Blue Dolphin Inn - Romance Packages for Valentine's Day

Well, the holidays are officially over and many of us are already looking ahead to Valentine's Day. Do you typically plan a romantic weekend away or do you usually stay home? Hubby and I look for quick getaway deals and usually spend a romantic weekend away where it is just the two of us.

For those of you who live in California or who are willing to travel to the west coast, the Blue Dolphin Inn is offering some very special romantic packages for travelers. These travel deals would be perfect for the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday or for any quick weekend getaway. Here is all of the information.

Blue Dolphin Inn’s “Coastal Romance Package” Couples Beachfront Accommodations with a Classic Wine Country Experience.

Lovers seeking a luxurious retreat on California’s Central Coast will be smitten with Blue Dolphin Inn’s “Coastal Romance Package,” a special offering that treats couples to oceanfront sunsets, a taste of Paso Robles wine country and other sweet surprises.

Available from February 1 to March 26, 2015 (exclusions apply*), the package provides the perfect romantic getaway, offering guests a chance to get cozy in Blue Dolphin Inn’s beautiful accommodations along Moonstone Beach in Cambria, CA.

A breathtaking home base for long walks on the beach, the charming boutique hotel also brings guests to nearby Paso Robles wine country as part of the Coastal Romance Package, offering an unforgettable and sensual experience tasting the region’s highly-acclaimed wines.

The Blue Dolphin Inn Coastal Romance Package starts at $445 (for two) and includes:

· Two nights lodging at Blue Dolphin Inn
· Four-hour guided Paso Robles Wine Tour for two with The Wine Wrangler
· Complimentary bottle of commemorative Blue Dolphin Inn wine and two wine glasses
· Artisanal chocolate-covered strawberries, delivered in room
· Fresh, complimentary gourmet “Picnic Breakfast to Go” delivered in room daily

To book, call Cambria Inns Collection at (800) 222-9157 and ask for the “Coastal Romance Package.”

Blue Dolphin Inn is part of the Cambria Inns Collection, a group of distinct boutique hotels located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles in beautiful San Luis Obispo County, CA. The group’s four Cambria, CA hotels, situated off iconic California Highway One and just steps from pristine Moonstone Beach, offer breathtaking ocean views, comfortable accommodations and convenient access to a bounty of area activities, from Hearst Castle to the acclaimed Paso Robles wine region. Cambria Inns Collection includes the luxurious Blue Dolphin Inn and private Moonstone Cottages; the family-friendly Castle Inn; and the warm and welcoming Sand Pebbles Inn. For property information, visit www.cambriainns.com.

Duncannon Forest Fire Lookout Tower

A few months ago we took a road trip from Harrisburg Pennsylvania up to State College and passed through the Duncannon along our way. Duncannon is your typical small town in America with not much to do or not much to see. In a matter of 3 minutes you are from one end of the town to the other.

With that said, if you are looking for something unique to see and will be passing through...you can stop at the Old Sled Works and see the historic Duncannon Forest Fire Lookout Tower (formerly known as the Dauphin Water Gap Tower) which stands 110 feet tall. The tower was built back in the 1940's as a tourist attraction at a nearby restaurant on the other side of the Susquehanna River. Due to highway construction on routes 322/22, the tower was going to be demolished.

The Old Sled Works owner decided to save the Fire Lookout Tower and have it disassembled and moved to its new location in Duncannon on the Old Sled Works property, actually it sits/stands in their parking lot and can't be missed when driving through town.

If you are healthy and energetic...you can pay a small admission fee and work you way up to the top for some beautiful views of the Susquehanna River and the surrounding areas. Not up for that? Well...you can go on in the Old Sled Works and do some shopping, play some arcade games, get a bite to eat and/or something to drink.

Like most small towns in America, there isn't much to see or do in Duncannon so I wouldn't plan a trip to visit but if you are passing through...we highly recommend that you check it out.

Sleep Inn in State College Pennsylvania

This past Fall we took a road trip up to State College to see some of the beautiful Fall foliage that Pennsylvania has to offer. We have been up to State College many times and love the area. On this particular trip we spent several days at the Sleep Inn while we were there.

The Sleep Inn is located in a nice section of the town/city and is really easy to get to. With that said, if you are trying to book a room for one of the Penn State home games, I suggest you do that many months in advance because it will be hard to secure a room.

This is a smoking and non-smoking hotel, one of the very few left in the area that has smoking rooms. Just putting that out there in case you are looking for those particular accommodations. They have plenty of well-lit parking if you are going in and out of the hotel at night.

