampment Store.
  • The five-mile Joseph Plumb Martin Trail is a full loop that connects the Visitors Center, Muhlenberg Brigade Huts, National Memorial Arch, Artillery Park, the Von Steuben statue, and Washington Memorial Chapel. Washington’s Headquarters, Mount Joy and Mount Misery are connected by other trails but require and out-and-back.
  • The park-owned roads are open from dawn to dusk though there are public roads that travel through the park at all times.
  • The main entrance to the park is located along Route 23 just outside King of Prussia and is easily accesible from Routes 422, 202 and I-76 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike).

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Midtown Scholar Bookstore

Metal bell with green petina hanging above the main hall of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg, PA

Date of Visit: October 25, 2019

Every time I visit a new destination – or have an opportunity to explore a little more – I always seek out local bookshops. Most of the time, they were nice stores with some unique titles that you won’t find at a Barnes & Noble or on Amazon.

But the best of the best bookstores are destinations in and of themselves.

That’s certainly the case at Harrisburg’s Midtown Scholar Bookstore.

The Midtown Scholar is located in – you guessed it – the Midtown section of our State Capital. It’s located just across the street from the iconic Broad Street Market and less than a half mile from the State Museum and the State Capitol complex.

View through a wrought iron railing on the second floor of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore looking out over the main lobby area

Walking in the front door, you get a sense of the scale of the building. What is now the Midtown Scholar was formerly a department store and there seems to be endless amounts of shelves to explore.

Interspersed on the shelves are books both old and new. Midtown Scholar offers both brand new titles and pre-owned books – fiction and non-fiction.

Tucked off to the side is the “Little Scholar” children’s area which offers titles for kids of all ages. Again, the shelves are a mix of old books that I remember having at my grandparents’ house growing up and new releases, with everything in between.

Sandwichboard sign advertising "Books by the Foot" with a ruler to mark the heigh needed to get a percentage off

A special section offers a “Book by the Foot” discount where bibliophiles are encouraged to stack up their books to earn 10%, 20% or 30% off their purchase.

One of my favorite parts of the store, though, is the Scholar Underground. As the name suggests, the area can be found at the bottom of a set of stairs in the main building. It’s not that I’ve found many titles here that appeal to me, but I love the catacomb-like feel of the area.

Sign reading "Scholar Underground" above a staircase leading to a basement filled with bookshelves

Eventually, if you take the right turns, you’ll find your way to the rare books room. Unlike the cold cellar feel, the room is well appointed with hardwood floors and antique furnishing. Books in this room are for serious collectors only and are locked in cabinets that can be opened by the room’s attendant.

No trip to the Midtown Scholar would be complete without grabbing a drink from the café. (My go-to is chai latte). I take my mug to a seat on the second floor and sit down with one of my new purchases.

Checkout counter for the Midtown Scholar Bookstore and Cafe

The main level of the Midtown Scholar has a stage which plays host to a variety of events, most notably talks from nationally renowned authors.

If you’re an avid reader like me, a visit to the Midtown Scholar is well worth the trip.

Checkout counter for the Midtown Scholar Bookstore and Cafe

When You Go

  • Parking is available on the street and in parking spaces across the road at the Broad Street Market.
  • The Scholar hosts author events throughout the year. Visit their website for a full calendar.
  • In addition to the coffee shop, the Midtown Scholar rents space to a breakfast and lunch spot, Tammy’s Just Baked Cakes & Pies

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AACA Museum

Recreated covered bridge with a Model T crossing it at the AACA Museum

Date of Visit: September 1, 2019

It may surprise you to know that the No. 1 ranked attraction in Hershey (according to TripAdvisor) isn’t Hersheypark. Nor does it have anything to do with Milton S. Hershey or the chocolate empire he built in the Derry Township village. It’s the Antique Auto Collectors of America (AACA) Museum.

The Herhsey Kissmobile featuring three overside Hershey kisses on a flat bed on display in front of the AACA Museum

Located about a mile north of Hershey’s more well-known attractions, the AACA Museum feels like a world away from the smell of cocoa and sound of screaming roller coaster riders. If not for the Hershey’s Kissmobile parked out front, it would be easy to forget exactly where you are.

The AACA Museum showcases more than 100 years of automotive history throughout its galleries.

Antique Tucker automobile in front of a recreated Tucker dealership at the AACA Museum

One of the most interesting permanent exhibits at the museum is the Cammack Gallery, home to the world’s largest collection of Tucker Automobiles and related artifacts.

