Chocolate, chocolate everywhere... and lots to drink

HERSHEY STORY MUSEUM

 Today's adventure was an indoor adventure to the Hershey Story Museum in the spectacularly beautiful downtown Hershey, PA, where the streets are lined with alternating wrapped and unwrapped chocolate Kisses.

PLANNING:  The only planning involved buying the Groupon for the adventure.  The $19 Groupon included entrance to the museum as well as the Chocolate Tasting Adventure for 2 (there was also one for 4), this was like a BOGO situation!

THE DRIVE:  20 min door to parking lot, which is free and had lots of empty spaces, even though the museum had been open for a few hours before we got there.

ARRIVAL:  Once inside the Museum the eyes are instantly bombarded (in a good way) with lots of browns and oranges.  The helpful woman at the front desk took our Groupons gave us our tickets while another tried (somewhat in vein) to help the children with the automated XPLOROSCOPE that set the ton for the museum.  Prior to our visit I had shown A the Apprenticeship program- for $3 more you can get a booklet to fill out and once completed you get a special coin and a print out of your newspaper cover.  We also picked up the Girl Scout program- which was free and earned A a special patch (also free).

THE ADVENTURE:  The museum systematically takes visitors from Milton Hershey's early life and failures through his successes and legacies.   Fairly quickly I saw the value of the apprenticeship

as A was very engaged looking for the needed information while T and R went through the museum like... kids in a museum.  The workers were very helpful with helping fill out questions and after each
section there was a unique reward: Milton Hershey's business card, an embossed   COCOA... and more.

    Along the route there were many hands on activities and movies that really kept everyone's interest.  The kids really liked where you could redesign a Hershey label and email it home.  I know we got MANY emails once we came home!   The kids also liked the Hershey timeline detailing all important Hershey events from the start until now.

Just when we thought we were done with the museum, we went downstairs and there was a special worker exhibit where we all got a time card and got to work.  There were several jobs to try out: Roaster, Packers, Knockers, and Refiners.  At the end you told a worker which was your favorite and she told you how much you were paid an hour in 1927.  This was very cool, and, as a bonus, the area smelled like chocolate. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm....

Next we headed into Cafe Zooka for out Chocolate Tasting Adventure.  We handed in our tickets and were handed trays with shot glasses full of cocoa filled with various amounts of cacao.  As advised we started with the one with the lowest amount of cacao and worked our way up.  We read where each beverage originated and the taste that it should have.  I enjoyed each and everyone- the more cacao the better.  The kids seemed to like the ones with less cacao better.  It seems a bit odd to trade shots with your 10 yr old and one grandmother at another table made some funny comment about it. However, this was a very cool and tasty experience. 

TIPS/ TRICKS:  Use a coupon or Groupon.  I am all about saving money. Bring a small bag.  I ended up holding a lot of papers and such.  I would recommend doing the Apprentice Program for ages 9 and up. I think it was educational, easy, and fun.  Be prepared for the gift shop.  Everything smells good- even the t-shirts. Prices were like standard gift shop prices.  There was also real Hershey's products in the shop.  There is also a Chocolate Lab.  This was another $10 for Adults and $7.50 for kids for a 45 minute class.  This requires specific reservations.  If you are doing the chocolate tasting: be hungry, don't expect to like them all, don't expect to be hungry afterwards.

Have you Ever Seen an ...

ALPACA? (Did you think i was going to say llama?)

 

As Robin and her clan headed to Niagara Falls for a HUGE adventure, Kim had Adventure Tuesday solo this week. 

Kim, Mimi,T, and R ventured to Eastland Alpacas (http://www.eastlandalpacas.com/index.shtml) in Mt. Joy. Definitely easy to get to, via GPS. It is a beautiful 30 acre farm. 

PLANNING: Reservations are suggested.  I did not make exact reservations, but I suggest calling

Mimi gives some alpaca love

ahead to make sure that the workers are going to be there. I told them a time frame of when we would be there.

THE ADVENTURE: We first stopped at the little store attached to their home. There were many alpaca items to purchase. Yarn, socks, and sweaters. I recommend the socks!! You are invited to visit with the alpacas and pet them at no cost. They offer a guided tour for a donation. 

