17 Sweet Travel Destinations For Chocolate Lovers, Wonderful Places To Consider After Travel Restrictions For Coronavirus Are Lifted.

1

Hershey, Pennsylvania

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Home to The Hershey Co., this destination in Derry Township, Pennsylvania, features Hershey's Chocolate World factory store and tour, Hersheypark theme park, The Hotel Hershey and its "chocolate spa," and many other attractions for lovers of all things chocolate.

2

St. Lucia

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The Caribbean island of St. Lucia is a popular chocolate tourism destination with its cocoa farms, chocolate-themed hotels, chocolate heritage month and more.

3

Barcelona, Spain

Museu de la Xocolata

Barcelona is a great city for chocolate lovers. In addition to the delicious cocoa cuisine (shoutout to churros dipped in chocolate), there are also chocolate walking tours and the famous Museu de la Xocolata, which covers the history and production of chocolate and houses impressive chocolate sculptures.

4

Switzerland

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Switzerland is an obvious chocolate travel destination. Many of its famous chocolate brands offer on-site factory tours to visitors wanting to learn more about the production (and try some samples). Popular tours include Maison Cailler in Broc, Läderach in Bilten and Camille Bloch in Courtelary.

5

Bariloche, Argentina

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San Carlos de Bariloche, aka Bariloche, is a town in Patagonia famous for its Alpine architecture and chocolate production. Many chocolate shops and cafes, including the popular Mamuschka, line Mitre Street.

6

Vienna, Austria

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Vienna boasts a rich cultural history that includes the invention of Sachertorte, a delicious chocolate cake that's become an Austrian staple. You can sample this sweet treat at a variety of spots, including Demel pastry shop and Hotel Sacher.

7

Oaxaca, Mexico

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There are ample places where cacao lovers can taste delicious chocolate throughout Mexico, but the best destination is probably the Oaxaca area. Although it's not a major growing region, Oaxaca's gastronomical history centers largely on cacao. Popular specialties include champurrado (a hot chocolate drink) and mole sauce prepared with chocolate.

8

Brussels, Belgium

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Visiting the source of Belgian chocolate is another obvious move in the world of choco-travel. Brussels is home to the Choc-Story museum, as well as famous chocolatiers like Neuhaus, Pierre Marcolini, Mary, Wittamer and Godiva.

9

Birmingham, England

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In 1824, John Cadbury began selling tea, coffee and drinking chocolate in Birmingham, England, and over time his business grew into the confectionary brand we know as Cadbury. Today, visitors to Birmingham can check out Cadbury World to learn about the history of the company, shop in the world's largest Cadbury store, sample Cadbury treats and participate in a variety of chocolate-themed activities.

10

Ecuador

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Ecuador produces world-renowned chocolate, and tourists can take farm and factory tours. Pacari Chocolate in Quito and the Guayas province-based Chchukululu offer popular tours.

11

Cologne, Germany

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If you find yourself in Germany, consider checking out The Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum aka The Chocolate Museum in Cologne. The scenic museum presents the global history of cocoa and a look at contemporary chocolate production, as well as a popular cafe and shop.

12

San Francisco

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Although the factory is no longer there, Ghirardelli Square still features a popular ice cream and chocolate shop from the brand. Visitors to San Francisco can also tour the Dandelion Chocolate factory and sample artisanal chocolates and cocoa treats throughout the city (special shoutout to Fog City News).

13

Vietnam

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Vietnamese chocolate has been described as "unlike any other." Tourists with a sweet tooth can explore the offerings from Marou or Azzan, which both offer tours.

14

Paris

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If you time your Paris visit right, you can experience the annual Salon du Chocolat trade fair, which includes fun events like a chocolate fashion show. Paris also has world-class chocolate offerings throughout the year, like the amazing chocolat chaud at Angelina and chocolatiers like La Maison du Chocolat and Jean-Paul Hévin .

15

Peru

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Peru has "ChocoMuseos" in Cusco and Lima, as well as popular chocolatiers like Roselen, and cacao jungle tours.

