My husband and I have July 3-7 off and were throwing ideas around to to somewhere, since we haven't had a 'vacation' since 2007. Has anyone been to both MI Adventure & Hershey, PA? Which did you like better? I am about to do research on how much it would cost to go to Hershey, so this is putting the horse before the cart, but just wondering what you moms liked better. (Sesame doesn't interest me as much!)
BTW, my 4 yo daughter is great in the car- so driving to PA would not be a big deal for us, as we drive to the U.P. to visit family a few times a year.
Thanks everyone for the info! We ended up staying in MI and going to MI Adventures. We also spent an afternoon horseback riding at Double R Ranch. We stayed in Grand Rapids with extended family, so it was a great visit all around! We'll probably save PA for the future when she's a little bigger.
I do have to share a favorite memory- She loves to scream, but knows there's a place and time. So I told her roller coasters are a place where you can scream the whole time if you want to & it's also fun to put your arms up in the air- she did both the whole time- Zachs Zoomer was her first ride and she LOVED it! We spent the money to get the photo at the end!! Couldn't forget that smile on her face and mom & dad both looking at her! =o)
Have a great summer everyone!
~J.
I grew up in Maryland and went to Hershey every year. I loved it and can't wait to take my kids there!
I've done both and you'd be fine with either one. There is more to do at Hershey - the tour at the factory, Indian caves, amusement park, etc. Yet Michigan Adventure seems like a park that is a little more geared toward smaller children than Cedar Point and also has the water park.
I will say, you 100% won't be disappointed you went to Hershey - it's fabulous, and I can't wait to go back. Maybe save Michigan Adventure for when you only have a two day break?
Haven't been to both but I did go to Hershey about 7 years ago. We were driving by on a road trip and just stopped in long enough to grab some souveniers and cookies.
It looked fun and it's different for kids. They have a resort/hotel there that is supposed to have a wonderful spa for mom and dad. Not sure if you can get around to doing that with kids in toe but it's worth looking into...who doesn't want to take a bath in chocolate! However, being that you have a 4 yo I may consider MI Adventure. Only because she may have more fun doing that with the water park AND the amusement park. I saw today that they have $25 tickets on their website.
Just wanted to give my opinion, probably didn't help much huh? Whatever you choose I hope you all have a wonderful time!!!
Don't know MI adventure but we loved Hershey and Dutch Wonderland is supposed to be wonderful for little ones!!!
T. K
I was to Hershey long ago as a child (30 years ago?) so I can't give a lot of input on that.
HOWEVER: I have heard of families doing several things along their route to PA and home... the crayola factory is in PA... and so is Sesame Place.
I took our 2 1/2 year olds to Sesame Place last year. http://www.sesameplace.com Even though they were too young to enjoy any of the rides (except the Merry Go Round) they had a BLAST. Sesame Place is over 1/2 water park - rides and water attractions right next to one another. (Stay in your bathing suit all day seems to make the most sense.) They loved seeing the Sesame characters and Elmo's show, and the parade through the park (similar to Disney World). If your 4 year old has any interest in Sesame - and you're willing to stretch your vacation a bit more around the state of PA, I'd consider the option.
Hi J.---I've never been to either place, but my family has made a conscious decision to spend as much of our money as possible in Michigan. Not that other states don't need it either, but, depending on what your goals are, the economic climate in Michigan gets a few extra points in the + column at our house.
Good luck on your making your decision and have a wonderful, safe trip.
D.
I sorta chuckled when I saw the title since tommorrow morning I am going to PA to visit family. I grew up about 1 hour from hershey and am planning on taking the kids there again this year (8,4, 2)...
We also lived near muskegon for 5 years... And although never making it to MI adventure after cedar point bought them out...
MI adventure is ONE attraction stuck in the middle of what is now a city. Yes, there are other things to do around (if you drive far enough) but you do have to search them out.
Hershey is a tourist mecca. lol Not only do they have the amusement park aspect of it (with kids and adult rides that are AWESOME!!!) but they also have lots to do around there. This year we are also going to the Hershey chocolate factory tour (on same grounds as the park, and FREE!), There is a zoo right by the park, and a cave near by that has a walking tour.
Hershey is also about 30 minutes away from Lancaster County... Amish country... Outlet malls.... Ephrata cloister (historical living museum)... Landis valley museum (historical living farmsite museum with animals and people in period dress)(my 13 yr old brother is an apprentice to a master builder there) There are historical sites all around which include Gettysburg, and if you want to do a quick tour you could even go to Philly...
Perhaps check out the Hershey Visitors bureu to find sites that will interest YOU and YOUR family... And since you are looking in an obvious touristy area you will be able to find reasonable hotels closer to where you want to be... Instead of trusting the 3 hotels around will treat you reasonably.
The drive down to PA is really easy. :-) I make it about once a year with all 3 kids and sometimes the dog... Ohio is the most boring part. lol
If you do decide to go to lancaster and want to ride some horses.... :-) My dad owns and operates a riding stable in columbia (between lancaster and hershey) http://www.allimaxfarm.com/
Give him a call and have fun!!! (yes, you can tell him that his beautiful awesome daughter B. refered you. lol)
http://www.cherrycrestfarm.com/ If I remember correctly this is just down from the Strassburg railroad... (kids love riding the trains!)
they are both awesome places but financially probably Mi adventures. The down fall to that is you have to plan when muskegon mi has good weather which is not often and its mostly drary cold and rainy. Good luck
I have been to both places. My vote would be Hershey. It is awesome. They have a lot of things to look at. A great trolley ride that shows a bunch of things and is VERY fun for the kids. You also take a little train ride through the factory and learn about the candy making process. At the end you get a fresh Hershey kiss. The whole town smells like chocolate. There is also a great amusement park there. We didn't have time to go to that, but people tell me that is awesome as well as visiting the town and candy factory. Michigan Adventure is truly an amusement park with rides and a water park. I would vote for Hershey. I hope you have fun whatever you choose!!!
My kids LOVE MI Adventure. My recommendation would be to stay outside of Muskegon close to Lake Michigan. We just came back from Ludington and love it up there. Silver Lake is nice too.
Yeah! How fun! I can't comment on Hershey PA, but I can tell you that my son loves MI Adventure more than Cedar Point. He likes the water rides.
Something else to think about ~ Michigan can sure use the tourism money...
Either way, have fun!
S.
