Family Getaway

We decided to take our first "family vacation" this past weekend. We've never gone away just the 4 of us and I thought the kids were at the right age for a long weekend getaway. Well it was a little more stressful than Tom or I had hoped (Jeffrey really doesn't like to listen these days) but we had a great time doing some fun things together.

We left Thursday morning for Hershey PA. After looking at going a few different places we decided that was the most ideal because it was within close driving distance but had some fun things we could all do as a family - IE. Hershey Park. There was much excitement about staying at the hotel (which Erin continually confuses with hospital not sure why). I think much of this stemmed from the idea that there would be a pool at the hotel, which there was. Swimming is always at the top of the list.

We arrived early afternoon and got things stowed in the room. Since Jeffrey was asleep in the car we decided to head immediately over to Hershey to check things out. Our first stop... Chocolate World. Jeffrey roused just as we got there and both kids got immediately excited to start "cation" (vacation). Chocolate World is a free part of Hershey Park that includes a little ride that provides an introduction to Hershey's Chocolate. Complete with singing cows (a part of the tour that I don't remember from my visit nearly 20 years ago) it was a huge hit with the kids. Especially the free chocolate we got after the ride. Then they got the chance to become chocolate factory workers and fill a box with Hershey's Kisses. The best part being a paper hat which Jeffrey insisted on wearing for the next 2 days.

We then decided that it might be fun to take the trolley tour of the town of Hershey. It was a little pricey but ended up being totally worth it. The tour was really entertaining and even kept the kids attention for all 45 minutes (the free chocolates passed out again certainly helped). The tour guides also led the group in several period songs which Erin thought was the best part. Personally that was one of my favorite parts of the trip.

Oh yeah a little about my trip. I went to be Wednesday night feeling cruddy. Woke up Thursday morning feeling crappy and didn't get any better. Determined to not let it stop us I self medicated my sore throat and eventual swollen and goopy eye with some Advil and NyQuil. There were some cruddy moments but nothing that kept us from keeping with our plans. Today though the goal is rest, rest, rest.

Back to Hershey. We arrived back at the park Friday morning right at opening (with mommy's medicated body in tow). The kids measured up as "Hershey's Kisses" height-wise for rides (and were provided with more free chocolate). This meant they were allowed to ride a large portion of rides but most had to be accompanied by mommy and daddy (which was fine). We charged on in to the park making our first stop to meet "Mr. Chocolate Bar". I expected Erin to go running up and Jeffrey to shy away but it ended up being the opposite. Jeff was obsessed with Mr. Chocolate and quite sad when it was time to say goodbye.

The kids hopped on a few rides including a Hot Air Balloon ride which was a hit and a rocket ride which was great for Erin and apparently terrifying for Jeffrey (too loud he said). Tom said he screamed throughout the whole ride. After a calming break on the carousel we continued into the park. We hit several other rides in the morning including the Skyride (chairlift ride), Flume (which Erin was sitting in front and got pretty frightened) and the ride where the kids could drive cars. Tom and I also hit one of the big coasters. They had a great plan for families where we would all stand in line together, Tom or I would ride the coasted while the other waited with the kids and then we would switch off. It was a great way to let mommy and daddy get a few thrill rides in.

We had thought ahead and packed some sandwich fixings from home and a cooler for lunch. Since admission back into the park was simple we took our picnic lunch at some picnic tables by the car. This then allowed us to grab our swimming gear for some fun at the water park section. We headed directly for the water park after lunch (with a few quick stops for some short rides on the way.) Once we got there we realized why the rest of the park was so quiet.....the place was mobbed. Tom tried to rent a locker for our stuff but found they were all sold out. After debating whether or not to try the water park we decided that we'd promised the kids some "swimming" so we would take turns with them in the water attractions.