Preston Tucker was an ambitious engineer who launched several business ventures, culiminating in the creation of his namesake car model, “America’s first completely new car in 50 years.” 

Maroon 1948 Tucker on display at the AACA Museum in Herhsey, PA

Unfortunately the business was a failure (visit the museum to get the full story) and a total of just 51 Tuckers were built. Among those on display at the AACA Museum is Tucker #1001, the first production prototype. Tucker #1001, along with three other vehicles and a range of accessories were the collection of David Cammack and have had a permanent home in the museum since 2014.

Deloreon on display at the AACA Museum 

Tucker is not the only failed brand with a prominent place at the museum. DeLoreon, the infamouse manufacturer immortalized in the Back to the Future franchise, is represented with two pieces on display in the main gallery.

Antique buses in a row at the AACA Museum in Hershey, PA

A visit to the lower level reveals that the Museum is about more than cars. The AACA Museum is also home to the Museum of Bus Transportation, featuring an impressive collection of people-moving machines.

Green and white bus similar to the one in Forrest Gump on display at the AACA Museum

Among the highlights of the collection are a bus from the movie Forest Gump, as well as a look-a-like of the bus from the movie Speed.

Some items carry more historic significance, including a 1912 White Truck, the oldest running motorcoach in the world.

Inside a classic bus like the one from Forrest Gump

While the White is off-limits, many of the buses are open for guests to walk on board and look around (the museum just asks that you don’t sit down as it adds wear and tear to the seats).

Small diner with a Coke sign over the door and another sign next to it that reads "Floinn Caffe"

The lower level is also home to the Floinn Cafe, an original diner built by the Valentine Manufacturing Company. Drop a quarter in the jukebox outside the diner to hear songs from artists like Elvis Presley and the Tempations.

Miniature railroad display at the AACA Museum

Kids (and kids at heart) will enjoy “From Roads to Rails,” a 36-foot long minature village (nicknamed Tuckerville) that features model trains riding the rails through small towns and rural landscapes, past streets filled with classic cars, of course.

Collection of classic motorcylces in front of a backdrop of a classic diner called "Big Dippers"

The AACA Museum also had a rotating exhibit on display in the lower level – this one telling the history of motorcyles with an impressive collection of Harley-Davidsons and other classic bikes. The Big Dipper Diner, a country general store and a scenic wooded highway are incorporated into the wall murals that serve as a backdrop for the symbols of the open road.

Rotunda of the AACA Museum featuring three antique cars on the first floor and a row of motorcycles and mopeds on the second floor

Before you leave hte museum, make sure you make a visit to the upper level. The gallery space includes a collection of hood ornaments, plus more motorcycles and small vehicles. It also provides an incredible view of both the gallery below and rolling landscape out the large picture window.

1920s era car in two-tone dark pink in front of a mural of Milton Hershey at the AACA Museum

There may not be any chocolate at the end of your museum tour, but the AACA Museum is a sweet stop for anyone who loves cars – and everyone else.

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When You Go

  • The Museum is open daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
  • Expect to spend an hour or more browsing the galleries, depending on your level of interest
  • Exhibits run for about five months with a month in between when the galleries are being changed. Check the exhibit calendar and time your visits accordingly.
  • The Museum is a great place to recharge your batteries – literally. It has a row of electric vehicle charging stations for your convenience.

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Hotel Rock Lititz

Exterior of Hotel Rock Lititz at twilight

Date of Stay: September 1, 2019

I have done a lot of traveling for work, and more often than not, I find that a hotel is just a hotel regardless of the name on the door. There are exceptions to those rules, however.

One notable exception I’ve found in PA is Hotel Rock Lititz.

View from Hotel Rock Lititz looking out at the Pod 2 building and farmland in the distance

The hotel opened in 2018 on the grounds of Rock Lititz – best described as the place where your favorite musical artists perfects their stage show before going on tour. The actual Rock Lititz building is off limits – we wouldn’t want anyone to see the surprises before that first tour date – but the Hotel and the neighboring “Pod 2” are open to the public.

My wife and I stayed at the hotel while in town for a wedding, and immediately upon arriving at the hotel, it is clear that this is not just another hotel.

speakers backlit in red behind the check-in desk at the Hotel Rock Lititz

The check-in area at the lobby features a panel of speakers set against a changing light that go from floor to ceiling. Vintage concert posters line the wall along with visuals from the many stage shows that were developed in the “black box” across the street.