The lobby is small but does have plenty of seating. Our check-in process took about 5 minutes and the hotel staff was very courteous and nice. Right off the lobby is a small dining area and then a larger dining room is nearby. They offer a full breakfast with choices such as: cereals, oatmeal, eggs, pancakes, waffles, bagels, doughnuts, fresh fruits, hot beverages, juices and so forth. We really enjoyed the complimentary breakfasts that we had each morning.

Our room was on the 3rd floor and included 2 double sized beds, flat panel TV, desk area with a nice comfortable chair, a small microwave, small refrigerator, closet, in-room safe, telephone and free wifi for using our computer. We thought the room was nicely decorated too!

The bathroom is extremely small. It has a slider door to get in and out with a small toilet and a shower stall. There was no bathtub. The sink & vanity area sits right outside the bathroom door. Even though the bathroom was really small, it was exceptionally clean. No hair, dirt or dust at all.

We enjoyed our stay at the Sleep Inn in State College Pennsylvania and will definitely be using them again when we travel to the area. We found the accommodations to be comfortable and pleasant. The staff was very helpful when we needed directions and information to an area attraction. We give them 8 stars out of 10 stars on our rating scale.

8 Beautiful Caves and Caverns in Pennsylvania to Explore

Pennsylvania is known for many things but many people are not aware that we have beautiful caves and caverns that are open to public tours. You can find them all over our beautiful state and many of them are open year round.

* Crystal Cave - is known as Pennsylvania's first open-to-the-public cave and is located near Kutztown in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

* Indian Caverns - is Pennsylvania's largest limestone cave that is rich in Native American history. It is located in Spruce Creek Valley on route 45 and offers additional family-friendly activities.

* Indian Echo Caverns - is located right outside the state capitol of Harrisburg and offers 45-minute guided tours through some of the prettiest caverns you have ever visited.

* Laurel Caverns - is located in the Laurel Highlands on a beautifully landscaped 430 acre park. You will find it between Uniontown and Farmington. We love this place because they also offer indoor mini golf and rappelling too!

* Lincoln Caverns - is the closest caverns to the beautiful Raystown Lake. The tour takes you through two crystal caverns that are filled with beautiful natural wonders.

* Lost River Caverns - is located in Hellertown, south of Bethlehem and offers guided tours through 5 magnificent chambers. They offer additional family-friendly activities right on site.

* Penn's Cave - is located right outside of State College in a small town called Centre Hall. It is a combination of a cave and wildlife park and is America's only all-water cavern that is open to the public for tours. This one is one of our favorites to explore!

* Woodward Cave - is one of Pennsylvania's largest caves with 5 rooms. The tour is all done on "foot" and is about a 1/2 mile in length.

You can visit each of their web sites to learn more, find driving directions and to see their hours of operation. Some of them are located nearby local campgrounds and hotels for your lodging needs. In addition, many of them have other on-site activities for you to see and do. For example, several of these places of mining junctions where you and the kids can "pan" for gemstones. Others offer horseback riding, hayrides, seasonal festivals, etc. throughout the year.

Note: All photos are clickable in this travel feature. Click on each photo and it will open up in a new browsing window and automatically in an enlarged size. This will allow you to see the smaller details, while keeping our blog mobile reader friendly.

The Beautiful Lighthouse in Hershey Pennsylvania

When I talk to people who are not from Hershey Pennsylvania and tell them about our beautiful lighthouse that sits in the middle of downtown Hershey they all shake their head in disbelief. While it is true that you typically find lighthouses along the coast, here in Hershey we have our very own special lighthouse that used to be a part of the old Hershey Swimming Complex.

Back in 1929 and through 1967 the Hershey Swimming Complex was the "in" place to be during the warmer summertime months! People by the thousands used to flock to this swimming complex for a day of fun in the sun! Once the complex was closed...over the years they filled in those swimming pools with beautiful landscaping and tore down the old bathhouses. All that remains now is the lighthouse which was refurbished and re-landscaped back in 2005.

The lighthouse is not open to tourists or to the public. You can park your car nearby and walk to the existing lighthouse to see it better and to get some photographs. I suggest parking at Hershey Chocolate World and then walking down.

Nearby you will find Hersheypark, Hershey Chocolate World, The Falconry and the Giant Center. So, if you are heading to any of those locations, the beautiful Lighthouse in Hershey is nearby.

