We explored Hershey Gardens in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
An interactive map:
Map:
Butterfly atrium:
Rose gardens dormant at the moment:
Other flower beds:
exploring
Attractions and other places we visit.
Soda Jerk Diner & Dairy Bar
We went to Soda Jerk Diner & Dairy Bar in Hummelstown/Hershey, Pennsylvania for dinner. A classic 50’s themed diner.
Ice cream soda and egg cream beverages:
Breakfast for dinner:
Pretty tasty stuff.
Independence National Historical Park
We visited the Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
An interactive map of our walking route:
View of Independence Hall:
But first, Campo’s cheesesteaks for lunch:
Old post office:
Passage to Franklin Court:
Ghost structures representing Benjamin Franklin’s house in Franklin Court:
Benjamin Franklin sign:
Bicentennial Bell in Benjamin Rush garden:
Second Bank of the United States:
Jenn getting her passport stamps; this roll of paper is an excellent idea we haven’t seen elsewhere:
Cranking for smashed pennies:
Snack at the cafe in the visitor center:
Flag reflected in a circular window:
Court room:
Our tour guide:
Assembly Room, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed:
We did the expanded guided tour (40 minutes vs 20) that got to go upstairs:
Historical.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
We visited Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in Pennsylvania, which showcases an early American landscape of industrial operations from 1771-1883.
Visitor center:
Valley Forge National Historical Park
We visited Valley Forge National Historical Park in Pennsylvania, the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778.
Visitor center:
Housing:
Cannon:
Oven:
Redoubt:
Monument:
Covered bridge:
Baseball: Harrisburg Senators vs Erie SeaWolves
We attended a double-A baseball game between the Harrisburg Senators (Washington Nationals affiliate) vs Erie SeaWolves (Detroit Tigers affiliate) at FMB Field in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
An interactive map of the ballpark on an island in the capital city of Pennsylvania:
Capitol building:
FNB Field:
Dinner options:
Weird burger and cheesesteak:
Snack:
View from our seats, section 110, row 1, seats 1 & 2:
Play ball:
Selfie:
Run scores:
Exploring the ballpark:
Hershey ice cream:
Ball hit the ump’s mask:
Wackiness:
Broken bat:
Final scores:
Hershey’s Chocolate World
We visited Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
We did the Create Your Own Candy Bar experience, where you choose components for a bar; here are Jenn’s selections:
My selections:
Selfie:
Production line:
While the chocolate is drying, you design your packaging:
Production line:
Our packages:
Then we did the free Hershey’s Chocolate Tour, a ride showing what goes in to producing chocolate bars:
Dinner in the food hall:
Dessert:
Hershey’s Largest Candy Store:
Extra-big Kit-Kat (which we didn’t buy):
We did buy a lot of stuff, though:
Kissmobile:
My custom candy bar:
Jenn’s custom candy bar:
A fun experience.
Baseball: Philadelphia Phillies vs San Francisco Giants
We attended a game of the Philadelphia Phillies vs San Francisco Giants, playing at the Phillies ballpark, Citizens Bank Park.
Jenn’s game summary:
Lovely, if cool, day for a ballgame. The Phillies Phanatic is the greatest mascot (sorry, Moose). The hometown crowd is very vocal and even boos their own players when they make an error, but otherwise, the folks we met were friendly and helpful to us out-of-towners. The park itself is rather mid-tier—no really “wow” factor, and we sadly didn’t get to see the homerun bell in action. Took over an hour to get out of the parking lot afterwards—craziness!
An interactive map of the ballpark and extensive surface parking around it:
Philadelphia:
Citizens Bank Park:
Home of the Philadelphia Phillies:
Selfie:
Crabfries:
Chicken donuts and crabfries:
Baseball stadium passport stamp:
Jenn with a model Phillie Phanatic:
Peach parfait:
View from our seats, Section 132, Row 26, Seats 1-2:
The Phillie Phanatic:
Play ball:
Camera guy and a dancing fan:
Exploring the ballpark:
Beverages:
Attendance 41,321:
Run scores:
Scores:
Phillies win!
Cape May Lighthouse
We visited the Cape May Lighthouse, and the nearby beach, with the ruins of Battery 223 on the beach.
Cape May Lighthouse:
Birdhouses:
Cape May Lighthouse:
Battery 223:
The beach, with the waves coming in at an angle:
The remains of an elaborate sandcastle, with the lighthouse in the background:
Colonial Williamsburg
We visited Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia again this year.
An interactive map:
Another interactive map on their website.
Visitor center:
We went to the Sweet Tea & Barley restaurant for lunch:
Then wandered around:
An interesting place.