Originally, we walked around on our own.  In addition to the alpacas, there were kittens that had T and R's attention and 1 llama. After our self-guided walk, we did opt for the tour. It was so informative and fun! I had no clue alpacas ran so fast!! The owner was very friendly and knowledgeable. She let us hold a baby alpaca, feed the alpacas, and even hug them!! I highly recommend this tour.

On the way home we stopped at Mazzoli Ice Cream (https://www.facebook.com/Mazzoliicecream) 2 W. Governor Rd. in Hershey. Founded in 1956, they make their own ice cream. One word....YUM!!! 

Nothing says summer like...

MINI GOLF

Not just any mini golf, but mini golf in Mt. Gretna.  This is my (Robin's) most favorite place to play mini golf, ever. Not only are the hole extremely long and unique, they are nestled quaintly in the woods that surround the majestic Mt. Gretna lake.  While Robin has played here, none of the children nor Kim has been here...therefore it is indeed an adventure.

Hole #1

PLANNING:  It is mini golf- how much planning can there be?  A bit.  I could not find an address for the mini golf, so I called and spoke to a nice young man who had no idea of the address.  He also did not know if there were coupons, but thought there might be, but had no idea where they could be found *sigh*.  I plugged in the address for the Jigger Shop, a Mt. Gretna ice cream stop, grabbed some bug spray and we were off.

THE DRIVE:  Mt. Gretna is on the far side of Hershey from us and the off highway ride is beautiful.  It is cool going from farm land into the woods.  My GPS did not fail us and took us right to the Jigger Shop.  After few rouge loops around, with a great view of the lake area we found the mini golf area- which we had driven right past on our way in.

Catching some air

Jumping the gap

THE ADVENTURE:  Like I stated before, this mini golf is like no other around here.  The holes are quite long and unique.  Adults were $8 Children (12 and under) $5.  Kim chose to keep score and keep everyone in check- a tougher job than it may sound. With only one other group on the course, the kids took a few extra turns perfecting each hole. 

 It was a lot of fun watching their curiosity as they approached each new hole and tried to figure out the way to get a hole in one.  There were jumps, bumps, logs and bridges to overcome. These kept the kids running from area to area (perhaps even into the creek...perhaps...).

Over the river and through the woods

After mini golf we went to the Jigger Shop (http://www.jiggershop.com/) for, well, ice cream of course.  The choices were endless and seemed a bit pricey... until you saw the size of your serving.  I got an ice cream soda with diet Coke and sugar free vanilla, A got a chocolate shake, R got a regular ice cream soda, Kim got a sundae that was overflowing with marshmallow, and T got Death by Chocolate.  It must have taken the server 5 minutes to build the tower that was to be T's dessert.

Jigger Shop

TIPS/TRICKS:  Look ahead of time for coupons.  I am sure they exist.  I am fairly certain coupons are what drew me to the mini golf place the first time (even though that was years ago).  Go to the Jigger Shop on an empty stomach.  Do not plan on eating dinner afterwards.

Foot Golf!

FOOT GOLF!

Soooooooo.... sometime last week my son showed me a picture from iFunny about soccer golf. As a HUGE soccer family, I thought this was the best idea I had ever heard of. I immediately wanted to bring this random notion to reality.  Fut Fut Golf we would call it.  The market would be ours, buwahahahaha... oh, sorry.

Turns out that Foot Golf does exist- albeit with a much lamer name and the closest course just opened about an hour away at Willow Valley Golf Course (http://willowvalley.com/lancaster-pa-doubletree/amenities/golf-course/).

PLANNING:  I made a phone call down there and spoke to a super nice man who explained the dress code: no cleats, no cut off shorts,  no body shirts (i.e.,  tank tops, muscle shirts...).  Cost- $10 for the 9 hole course.  Bring your own ball or rent for $2.  Carts are available for $5 per person (yes, really per person).  Again it was hot out, so we packed LOTS of drinks and some snacks for later and hit the road.

THE DRIVE: The drive took us 283 E to the Fruitville pike and took us through downtown Lancaster, which was interesting, but turns out we could have taken 741 E and skipped about a million traffic lights. The golf course was easy to find- as was the pro shop where we paid the same nice guy I had spoken to.