Ring in the New Year with Fireworks and Ice Skating in Philadelphia

Photo by M. Fischetti for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

Just like New York City, Philadelphia celebrates New Years Eve in a big way. You can find celebrations going on all around the city with most activities starting at 6:00 PM so that the little ones can enjoy the festivities too.

Penn’s Landing is the place to ring in the New Year in 2014 going into 2015. SugarHouse Casino’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks on the Waterfront explode over the Delaware River two times. Starting at 6:00 p.m. and again at midnight sharp.

Photo by M. Fischetti for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

People can lace up their ice skates for the Holiday Party on Ice at the Blue Cross RiverRink, featuring entertainment, party favors and great views. The festivities inside the Waterfront Winterfest tent add a cozy touch to the start of the New Year on December 31st.

You can find additional information at www.delawareriverevents.com or call  (215) 925-RINK.

Book Review: 50 Places Every Woman Should Go in Rome, Florence, & Venice

Discover the best places for women in Rome, Florence, and Venice with travel book by author Susan Van Allen.

Book Title: 50 Places Every Woman Should Go in Rome, Florence, & Venice
Author: Susan Van Allen
ISBN: 978-160952096-0
Author Site: www.susanvanallen.com

Synopsis: Following the critically acclaimed 100 Places in Italy Every Woman Should Go, Susan Van Allen adds new gems to her selection of the best spots for female travelers in Italy's most popular cities, along with enticing Golden Day itineraries to make vacation dreams come true. Like a savvy traveler girlfriend whispering in your ear, she guides readers to masterpieces where women are glorified ~ from Rome's Pieta to Florence's Birth of Venus ~ and to the best spots for wine tasting, chocolate, gelato, artisan shopping and more. She provides practical tips giving readers an insider's secrets on what to pack, the best places to get their hair styled, and how to shop for bargains.

Whatever your mood or budget, whether it's your first or twenty-first visit to Italy, 50 Places in Rome, Florence and Venice Every Woman Should Go opens the door to extraordinary experiences that fully immerse you in the beautiful, fascinating, and delicious pleasures of the Bel Paese.

* I received a complimentary copy of this book for review.

My Thoughts: My husband was born in Italy and raised there until the age of 5. His family then immigrated to the U.S. and have lived here since. Over the years many of his extended family members have traveled to visit with us but let's face it, it is now our turn to visit Italy which we plan to do in January 2016.

This travel book is extremely well-written and I love how the author has everything broken down nicely in 3 easy-to-read sections: Rome, Florence and Venice. Then she has various chapters listed within each section. I think this is fabulous because if you are only interested in Rome...you don't have to search the entire book to find what you need.

The author gives you great ideas on where to eat, what to see and things you can do. I like that she includes outdoor things like biking and hiking to indoor things like hitting the local spa or taking in a live music show. There is definitely something for every woman to enjoy listed within the pages of this book.

Overall, it is an exceptional read! If you are looking for a travel book that contains a lot of pretty pictures, this book is not for you. It is more of a personal guide book than a coffee table book with pretty photos. It has given me some great ideas on the things I want to see and do when we visit Italy in 2016.

You can learn more about this author and the book by visiting her website online. You can purchase the book via Amazon.

Disclosure: Shelly Hill received a complimentary copy of this travel book for her review. No monetary compensation was provided/received. Shelly's thoughts about this book are 100% honest and unbiased. Your thoughts and opinions may differ.

Family Fun at the Dilworth Park's Rothman Ice Rink in Philly

Photo by M. Edlow for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

Looking for some family fun this holiday season? If so, grab the family and head on over to Dilworth Park's Rothman Ice Rink located on the west side of Philadelphia's City Hall (15th and Market Streets in Philly).

This event runs from November 14th, 2014 through February 22nd, 2015. Children ages 10 and under there is an admission rate of $3.00 and $4.00 for adults. If you need to rent skates there is an additional fee of $8.00 for skate rental. Group rates and rink rental are available, contact them directly for information.

Hours of Operation:

Monday through Thursday: 3pm-9pm
Friday: 3pm-11pm
Saturday: 11am-11pm
Sunday: 11am-8pm

Photo by M. Edlow for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

After you are done skating you can grab some coffee, hot chocolate, a sandwich, salad or snack from the Rosa Blanca Cafe located on-site. A warming tent is available to help keep you and the kiddies warm (if needed) along with plenty of places to sit down.

If you are visiting Dilworth Park's Rothman Ice Rink from out-of-town be prepared to hunt down parking. You can find some free parking but the majority of time we pay to park and then walk to the venue. Also, when the kids are along with us, we pack lunches, snacks and beverages to keep costs down.