Large number 5 on steel wires with red backlights

The theming extends throughout the building. Each floor has a large number set against a display by a company that is responsible for a unique aspect of the live concert experience. We were on floor five – the top floor – which had steel structures from ATOMIC.

Bathroom inside Hotel Rock Lititz with the top of an equipment box used as a door

Entering the suite, the theme continued. The sliding doors for the bathroom were made from equipment cases. The same was true of the built-in desk. A strip of wallpaper featuring a collage of album covers and concert posters popped against the white paint.

And to top it off, the room had an incredible view looking out over Pod 2 at the Lancaster County countryside. 

Dinette inside a suite at Hotel Rock Lititz

Somehow we had managed to book a suite that was across the hall from the penthouse. If a famous musical act were staying at Hotel Rock Lititz, they would have access to a private entrance to their suite while their security could stay in our room, which had a door facing the penthouse’s entrance.

blue couch in the lobby of Hotel Rock Littiz

(Unfortunately for us, it was just a bachelor party using the penthouse during our stay).

In addition to rooms, the hotel offers a finer dining restaurant, Per Diem, which specializes in farm-to-table cuisine.

Wall art featuring concert scenes at Hotel Rock Lititz

Across the street at Pod 2 are more businesses to discover. It is not only home to many of the suppliers that come together to form Rock Lititz, but also businesses open to the community including the Lititz Bikeworks, the Litiz Rec Center, a yoga studio and a brewery.

And it’s all just a short drive from the borough of Lititz, named “Coolest Small Town in America 2013” and a destination in itself.

When looking for a place to stay in Lancaster County, don’t sleep on Hotel Rock Lititz.  

When You Go

  • Rates can range from $170 to $300 depending on demand. Book early to get the best rate.
  • The hotel has an on-site dining option, Per Diem, and there are additional dining options available across the street at Pod 2.
  • The hotel is just a mile north of Lititz, but Route 501 is probably too large and busy of a road to walk to town from the hotel.

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Bill’s Old Bike Barn

Entrance to a green warehouse with a sign above the door that says Bill's Old Bike Barn

Date of Visit: March 22, 2019

There are one-of-a-kind places, and then there is Bill’s Old Bike Barn, where the phrase one-of-a-kind doesn’t begin to capture what’s inside.

Driving along Route 11, just off the Berwick exit of Interstate 80 in Columbia County, Bill’s is set back from the road. Thankfully, a pair of dinosaurs mark the entrance, making it impossible to miss.

T-Rex and triceratops sculptures outside Bill's Old Bike Barn

A navy gunner boat stands guard outside the hand-made wooden door, which itself is lined with license plates from across the country and around the world.

The core of Bill’s collection is vintage motorcycles. For bike aficionados, there is a little something for everyone: antique Harley-Davidsons and Indians, flat-track dirt racers, military bikes, and even a bike made of wicker.

Row of classic motorcycles at Bill's Old Bike Barn

Bill is obviously a proud Harley owner. In addition to the motorcycles, visitors will see Neon signs, wooden sculptures, a Harley-branded jukebox and a recreated Harley-Davidson service shop.

The service shop is part of Billville, a walkable Main Street that has been recreated inside the warehouse. Each building is themed to create a multitude of storefronts and businesses along the street.

Recreated old time barbershop inside Bill's Old Bike Barn

It starts with the barbershop. “The Quakake Barber Shop, Elden Clemens, prop.,” according to the door. (Quakake is a small community in Schuylkill County). Through the window guests can view a vintage barber chair, tools of the trade and advertisements for razors and oils.

The Billville Music Shoppe displays a collection or horns, keyboards and string instruments, but the highlight is the player guitar – a coin-operated, self-playing instrument that was popular in the early 20th Century. It has been restored and costs just 25-cents to play. It may not be in tune, but it is an impressive sight to see.

Cigar store Indian in front of a window looking into a recreated tobacco shop

Billville includes a wide array of memorabilia, displayed in such building as the tobacco shop, toy store and camera shop. One of the most impressive collections, though, is in the firehouse.

In front of the shop stands a horse-drawn pumper truck (with a skeleton at the reins). Inside is more vintage equipment along with insignias from fire departments across the country. There’s even a fireman’s pole that connects the first and second floor exhibits. (No, you can’t slide down). But the highlight is the Mack ladder truck.

