This post was sponsored by Pepsi. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the partnerships that help make Her Philly possible!
I have great memories of visiting Hersheypark as a young tot. What could be better than wholesome amusement park fun just about two hours from your front door (and if you didn’t fight with your sister, there was almost always chocolate involved)? When you’re a kid, your goals for an amusement park are simple: ride the family rides, take photos with your favorite characters, and decide if you’re brave enough to go on a rollercoaster, all while your mom is applying several layers of sunscreen on every chance she can get.
Well, when you return as an adult, the sunscreen is still present (for me, at least), but you’re in charge of the rides you go on, the breaks you take, and, of course, the chocolate you consume. So, when Pepsi invited me, Kendall, and Jess to check out the park during 4th of July weekend, we set our sights on an adult mini road trip and buckled in for some fun.
The park
We arrived on a Sunday to, naturally, a pretty packed holiday weekend. We saw everyone families to groups of young teens to older couples getting ready to enjoy a sunny day at the park. If the last time you were at the park involved your parents leading the way, you must download the Hersheypark app. As long as you have a directionally-savvy companion (thank you, Kendall!), the app makes it so much easier to get around the park and put together a plan of action. Once we were settled, it was time to hit some rides!
The rides
Our adult lady crew, ranging in age from 28-30, went into the day on very different ride levels. This left me at the lowest tolerance for speed, loops, and drops in our trio, but it was a task I, somehow, faced bravely. We started at SooperDooperLooper, which, contrary to our beliefs, only has one loop and is the perfect coaster to start your day with. We did a little Comet, a little Great Bear, and some Trailblazer. Laff Trakk, the park’s indoor coaster, somehow had Kendall and I going backwards the entire time, the new Hershey Triple Tower reminded me of a ride I grew up with on the Ocean City Boardwalk (aka I loved it), and Storm Runner, which zooms you off at 72mph, ended up being our collective favorite. It was when we decided on just one more, that Sidewinder, a coaster that launches you backwards for the entire second half of the ride, did me in. I am proud to say this adult lady crew conquered Hersheypark’s scariest coasters, and my #1 piece of ride advice: just make sure you balance everything out with the Ferris Wheel and Kissing Tower.
The food, drinks, and treats
Hersheypark hooked us up with this refillable drink cup, and I can not tell you how amazing this was. I am one who typically BYOFWB (frozen water bottle, obviously) to parks, and then just buys new water bottles all day. This was life changing. For $13.99, we could fill up our cups every 10 minutes (that was the true time restriction). When I needed an extra boost to my normal plain ol water, I added in a splash of Pink Lemonade. Just perfect.
Another plug for the Hersheypark app: There was a moment after several coasters and several SPF applications when we just needed a break. We surveyed the restaurants through the app and set our sights on Moe’s. We found a spot in the shade, snacked on burritos and guacamole. It was so worth it to take a nice, calm break during a very busy day.
We also got a sneak peek at Pepsi’s new BBLz “Fizzy Creations” Station – a brand new installation designed exclusively for Hersheypark. “Bubble Makers” are tasked with creating a fizzy concoction, filled with Pepsi beverages, Hershey candies, soda syrups, frosting, and ice. The fruity flavors seemed like they’d be perfect for a mid-day treat, and the more rich, chocolatey flavors would be great as you’re finishing out your night. It’s definitely a fun new addition to the park, complete with an awesome view of the Triple Tower!
The adult life tips
For our adult adventure, I think we did pretty well navigating the park. If you’re looking for a few last tips to make your summer trip a success, I’d advise the following: take frequent, shaded breaks and refuel on the good stuff. Try to tackle the ride in Chocolate World when everyone else isn’t to avoid killer lines. And if you want to beat the crowds, schedule your park visit later in the evening. We saw the crowds significantly lessen around 5-6pm, with still many hours left til 10pm closing time!