You can learn more about the Dilworth Park's Rothman Ice Rink by visiting them online to obtain driving directions, hours of operation and a schedule of upcoming events.

Luxurious Accommodations at The Hotel Hershey

The Hotel Hershey is a luxury hotel located in Hershey Pennsylvania. The hotel has been in operation since 1933 and offers guest rooms, luxury suites and woodside cottages with the finest luxury amenities that this area has to offer.

The hotel offers a large indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a top rated full-service spa, full-service fitness center, several fine dining and casual restaurants on-site with other fine amenities & activities offered.

This is a historic hotel with a AAA four diamond rating that offers beautiful views of the surrounding area here in Hershey Pennsylvania. On a beautiful clear day, you can see for many miles away. Breathtaking views that are sure to please any visitor or guest.

Nearby you will find the Hershey Gardens, the Giant Center, Hershey Chocolate World, Tanger Outlets, the Hershey Theater, Hersheypark, 18-Hole Golf Course, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park, The Falconry, the Hershey Story Museum and so much more. All of these activities are within a few minutes driving distance with several within walking distance from the hotel.

Connect with them at:

* Website
* Facebook
* Pinterest

Location Information:

The Hotel Hershey
100 Hotel Road
Hershey, PA. 17033
Phone: 717-508- 1958

Guests will enjoy the finest in luxury accommodations in a very clean and modernized resort style hotel that pampers their guests. We absolutely LOVE visiting The Hotel Hershey when staying in the area.

Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest in Philadelphia

Photo by M. Fischetti for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

Looking for something fun to do this holiday season? Last year’s blockbuster attraction, Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest, returns to Penn’s Landing for an extended run ~ now through March 2015. It is a hotspot for attractions this holiday season and going into Spring. The holiday lights are dazzling, the food is delicious and the entertainment is super fun!

The pop-up winter garden that was such a hit during its short appearance last year, Waterfront Winterfest returns for an extended run—that means more time for cozy fire pits, fresh-air eats and drinks and live entertainment under the 400-person warming tent fashioned from recycled shipping containers. How cool is that? Totally cool!

Photo by M. Fischetti for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

A 3-D light show around the alfresco rink will delight ice skaters and spectators of all ages on the hour from 5:00-11:00 p.m. Plus, many special events and activities are on tap at the Blue Cross RiverRink throughout the season.

You can find all of this fun activity on Columbus Boulevard at Market Street in Philadelphia or check out riverrink.com and waterfrontwinterfest.com for additional information and a schedule of current and upcoming events.

5 Things to do When Visiting Carmel

A popular travel destination located 2 hours south of San Francisco, Carmel has a long history of being a treasure trove of fun things to do when visiting the area. Whether traveling with family or you are looking for a romantic getaway for two, Carmel is home to amazing sights and activities that promise great memories.

Golfing – A hot spot for golf aficionados, Carmel is located just outside of Pebble Beach and the four renowned golf courses located there. Booking a round or two is simple through most hotels in the area or you can choose to book it directly with your favorite course.

Carmel Wine Walk – The Carmel Wine Walk by-the-Sea™ is an excellent way to sample the amazing products that local vineyards are offering. With 14 different wineries represented in downtown Carmel, the Wine Walk is a self-paced tour that allows you time to connect and enjoy the fruits of the harvest. A Wine Passport is available through the Carmel Chamber of Commerce that offers 9 different tasting cards for one great price. A fun way to spend the afternoon or to come back and sample over time. The Passport does not expire.

Monterey Bay Aquarium – A visit to Carmel would not be complete without a visit to the aquarium. This non-profit exists to inspire conservation of the oceans and it has gorgeous displays of sealife, fish, and sea otters, including kid friendly zones where kids can touch the sealife and interact with the animals.

Beaches and Surfing – Carmel is located right on the Pacific Ocean and home to beautiful beaches and amazing coastlines. Perfect for swimming, surfing and enjoying the awesome sights. Some beaches even allow fires on the beach for the complete beach experience.

Whale Watching and Kayaking – With the Pacific Ocean on the doorstep, activities involving the water are very popular. Charters are available for whale watching excursions or rent a kayak and enjoy the ocean up close and personal.

These 5 activity ideas are just a few of some of the fun things you can do in Carmel and the surrounding area. A gorgeous town that you will want to visit over and over again!