A white antique fire truck inside a recreated fire station at Bill's Old Bike Barn

Hidden from view from “the street,” the fire engine sits behind the displays. It’s painted a brilliant white with chrome details, including a bulldog hood ornament that would have led the way to a fire decades ago.

A shoe repair shop, a post office, the Avon Lady, a newspaper company and an entire room dedicated to Mickey Mouse, are among the other first floor sites.

a ledger book poised on a railing overlooking multiple displays inside Bill's Old Bike Barn

But there’s two floors to explore and the top level should not be missed. Walls of Elvis memorabilia can be found above the post office while a less inviting dentist’s office, complete with horrid fake teeth in a jar.

Above the Mayor’s Office is a collection of toy and model horses, big and small. The second floor also features collections of die-cast cars, irons and telephones.

Many visitors have left their mark on the covered bridge, where guests are encouraged to sign their names in commemoration of their visit.

Recreated restaurant inside Bill's Old Bike Barn made to look like a streetside cafe in New Orleans

There may be no room more impressive than the 1939 World’s Fair Bar, with its trellised entryway, carved wood bar and stained glass windows. The only thing missing is a bartender with your drink.

Bill is a big collector of memorabilia from the 1939 World’s Fair and has a separate room filled with pennants, posters, postcards, plates and anything else that was branded for the event.

Between the two World’s Fair spaces is another slice of 1939, a recreated family residence with a living room and dining room. The living area features period furnishings and a cast iron stove while the dining table, under the glow of the chandelier, is set with the finest glassware.

Military equipment display including a bike, Jeep and figures representing World War 2 through Vietnam at Bill's Old Bike Barn

While this room spoke of peace, another room outside of Billville is filled with artifacts of war. A diorama depicts a combat zone with soldiers armed with rifles and heavy artillery. An armed skeleton is a harsh reminder of those who didn’t make it home. Other military tributes can be found throughout the building in display cases and on the display floor.

Along with the sobering military displays are more whimsical items like the European carousel figures that are spread throughout. A cluster of them can also be found in the main hall where circus posters serve as the center for this fantasy merry-go-round.

Old-fashioned carousel horse in shades of brown at Bill's Old Bike Barn

Fishing ephemera, Christmas displays, model airplanes, clowns, license plates from around the world and a larger-than-life suit of armor are just some of the other attractions that make Bill’s a destination like no other.

Row of food vendors at the Bedford County Fair

When You Go

  • Bill’s is cash-only. There is an ATM inside the door in case you forget.
  • There is no front desk. Someone will be around to greet you and collect your admission.
  • Take your time. Bill’s is best enjoyed at a slow pace.
  • Photography is encouraged. Take lots of pictures – you’ll be sure to see things you missed while you were there.
  • Look up – the collection covers every wall and the ceiling.
  • Hours are limited. Check Bill’s official website for more details.

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Hotel Hershey

front of the Hotel Hershey covered in snow

Date of Visit: March 3, 2019

Looming large above Hershey’s attractions, the stately Hotel Hershey is Chocolatetown’s premier getaway destination.

Opened in 1933, the Hotel Hershey is one of several landmarks constructed by Milton Hershey during a building boom that kept the community moving forward during the Great Depression.

Despite orgins in the country’s greatest financial crisis, the Hotel has always been a place of reserved luxury.

the tropical fountain inside the original lobby of the Hotel Hershey

A modern renovation moved the front desk to the ground floor, but it’s the tropical Fountain Lobby that would have greeted guests for decades after the opening. The namesake fountain, an import from Italy, adorns the center of the room.

wide view of the original obby of the Hotel Hershey with tile floors and a fountain

Despite the Tiffany lamps and antique furnishings, the room appears to be inside-out. High above, everything appears inside-out. The ceiling is painted light blue with whispy clouds. Stucco walls with curved “roof” tiles and faux exterior windows make it feel like you’re standing outside a hotel in Cuba, not Pennsylvania.

It’s an inspiring sight that also serves as a quiet spot for reading and resting. The room also opens onto the front veranda where guests can look out over a skyline of HersheyPark roller coasters and the iconic smokestacks from the original Hershey’s chocolate factory.

stained glass skylight above the lobby of the Hotel Hershey

Recent renovations have only added to the hotel’s charms. The current lobby, built in what was once the basement parking lot, has been adorned with a stained glass skylight. As an added bonus upon arrival, every guest receives their choice of Hershey bar – milk or dark. And staff always wishes you a “sweet day.”

