Family Must Do & See

Maybe you’re planning an extended a vacation around a trip to Hersheypark®. Maybe you’re on your way to Harrisburg to check it off your state capital road trip bucket list or experience the downtown vibe. For all the iconic locations and great experiences you might have already heard of, there are so many more things to see and do here! From outdoor adventure to cultural landmarks and from savory tastes to sports events, the list of things to do for families in Hershey & Harrisburg is long! Here are just a few of our favorites.

Road Trip Family

Sunday Brunch 

“Southern comfort food with a New Orleans flair.” That’s the way Crawdaddy’s in Harrisburg cooks it up with a menu full of mouthwatering entrees, sides, and desserts that are oh-so-good. Don’t miss the Sunday Brunch with sweet potato pancakes or Momma Chris’s Crispy Catfish breakfast!  

Midtown Scholar Bookstore 

Encourage the little learners in your family to discover a new book in the young readers section of the Midtown Scholar Bookstore. This enormous, independently owned bookstore features a massive collection of fiction, biographies, poetry, classics and more for the entire family.  

Sweet Treat Trail 

What’s better on a family outing than something sweet? The Hershey Harrisburg Sweet Treat Trail features a variety of locations that offer artisan chocolates, homemade treats, assorted candies, and so much more. Start at Sweet Confections to pick up one of their signature cupcakes!  

Hershey’s Chocolate World  

Speaking of sweet, a visit to Hershey’s Chocolate World is a family-favorite activity! Open year-round, Chocolate World offers a free, simulated chocolate factory tour ride. Bonus! There’s a free treat at the end of the ride! Chocolate World also features the largest candy store in the country, plus unique experiences where visitors can build their own bar or learn about the finer details of chocolate tasting.  

State Museum of PA

The expansive State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg features collections that fill three floors of exhibits. If there’s something you’ve always wanted to know about Pennsylvania, you’re likely to find it here! The museum features exhibits that highlight Pennsylvania’s rich cultural history, its place in the innovation timeline for the transportation industry and industrial advancements, its geological makeup, its Civil War history, and even takes us to space in the Planetarium.   

Pennsylvania State Capitol 

Extolled as “the handsomest building he’d ever seen,” by President Teddy Roosevelt, the Pennsylvania State Capitol is an extraordinary building that offers visitors a chance to see priceless artwork and architecture. The impressive dome was inspired by Michelangelo's design for St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Free public tours are offered daily.  

A Walk of Art 

Beauty is all around us, especially on the walls! Harrisburg is alive with color and creativity in public murals throughout the city. Block after block - some reaching several stories high or spanning lengthy bridges – muralists paint stories of inspiration, beauty, intrigue, and hope. The Downtown Harrisburg area and Midtown are great places to take in a variety of outdoor art pieces. 

Check out Murals & More. 

Wildwood Park 

There’s nothing quite like a family adventure! The Hershey Harrisburg Adventure Trail is full of options to walk, hike, bike, and more. Start your adventure at Dauphin County’s Wildwood Park and Nature Preserve. The kids will love the interactive displays at Olewine Nature Center located at the park’s entrance.  

Harrisburg’s City Island 

There’s more outdoor fun on Harrisburg’s City Island. Take a scenic walk or bike ride with beautiful river views. Play a round of mini golf as the sun sets over the Susquehanna. Take in a Harrisburg Senators Double-A baseball game. Did you know? The Harrisburg Giants Baseball Club played on City Island. Hall of Fame center fielder Oscar Charleston was a hard-hitting playing manager. The Giants were the first team in the Eastern Negro League to integrate white players.