Hershey Kiss Street Lights in Downtown Hershey

Hershey is known for many things like the Hershey Chocolate Factory, Hersheypark, ZooAmerica, the Hershey Theater, the beautiful Hershey Gardens and many other things. Tourists from all around the world flock to this sweetest little town on Earth.

One of the things that tourists enjoy looking at is all of our Hershey Kiss Street Lights that are found through the downtown area here in Hershey. You will find "silver wrapped" and "chocolate" kisses lining both sides of the streets. They are 'almost' a tourist attraction all on their own!

Today I wanted to share with my travel blog readers several photos of our famous Hershey Kiss Street Lamps so that you could see what all of the wonderful "fuss" is all about! I wish other towns across America would do similar things like this for whatever their little town is famous for.

Click to Enlarge Photo

You can drive all around downtown Hershey and see them! I suggest parking your car and taking a nice walk down Chocolate Avenue to do a little bit of shopping, sightseeing and to grab a bite to eat. Don't feel like walking? You can do a paid tour via the Hershey Trolley Works which I highly recommend to everyone who is visiting the area and doing some sightseeing.

These particular photos were taken in early December 2014 so that is why you see some of the downtown holiday decorations in them. Beautiful!!!

Annual Holiday Tradition - A Visit to Hershey Sweet Lights

One of my family's annual holiday traditions is to visit the Hershey Sweet Lights in Hershey Pennsylvania every year. The entire family gets together in a multiple of vehicles and take the 15 minute drive into downtown Hershey. We take snack goody bags along with us for the kids and have a great time!

This year we visited the holiday attraction on December 11th, 2014 and we were super excited that we had a little bit of snow on the ground and it was snowing at the time we visited. Having the snow falling sure did set the holiday mood for all of us!

Admission is $20.00 per car load and you pay that immediately at the front gate. They also offer you the opportunity to purchase bags of kettle corn to snack on. We passed on that since we brought along our own snack bags.

You can go through the entire display at your own pace. If another vehicle gets up on your back-end just pull over to the side and let them pass. We like to take our time and let the kids really sit and look at all of the holiday displays. Some drivers do get inpatient so just be aware of them and pull over to the side and let them pass.

At the front gate they will tell you to turn your car's radio onto a certain station and you can listen to holiday music as you drive through all of the holiday light displays. We think that is a nice added touch and the kids really loved listening to their favorite holiday tunes.

Some of my personal favorite displays were the huge lighted tree right near the entrance gate, all of Santa's reindeer on display (including Rudolph), the Candylane Hershey Kiss, the Storm Runner Roller Coaster and the countdown to the 12 days of Christmas.

Once you get through the first section you will drive into the Enchanted Forest which is my absolute FAVORITE part of Hershey Sweet Lights! It is really cool to drive through the "forest" and see all of the trees and holiday lights. Very nice light displays in there indeed!!!

Our little grand daughter really loved the next section where you see Mother Goose type of children light displays...with one in particular being the little old woman who lived in a shoe. She recognized that one immediately.

We also enjoyed seeing the winning light displays from local area kids. They had little signs by each display giving you the name of the child, school and grade that they are in. Those kids sure are creative with their designs!!!

From start to finish it took us about 40 minutes to drive through Hershey Sweet Lights. Please keep in mind, we really took our good old time. You could certainly drive through it in less than 15 minutes but what is the fun in that? We highly recommend that you take your time and really take the light show in!!!

After visiting the entire family headed to the Soda Jerk Diner located right on the outskirts of Hershey in Hummelstown Pennsylvania. We love visiting family diners like this and overall, had a great time.

Gorgeous Views from the Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park

DRINK IN THE VIEW AT FAIRMONT CHICAGO, MILLENNIUM PARK

Enjoy spectacular views in the Grand Suites on the 37th floor of the hotel for your next holiday party or corporate event

Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, 200 North Columbus Drive, invites guests to “Drink in the View” during their next holiday party or company dinner with exclusive access to the Grand Suites located on the 37th floor of the hotel. These stunning, recently renovated luxurious Grand Suites feature naturally awe-inspiring views of the city skyline from both Grant and Millennium Park to the south and Lake Michigan to the east. The elegantly appointed suites are perfect for holiday gatherings of 15-50 guests and provide a unique, sophisticated experience. To make planning easier, Executive Chef John Cordeaux suggests choosing from his favorite holiday recipes or, for those who want to save turkey for the special day, a Sushi Soiree.