THE ADVENTURE: Foot Golf (seriously, you know you like Fut Fut better) is played just like real golf: your foot is the club, the ball is bigger as is the hole. We let M tee off first, as we were all certain his 9+ years of soccer training would supersede all of our skills (possibly combined). He did not disappoint.  A went next and proved to be quite a force on the course, her 4 yrs of soccer training shined through, even beating her brother to birdie a par 3! T and R are not soccer players but took to the tee with everything they had!  Pulling up the rear of the pack, not content to sit and watch the fun this time, Kim and I also took to the tee.  My 4 games of soccer did not shine through, but Kim and I played with unabashed fun.

The 9 holes went in a similar fashion:  M teed off and waited, waited, waited.  The rest of us teed off and worked hard to catch up to M, who in one more kick would be near the hole.  Like real golf, the satisfaction of one good kick (hit) was enough to keep us trying harder and harder and wanting to do better and better.  I do feel like there was a marked improvement from the first hole to the last!  I even managed to kick the ball from the tee over the creek with out it (or me) getting wet.

The course is built on and around a real golf course, where NO ONE was golfing.  The (rarely hit) green made the ball roll fast, which was great when we were going down hill and not so great (yet entertaining) while going up hill.  It was fun trying to figure out all the different strategies to try to get the ball to go where we wanted it to and how to fix it when it did not get there. 

TIPS/TRICKS:  Bring your own ball if you have them. Don't get a cart- unless you are able to kick a ball more than 30 yards (if you have never played soccer- you can't.  Do not think your 5th grade kickball prowess will help you now!!!). Get the score card- you will need the map to get from hole to hole.  Bring lots of drinks, you will be thirsty afterwards- there is a McDs across the street.

 I am not sure how much fun  it would be if the course was crowded, but I think by not starting until noon (Foot Golf starting time), much of the golfing crowd can be avoided.  I also think this would be an AMAZING outing for soccer teams (10 or more need a reservation).

Army Heritage Trail and Carlisle Splash Pad

 ARMY HERITAGE TRAIL AND CARLISLE SPLASH PAD

Ringing Rock Park

Chickies rock

This week we decided to find a FREEBIE adventure.  We have been extremely successful with these in the past: Ringing Rock Park, Hawk Mountain (almost free)/ Cabelas, Chickies Rock, tubing and so many more. Sometimes the wallet just needs a break and our area is surrounded with great free attractions.  

Ringing Rock Park- waterfall

PLANNING:  There was not a lot of planning that had to go into this adventure.  We checked out the website (http://www.carlisle.army.mil/ahec/ahm/heritage.cfm), packed lunches and a lot of water, dressed to be outside, packet swim wear/ towels for later and set off.

THE DRIVE:  The Heritage Trail is about 20 minuted from our neighborhood and the drive is an easy one- with options. We chose the back roads as it is a prettier drive. The GPS took us exactly where we wanted to go and the entrance was easy to find.

ARRIVAL:  After parking we were presented with the option of going into the HUGE Army Heritage Museum building or heading straight for the trail.  We opted for the latter.  Seeing an EZ UP shelter with some Army guys in it near the entrance to the trail we stopped and they asked if we were there for the scavenger hunt. JACKPOT!  We were not, but this felt like a huge win.  There were different packets for elementary, middle and high school levels.  We needed 2 el. ed, 1 middle, and 1 hs.  The kids took their packets and were off!

WWI trench

THE ADVENTURE:  The trail is a mile(ish) loop that covers the different eras of the Army, with 14 large exhibits.  About 10 steps into it I was happy that my family was wearing socks and sneakers, while Kim was perpetually shaking rocks out of her very cute sandals as the trail is dirt and a billion tiny rocks.

WWII trench

After taking a picture at the first tank (see above), the kids quickly disappeared into the trenches- literally.    Scavenger hunts in hand they ran, dipped, and ducked their nuts through the trenches looking for answers to the scavenger hunt questions  on the placards that were placed throughout the trench.   Even for the elementary level, the hunt was hard and Kim and I stepped in to try to help out (read: we took the papers and tried to do it and still struggled).  The kids really enjoyed all the different aspects of the trench and there were MANY things that everyone learned about where the people slept, the animals that were kept and safety features.

