Rainy Day Fun in Hershey & Harrisburg

So you’ve planned a spectacular getaway with an itinerary built around blue skies, but Mother Nature has other plans. Thankfully we have plenty of indoor, rainy day activities that’ll make you and the family see rainbows instead of cloudy skies. Let's get started with a few fun ideas!

 

Sweet Treat Trail Ice Cream

 

Calling all confectionary lovers, rain can’t dampen the spirit for a totally unique and dare we say SWEET adventure! Our Sweet Treat Trail is perfect for a rainy day pick me up with stops to shop and treats to tempt throughout the Hershey and Harrisburg region! Pop in to small, family-owned bakeries, try locally churned ice cream in creative flavors, and delight in chocolate-covered EVERYTHING (Homemade marshmallows! Potato Chips! Even Bacon!)

RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES IN HERSHEY

 

It’s all chocolate, all the time at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Hershey’s Chocolate Tour shows guests how they make their famous milk chocolate, from cocoa bean to candy wrapper. There's no shortage of chocolate samples and tastings, so indulge in Hershey's Unwrapped, a chocolate tasting journey, or Create Your Own Candy Bar activity.

All aboard Hershey Trolley Works for a sightseeing tour around the historic Hershey inside a vintage trolley. Your informative tour guide will cover the story of Milton Hershey, point out notable town landmarks, and provide a couple chocolate samples! Book the Original or Historical Trolley Tour, or look into a Seasonal Tour.

Remember: Rain doesn't always mean a washout. If it's raining at Hersheypark, many of the park's indoor attractions, retail experiences, restaurants, and gaming areas often remain open (and dry!) When the rain passes, get right back to coasting! 

 

Chocolate World Tour Ride with Family

Hershey Gardens Butterfly House

Work up an appetite or walk off lunch at Tanger Outlets Hershey while you browse 60 stores, like Polo Ralph Lauren, Under Armour, Coach, Banana Republic, Adidas and Gap Outlet. You’ll only get wet when you run your shopping bags to the car so you can go back for more! 

While the flowers at Hershey Gardens are enjoying the rain, you and the family can head indoors to the Milton & Catherine Hershey Conservatory, which houses seasonally changing exhibits in the Educational & Horticultural Wing, a Welcome Pavilion, and a Garden Shop. In the Butterfly Atrium, walk among 500-600 tropical butterflies from around the globe! The beautiful four-star, four-diamond Hotel Hershey® is a must-see, whether you’re a guest or just taking shelter from the rain! Indulge in a delicious meal, decadent dessert, or a chocolate martini at one of their restaurants and bars.

Just down the road from the Hersheypark Drive attractions, you’ll find a world-class automotive experience for the whole family. AACA Museum, Inc. is home to vintage vehicles, cars, buses, and motorcycles from the 1890s through the 1980s. It's been recognized by the Smithsonian as an Affiliate Museum, an extremely rare honor. There’s something interesting and nostalgic everywhere you look! 

The Hershey Story: Museum on Chocolate Avenue brings the story of Milton S. Hershey to life, from his beginnings as a struggling entrepreneur to his legacy of philanthropy and chocolate. For the kids (and the kid in all of us), the museum has its own Chocolate Lab where visitors can embrace Mr. Hershey’s love for experimentation with unique ingredients to concoct a chocolate creation. Learn the nuances of chocolate tasting with a flight of drinking chocolates from around the world.

Hershey Story Museum

Indian Echo Students

What better place to escape the raindrops than inside the natural underground wonder, Indian Echo Caverns, located three miles west of Hershey. Rain or shine, winter or summer, the temperature inside the caverns is always 52 degrees. On a guided tour, see the rock formations, mineral deposits, and natural lakes of this centuries-old attraction, and learn about its fascinating history.

Toy time! Just a few minutes from the caverns, you'll find Toys on the Square. This super-cool store brings out the kid in all of us by featuring thousands of kids' products including unique games, stuffed animals, books, and screen-free toys that encourage creative play. 

In Hershey, you’ll find Tröegs, one of the top ten breweries in the nation! The Tasting Room has a mouthwatering snack bar with creative and seasonal menu items that complement their brews, including a delicious Sunday Brunch. Tröegs is a family-friendly place despite its over-21 craft beer menu (kids *can* order their craft root beer), and you're sure to find plenty of families enjoying the laidback atmosphere. Troegs is one of more than 30 breweries and tasting locations on the Hershey Harrisburg Brew Barons Beer Trail. 

Troegs Beer Tasting

RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES IN HARRISBURG

Capitol welcome center model

You probably know the Pennsylvania State Capitol as the center of Commonwealth politics, but it’s also renowned for its splendor, art, and history. Proclaimed as one of the most beautiful in the nation, the Capitol in Harrisburg features marvelous murals and paintings, intricate stained glass and furnishings, all commissioned by some of the best artisans of the early 20th century and crafted with priceless materials.

Even if you know the history, there’s always something else to learn about this turbulent time in our nation’s history. The Smithsonian-affiliated National Civil War Museum has two floors of exhibits, including thousands of three-dimensional relics like uniforms, weapons, and personal effects of the fallen soldiers. The Meet Mr. Lincoln interactive exhibit allows you to pose questions to Honest Abe, and to those who knew him, about the war, politics, slavery, and his presidency.

 

Instead of letting rainy weather get you down, flip the script by heading to a place where you can learn about what's behind those weather patterns and other scientific secrets! Visit the UPMC Science Center at the Whitaker Center for interactive learning. Perform science experiments, test the laws of physics, and learn about the world around you. From KidsPlace, a pint-sized cityscape for kids under 5, to Forces of Nature, a mind-blowing examination of how weather and geology affect planet earth, there is something for curious minds of all ages. In addition, the STEM labs at Whitaker Center include a multitude of activities like coding, robotics, circuitry, and 3D printing to inspire the next generation of engineers!

Founded prior to the Civil War, Broad Street Market carries the distinction of the oldest continuously operated market house in the country. This shopping and dining experience is open Thursday through Saturday and features a unique collection of vendors offering locally-grown and organic fruits and vegetables, meats, and warm bakery items. When your mouth is watering, enjoy prepared breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals and snacks like soups, sandwiches, ice cream, soft pretzels, and craft beer. 

Broad Street Market Exterior

Midtown Scholar Book Reading   

 

Catch new releases or rare indie flicks at Midtown Cinema. Get lost in a good book at Midtown Scholar Independent Book Store. There are sections for new releases, rare titles, and children’s books. Browse the art galleries at The Millworks before dinner or drinks at this historic mill-turned-restaurant, brewery, and gallery. Midtown is a walkable neighborhood with lots of attractions and experiences within a few blocks, so keep your umbrella handy and visit a few of these great locations to brighten your rainy day.   

Dinner and a show? Brunch bites and browsing galleries? The Harrisburg Arts District has lots of options for indoor activities as you wander through museums and galleries or catch the latest act at one of our local theatres.

The Arts District is a walkable area of parts of Midtown and Downtown, so you can make plans to explore several locations knowing you're just a few steps away from the next cool experience.

(Pssst...if your creative spirit is all about dancing in the rain - we're here for that as well!) 

 Harrisburg Arts District Logo

If the sun is shining now, bookmark this page for a rainy day!