The main lobby is home to the resort’s retail shops. Signatures – All Things Hershey is the place for souvenirs to remember your visit. Other retailers include a jeweler; Shine, a Lily Pulitzer Signature store; and a home decor boutique.

It is also home to The Cocoa Beanery, a coffee and bake shop that offers  chocolate baked goods and other indulgent (and not-so-indulgent) treats.

The Circular Restaurant inside the Hotel Hershey

The Cocoa Beanery is one of five eateries on the property. Located adjacent to the Fountain Lobby, The Circular has been the signature restaurant at the hotel since it opened. Once a coat-and-tie kind of place, the restaurant now offers a more relaxed dress code, but still evokes a finer dining experience.

A second finer dining restaurant, Trevi 5, is also just steps from the Fountain Lobby. Named for the famed Trevi Fountain in Rome, the restaurant offers Italian finer dining. Across the hall is the Iberian Lounge. Once a reading room, the lounge features a fireplace and an incredible mural depciting a busy dock scene. Walk across the room and feels like the dock is following you, always inviting you to step out and join the scene.

plate with a slice of chocolate cake with strawberry drizzled in the shape of a flower petal

Harvest, the resort’s casual lunch and dinner spot, is located in a newer building behind the main hotel. The building is also home to an aracde to enjoy before or after your meal.

To get to Harvest, guests walk through the formal gardens. The gardens actually predate the hotel by more than 20 years, having grown up around a reservoir to be used for the town’s drinking water. Surrounding the water are gazebos and wooden pergolas along with antique globe lamps to light the way at night.

Next to Harvest are some of the resort’s outdoor amenities (which we didn’t get to take advantage of because of the snowy weather).

water surrounded by a marble railing at the Hotel Hershey

Hershey Outfitters connects guests with adventures like The Odyssey ropes course, trap shooting, archery tag, fly fishing and kayaking. The hotel also features its own 9-hole disc golf course, hiking trails and a sports complex that includes courts for basketball, beach volleyball, tennis and more.

The Hotel Hershey is also kid-friendly. The Cocoa Clubhouse is for kids age five and older. It features kids courts for tennis, basketball and swimming along with arts and crafts and ice cream making. Full, half-day and date night packages are available daily from Memorial Day through mid-August (and select weekends and holidays year-round).

The whole family will also enjoy the year-round indoor pool along with the spacious outdoor pool. The outdoor pool complex includes two huge water slides, an Infinity pool for adults and a kiddie spray deck. The outdoor pool complex also has its own dining option, Poolside.

For adults, a day at the spa may be the highlight of your stay. Enjoy treatments that include massages, facials and chocolate-infused body soaks.

Of course a great hotel has to have great rooms. As an old hotel, the rooms are not overly spacious, but they’re not too small. The bathrooms can feel a little cramped, but each comes equipped with chocolate-mandarin flavored soaps, shampoo and body lotion.

the Milton Hershey Suite at the Hotel Hershey

Experience the best of the best that the hotel has to offer with a stay in the Milton S. Hershey suite. The spacious room includes two bedrooms, a large sunroom and a private veranda three floors up that offers the best views the hotel has to offer. Or you can do what we did and take a tour of the property – the Milton Hershey Suite is a showcase on the tour as long as it’s unoccupied.

While the pricetag of the Milton S. Hershey suite may out of the price range for most, the hotel’s historic elegance is certainly within reach for most visitors.

And whether traveling alone, as a couple or as a family, a stay at the Hotel Hershey is sure to add even more memories to your Hershey experience.

When You Go

  • The Hotel Hershey is a resort so expect to pay resort prices. Rates are higher in the summer when all of the resort attractions are open.
  • There are five dining options at the Hotel: the Circular, Harvest, Trevi 5, the Chef’s Market, and the Iberian Lounge. There is also a poolside menu in the summer.
  • Included in your stay are free passes to Hershey Gardens and the Hershey Story Museum and preferred pricing for HersheyPark and ZooAmerica.
  • The hotel has a shuttle to and from HersheyPark on all days when the park is open.

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Eisenhower National Historic Site

Large farmhouse at the Eisenhower National Historic Site

Date of Visit: February 18, 2019

In 1951, looking for a place to retire, General Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife Mamie purchased a farm on the edge of Gettysburg National Military Park in Adams County, Pennsylvania.

A year later when the general became president-elect, retirement was put on hold, and the home would take on even greater significance.