Exiting the WWI trench we realized we had gone in the exit ( no one was really surprised) and we headed off to the WWII trench- a metal tunnel with air holes. The difference was amazing!  and stifling- it was quite warm and sticky outside and that was exacerbated in the metal tunnel.  Really made me think about what it would be like to be in complete uniforms with helmets.

En route to the  next exhibit- the Korean War, the kids slowly lost interest in their scavenger hunts- they were all incredibly difficult- yes even the elementary school one.  Luckily there were trash cans throughout the route and (somewhat) sadly we dumped them. Towers and trenches dotted this exhibit and provided a stunning view of the entire park.

Once free of the tediousness of the scavenger hunt, we were able to move more freely and quickly throughout the park.  We did also make frequent stops at the well stocked, well cared for water stations that were scattered through out the trail.  Frequently, the water was extremely cold and refreshing. and one could see the men driving around refilling the water containers.

One of the favorite stops for the kids was the obstacle course- an area where they could tryout their own skills.  They climbed, crawled, jumped and more to prove their Army prowess.   They probably spend about 10-15 minutes here working on their skills.  Luckily, there was a water station right around the bend.










From there we took a short cut to some barracks that showed us living quarters, sleeping quarters, repair shops and how incredibly sweltering it must have been (have I mentioned it was hot?).  The kids certainly seemed to have been able to last longer, but Kim and I are delicate flowers and we were wilting quickly.  We still manage to wonder through more buildings and exhibits and take just a few more pictures.

As we rounded the bend from the barracks, the pull of the large Heritage Museum building and its inevitable AC drew all of us to it.  We entered a stunningly beautiful, well air conditioned haven complete with a snackery, gift shop and museum.  The museum looked really nice- but we did not go in (it too was free).  I have heard that you pick a person and follow that person's journey through the museum.  I can't confirm nor deny this notion, but I like the idea of that (unless it is as difficult as the scavenger hunt).

Things we did do- use the rest rooms and visit the gift shop-  both were stunning and clean.  We had the kids change into their swimsuits their and spent a few cents on some snacks from the gift shop (who can resist 15 cent old fashioned candy???).  The kids all loved this and said they would go back- when it was cooler out.

We hopped back into the car and were ready for the Splash Pad.  A 5 min drive (ok 10, but we had to reroute due to a closed bridge) took us to the Carlisle Splash Pad- which would have been amazing if our kids were 4 or younger. Cue sadness.  It was approximately 5 ft x 5 ft and had a few sprinklers from the ground.  I think my yard sprinkler is more exciting.  With 4 sad children we went home and let the girls play in the sprinkler so I could use my waterproof camera bag.

TIPS/TRICKS:  As usual, pack food and drinks- although, as stated, the trail did a great job keeping the water stations full and cold. Make sure you are ready for the outside weather.  Wear sneakers or closed shoes- no heals. Skip the splash pad, unless you are 4- in which case, I really think it would be great.

Spooky Nook- Rock Climbing and more

Our second amazing Adventure Tuesday idea was temporarily squashed due to the fact that it opened the next day on a WEDNESDAY (who does that?!?!?).  Luckily, I had made a phone call and found out the night before.  So we invoked PLAN B: Spooky Nook Sports Complex in Manheim PA (http://www.spookynooksports.com/family-fun/entertainment/rock-climbing).


PLANNING:  Planning was fairly simple.  All 4 kids have climbed before and had decent expectations.  They wore comfortable clothes and sneakers- some borrowed, perhaps, from their brother... We packed food a drinks- lots of drinks.  Climbing is a sweat inducing activity.

THE DRIVE:  For us it was about 30 minutes away  and very easy to find right off of  the highway (283 E).

ARRIVAL:   The parking lot was HUGE and there was ample parking.  We chose a spot and went on in.  All eyes widened as we entered the LARGEST indoor sporting area we have ever been too- and we have been to many, too many...  In front of us was a large circular desk with a receptionist (for real) and rows of turnstiles, one set to let you in, the other to let you out.