The Sushi Soiree includes a two-hour Makimono reception featuring Fried Lobster Roll, Spicy Tuna, Avocado, Thai Chile, Miso Mustard Dragon Roll, Shrimp, Unagi, Avocado Tokyo Roll, Hamachi, Salmon, Tuna, Cucumber, and Jalapeno Vegetarian California Roll. Menu enhancements include Edamame, Sweet & Spicy Tofu Egg Rolls, Banana Maki, Mochi Balls, and Sushi Made to Order from the hotel’s Sushi Chef. Favorite sushi selections are complimented by a premium open bar that can be enhanced with a selection of Sakes, “Sakatinis” and Japanese beers. Event planners may also choose to add Geishas to greet guests upon arrival, a Taiko Drumming Duo or a Karaoke DJ.

For the purists, the traditional Holiday Celebration features Wild Mushroom, Pecan and Taleggio Bruschetta, Maple Glazed Bacon Wrapped Scallops and Chestnut Crusted Salmon Satay with Fennel Mustard, as well as a Dessert Station complete with Holiday Cookies and Gingerbread Houses. Menu enhancements include a variety of Carving Stations from 24-hour Cooked Bone-in Ham, Brined Whole Turkey Breast with Traditional Stuffing and Turkey Jus, Zatar and Sumac Rubbed Lamb Leg with Mint and Banyuls Jus, and a Whole Side of Arctic Char with Crab Melt and Buttered Spinach. Christmas Carolers, a Holiday Jazz Band or an appearance by Santa and the Elves are available as entertainment options.

Designed by Looney & Associates, the earth-tone palette of the Grand Suites is comfortable and elegant. The vibrant works of art reenergize the rooms and bring a sense of luxury to the guests. These sophisticated and modern suites feature brilliantly designed custom furniture by Mark David, a Kohler Company. Each of the four Grand Suites affords its own unique design elements that create a distinct personality: Sleek, Private, Chic, and Awe-Inspiring.

*This offer applies to new inquiries, is contingent upon availability, cannot be combined with any other offer and must be mentioned when requesting a proposal. Revenues based on guestroom, food and beverage only prior to tax or service charge. Standard Fairmont contract must be signed by December 15, 2014.

The experienced catering and event services staff is available to arrange the ideal event package for holiday parties and corporate retreats. To book an event, call 312-565-7400 and visit www.fairmont.com/chicago/promotions/rascals/ for more details.

Small Town America - Hummelstown Pennsylvania

Hummelstown is small town America at it's best. Located within a few minutes from busy Hershey Pennsylvania, Hummelstown is full of small town charm. The Borough of Hummelstown was first established as Fredrickstown in 1762 and then declared the official borough of Hummelstown in 1874.

According to the 2000 Census report approximately 4,500+ residents call the borough home with the majority of the residents working outside of the borough limits in Harrisburg, Lancaster and Hershey. On New Year's Eve the town likes to drop a Lollipop (The Lollipop Drop) similar to what they do at Times Square but on a much smaller scale.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Hummelstown and in nearby Hershey. You can visit Indian Echo Caverns, the Challenge Family Fun Center, Beaver Ben 3 Par Golf Course, Shopping in the Downtown Business District, Fun at Adventure Sports in Hershey, Hersheypark (the amusement park), Hershey Chocolate World, ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park in Nearby Hershey to name a few.

If you are looking for lodging and accommodations in Hummelstown your best bet is to book a hotel/motel in the Harrisburg or Hershey area. You'll find many great ones to choose from.

We visited Hummelstown in early December and found the small-town to be quite charming. On the day that we visited Santa Claus was set up on the town square and was visiting with the children. Our little grand daughter LOVED meeting with Santa.

Afterwards we did some holiday shopping in the businesses up and down the main street. I really loved shopping in the Rhodes Pharmacy & Gift Shop who had beautiful items that I picked up for the holidays. There is also a toy store on the square and we picked up several Christmas gifts in there for the kids in our family.

Once we were done shopping, we headed down to the Soda Jerk Diner and had a great meal. For a diner, this place had delicious food that was affordably priced! They were busy but we didn't have to wait too long to be served. If diner food isn't your cup of tea, you'll find over 40+ eateries close by in Hershey.

One of the things we loved about visiting this small town in America is that all of the people we came into contact with were friendly and helpful. We enjoyed walking down some of their streets and looking at various houses along the way. We walked by this one old church and I immediately fell in-love with it's charm. I've always enjoyed visiting and photographing old churches across America.

Overall we had a great time visiting Hummelstown in Pennsylvania and definitely will be returning next year.