Eisenhower first visited Gettysburg in 1915 while he was a cadet at West Point, and his visit fueled a lifetime of fascination with the Civil War and its military and political leaders.

A look at the back of Dwight Eisenhower's former home in Gettysburg, PA

The farmhouse was the first and only home that the Eisenhower’s had ever purchased. The plan was to refurbish the pre-Civil War home but most of the original structure was found to be in disrepair. Instead, a small piece of the original home was saved while the rest of the home was built new.

Wayfinding marker at Eisenhower National Historic Site

During his time as President, Eisenhower’s Gettysburg home served as his private retreat – a place he could escape Washington but still a place where real work could get done. Add up the days and Eisenhower spent a full year of eight-year presidency in Gettysburg.
Part of that time was also spent recovering. In September 1955, while vacationing in Colorado, Eisenhower suffered a heart attack. After weeks of hospitalization, he returned east – not to Washington – to Gettysburg.

In all, Eisenhower signed more than 300 pieces of legislation in his Gettysburg home.
A tour today reveals much more about Eisenhower the man than Eisenhower the president.
The home and many of the buildings on the site were painted white with green trim. Even after retiring from military duty, Army green remained a part of his life.

The pink master bedroom, designed by Mamie Eisenhower, at Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, PA

But the master bedroom – where Mamie held sway – was decidedly pink.

Throughout the home visitors can see some of Eisenhower’s original artwork. Painting was a relaxing pastime for the military man, and his works – many of them serene landscapes – are a stark contrast the battlefields and boardrooms he experienced throughout his career.
Among the most treasured works is a portrait of his grandsons that hangs above the bed in Ike’s dressing room.

neatly appointed living room at the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, PA

The living room of the home served more as a museum than living space. Among the ornate decor are prized gifts given to the Eisenhower’s, including the marble mantle that once graced the east wing of the White House, a Persian rug from the Shah of Iran and a coffee table from the first lady of South Korea.

Sun porch at Dwight Eisenhower's former home, featuring an original painting by Eisenhower sitting on an easel.

But the Eisenhower’s spent most of their time on the sun porch, a modest room where Ike painted and the couple enjoyed watching television.

Living with the Eisenhower’s in the house were John and Delores Moaney. John, who had served on the General’s personal staff in World War II, served as a butler or valet, while Delores handled much of the cooking. (Mamie, admittedly, was never much of a cook).
Outside the home lived another family: Eisenhower’s prized cattle herd.

View of the cattle field with large white barn and silo in the background at Eisenhower National Historic Site

The farm is really two farms: Eisenhower’s 189 acres and an additional 306 acres owned by his partners in the cattle business. The short walk from the home to larger farm is the same path that was taken by fellow politicians and foreign diplomats for two decades.

Eisenhower’s herd was one of the most awarded in the country, taking top honors at the Pennsylvania Farm Show and at major competitions across the state. A herd of about 50 cattle are still maintained on the site and can be seen during tours.

Cattle barn at the Eisenhower National Historic Site

The Show Barn, where cattle were groomed in preparation for competition, is open seasonally April through October. On the walls are the ribbons won by Eisenhower’s herd through the years.

Cattle-raising was a business for Eisenhower, but his favorite way to relax was a round of golf. During his time in Pennsylvania, Eisenhower frequented the now-defunct Gettysburg Country Club. If he didn’t have time for a round, he could always visit his backyard putting green to hone his skills.

Backyard at the Eisenhower National HIstoric Site

Among the other notable areas of the farm are the teahouse and gardens, the guest house and the skeet range.

One thing you wont’ find at the farm is parking. As a National Historical Site, changes to the property are limited (the house still runs on the same heating and cooling systems as it did in the 1950s) and that means there has been no parking added. Visitors instead can star their tour at the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center and shuttle in to the property.

At the farm, the reception center provides exhibits on Eisenhower’s childhood, military service, presidency and retirement. A short orientation film runs on a continuous loop. The reception center also features a small gift shop with a wide range of books and souvenirs – including, of course, I Like Ike buttons.

Visit nps.gov/eise for current hours of operation, ticket prices and other details to plan your visit.

A look at the back of Dwight Eisenhower's former home in Gettysburg, PA

When You Go

  • The grounds of the Eisenhower National Historic Site are open daily but ranger-led tours are available select dates, changing by season.
  • Tours are offered on a first-come, first-served basis with limited capacity.
  • The site hosts special events throughout the year, including World War II Weekend and the annual D-Day Commemoration.

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