    Sensing our amazement and outofplacedness (new word), the receptionist asked if we needed help.  We explained that we were there to climb and she, then, explained the 2 different areas- traditional rock climbing and another area- that had several climbing apparatuses that were completely non-traditional- a spiral of poles that increased in size until one would be about 20 feet off the ground, a red tower where it looked like one would climb to the edge and then jump to a punching bag that would lower you to the ground, and many more. She also explained that no one was at that area now and that if camps came in and needed that area, we would have to stop- which might have been weird/ hard since that area was hourly.

 Our climbing monkeys, unanimously, chose the traditional rock climbing area that was one price for all day. Which included:

• 30-foot-tall climbing walls
• 30-foot-tall climbing arch
• Crack climbing
• Dozens of top-rope and lead climbing routes
• 15-foot freestanding boulder

THE ADVENTURE: Once inside the rock climbing area we were greeted by some 20-something climber/ workers.  Kim and I explained the children's skill level and boasted of our own ability to belay- which gave us some discount.  After paying about $46 for 2 kids to climb, have harnesses, and ??? our pierced ally set the kids off to climb The Boulder so he could test Kim and my amazing safety harness skills.

The Boulder

AWESOME AUTOBELAYER

The kids quickly scrambled to top of The  Boulder while Kim and I struggled through our test.  It HAD been over a year since we last tried this.  (Make a head, give him a tie, through the loop, Double back...).  Miraculously, Kim and I passed and were ready to belay the children.  Since there were 4 of them and 2 of us, the children had the option of using the autobelayer- which does exactly as it sounds- clip in and climb and it will let you down gently. I wish there were more than 3 or these!!!!

A- all smiles

R- like a spider monkey!

T- Scaling to the top

 The kids climbed and we belayed.  They climbed and we belayed...They climbed and we... might have taken our hands off to take some pictures (no children were hurt in the picture taking process).   Belaying is a bit tiring and cut into our chattering- so it was nice to be able to send the children to the autobelayers and/ or the free climbing boulder. 

The Kids lasted a bit more than an hour- maybe 2?!?!?- and then set off to explore the rest of the complex, commenting that they might have liked the other climbing area better * sigh*.  In addition to a ton of bball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts...Spooky Nook conveniently has an arcade in the middle of it... an expensive, shiny, everything is soooooo coool and the kids had NEVER seen any of the games before and PLEEEAAAASE could they play. I, aka sucker mom,  gave my kids 5 dollars to spend- which they quickly found out they needed to put on a card.  M played giant Connect 4 with T and A and R
took a wild VR ride.  5 minutes later $5 was gone. Kim had gone to look at the food options and came back frustrated.  Kids knew they were done climbing (thanks ALL DAY PASS) and we left for Jim Mack's.

THE ADVENTURE (Part 2):  Jim Mack's (http://jimmacksicecream.com/)   is a food, ice cream, mini golf, mini zoo and awesome basketball area place in York.  This was one of last year's stops- after a Chickie's Rock hike and worth the return trip. For the cost of a soft pretzel at SN, the kids got shakes or real food.  We ate/ drank and headed out to play and visit some old friends.

BankShot 2013

The kids went right to the FREE BankShot Basket ball and shot around, literally, for quite a while.  This unique game can be done by keeping score and following the directions- but we see no fun in that and kind of go nuts!  There is just joy when one hits the angles quite right and makes a basket.

 Next we went to visit some of out feathered and fuzzy friends from last year.  Their accommodations are not huge, but they seem well cared for and for  $0.25 you can feed them- worth saving the quarters for the bear, where one slides the food down a pvc pipe and she stops it with her paw!!!!

TIPS/ TRICKS:  For Spooky Nook:  check the prices and make sure you know what activities everyone wants to do. Pack food- must stay in car. Set expectations for the arcade.  If there are events there, they charge a fee for parking.  There are signs all over asking if you paid your parking fee. We did not have to pay a fee.  For Jim Mack's: Go, have fun, bring quarters. We have not done the mini golf, but there is usually an online coupon for a bit off.     Bring a camera. Have a milk shake.