I got first go. Both kids seemed obsessed with a large water-works zone that had lots of water spraying and dumping and some water slides. Once we got inside the kids played with the outside sprayers a few times. Since they were "Hershey's kisses" I had to stay with them the whole time (like I wouldn't anyway, the place was mobbed). They headed for a cargo net that led to the structure of the zone. Here we discovered that water poured from everywhere, squirted from all angles and totally soaked us quickly. Add in close to 100 children and it was pretty daunting. Erin got freaked out and refused to move. We finally got ourselves down off the structure and found a calmer area that had a water slide the kids could do. They had fun there for a few minutes but it was still a little nuts for Erin so I made the executive decision to try and find Tom, switch out watching the stuff and have him take them to the calmer area.

As we were looking for Tom we heard the loudspeaker announce....Due to turbulent weather in the area we are closing the Boardwalk and water attractions until further notice. Well this led to even more insanity and about a 15 minute search for Tom. Once we hooked back up we all got changed and headed back to the dry area of the park. Tom and I noticed that the line for the new super-coaster was pretty short and convinced the kids it was "our turn" for a ride. We waited about 20 minutes and the "turbulent weather" caused them to close that ride too. So we decided to seek shelter under a nearby tree (and once the rains really hit under the shelter of a concession stand).

After about 45 minutes of rain ( in which the kids ran around splashing in the puddles and making their own water park) it slowed enough for them to reopen some rides. We hopped on a few with the kids and then got in a short line for another coaster. After Erin's 2nd coaster that she was informed she was too short to ride we found one that the kids could ride. When we got there there was absolutely no line. For a kiddie coaster it was pretty good. We even let the kids run around and get back on again. Jeffrey even thought it was great. We continued the evening taking advantage of the short lines. Combine the rain with a large concert (Dave Matthews) nearby and the lines were the shortest I've ever seen at a theme park. We ended up closing the place down. The kids certainly tested their limits but overall were good and had a great time at the park.

After spending the whole day at the park on Friday we decided NOT to head back on Saturday. Instead we went to Hershey Gardens which has a notable children's garden and a butterfly exhibit. We spent the morning there and the kids really enjoyed it. The children's garden was actually a great area with lots of small fountains, flowers to intrigue the kids, musical gardens and the butterfly house. After the gardens we decided to take in a movie (WALL-E) which the kids loved. Then we drove down to Gettysburg, the second half of our trip. Once we got to the new hotel mommy took a little rest and daddy took the kiddos swimming, something they'd been waiting to do for days.

Gettysburg was more a stop for Tom and I (OK well really me. I really wanted to see the new visitors center and figured the kids might enjoy being able to explore the battlefield). The new visitors center is really impressive with a wonderful and FREE exhibit on the entire Civil War, with a focus on the battle at Gettysburg. Not really geared for the kids but enough interactive films and "camp life" exhibits that I could keep their interest.

We decided to purchase a book with a driving tour of the battlefield that we could take on our own time. A real battlefield guide would have been cool but not so sure the kids would have put up with him. So after another picnic lunch we headed out to see the battlefield. The kids showed some interest but not a whole bunch. They did like getting out to look at some of the monuments (one made to look like a tree with a robin's nest was particularly memorable) the canons or climb the observation towers. They really enjoyed hiking around on Little Round Top and climbing around in Devil's Den. So while they probably didn't get much history out of the trip they did enjoy the day.

After a dinner at a local ale house (can't drive by one and NOT stop) which was actually really good we took the kids to play mini golf and get some Ice Cream. They both had a blast golfing. Jeffrey certainly has his own method of golfing but at least he has fun with it. We did have to sit aside for a few minutes and let a big group of loud Boy Scouts play through since a 3 and 5 year old don't play mini-golf very quickly. Erin's already asking to go back and play again some time.

Monday morning we woke up, checked out of the hotel and briefly walked through the Gettysburg National cemetery. By mid morning we were headed back to Virginia. Jeffrey got very upset that "cation" was over and started crying. Erin was ready to head home though.

When I ask the kids what their favorite part of vacation was Erin says, "I liked the rides." Jeffrey will tell you "I liked Chocolate World (which I think means anything in Hershey)." So I'm glad they had a good time hanging out with mommy and daddy for the weekend.