16

Ghana

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Ghana is the second-largest producer of cocoa in the world, so the Ghana Tourism Authority recently launched its Cocoa Ecotourism Initiative to promote cocoa farms as a tourist attraction. Indeed, travelers can take tours to learn about the history and current practice of cocoa production in the country.

17

Tuscany, Italy

Amedei

Although Tuscany is probably best known for its wine, the region also has a lot to offer to chocolate fans. The so-called Chocolate Valley is a triangle between Pisa, Prato and Pistoia that boasts many small chocolate manufacturers, including Amedei.

Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/chocolate-travel-destinations_l_5db342ace4b05df62ebebfec

The Hotel Hershey Wine & Food Festival Returns September 16 – 18, 2016

The Hotel Hershey Wine & Food Festival returns to Hershey The Sweetest Place On Earth from September 16 - 18, 2016. Enjoy fine wine, fresh flavors, and spirited events including a comedy show, local winery tour, Pinot Noir blending class, the Grand Tasting, a NEW wine and cheese tasting class, and more at the seventh annual event.  

Friday, September 16

• Wine, Dine, And Punch Lines: a wine reception hosted by Kim Crawford of Loveblock Wines at 6:30 p.m. and a comedy show by Laurie Forster, The Stand Up Sommelier, at 8:00 p.m.; $96 per person

Saturday, September 17

• Vine To Wine at Waltz Vineyards: a unique experience that guides guests through the winemaking process at Waltz Vineyards; 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.; $54 per person with box lunch
• NEW! Count Sebastiano Capone Wine & Cheese Tasting: a guided tasting and pairing of five wines and local cheeses; 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.; $54 per person
• Davis Bynum Blending Class: a guided tour through the process and art of blending Pinot Noir; 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.; $48 per person
• Concho Y Toro Wine Dinner: hosted by Italo Jofre from Concho Y Toro, a five-course meal paired with delicious wines; 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.; $120 per person

Sunday, September 18

• VIP Winemaker Breakfast: a breakfast buffet with several wine makers from The Grand Tasting; 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.; $30 per person
• The Grand Tasting: live jazz entertainment, international and domestic wine stations hosted by official vintner representatives, a selection of domestic breweries, and delicious culinary samplings from our award winning chefs; 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.; $72 per person and $20 per designated driver

Where: The Hotel Hershey, 100 Hotel Road, Hershey, PA 17033

Guest Reservations: 717-534-8800

More Information: https://www.thehotelhershey.com/

Travelore Tips: 5 Recommended Family-Friendly Destinations

Contributed by Robert Reid· 

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Everyone knows travel changes once kids come into the picture. Suddenly you have to plan around naps, easily accessible rescue centers for soiled-underpants and whining backseat drivers. What they don’t tell you is how much fun it can be, and that it doesn’t have to be limited to timeshares on beaches and mega-amusement parks.

I know. Traveling with my four-year-old daughter has slowed down the usual pace. But I found myself getting a new appreciation for things I had long ignored – like at a 4th of July parade in Philadelphia, when colorfully dressed Ecuadorian dancers stopped to dance with her.

I can’t wait for her to chip in on planning vacations. Meanwhile here are five super family-friendly places that stray from the predictable.

1. Belize

Whether you’re looking for a beach to sit on, or much more (particularly as kids get past six or seven), Belize is an affordable Caribbean trip that is a boon for families. It’s compact, cheap and nearly everyone speaks English. There’s super wildlife to see – growler monkeys and crocodiles by land, sea turtles and (harmless) nurse sharks by mask and snorkel. First-timers will enjoy nice array of cabanas, often with kitchenette, from US$50 per night at the beach/diving center of Placencia, a couple hours south of the Belize City airport.

Sky Palace at Caracol, Belize, by Dennis Jarvis. Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike licence.

But the interior doesn't mean sacrificing fun in the water, with underground rivers to tube, jungle lodges on swimming holes and Mayan ruins reached by boat. If you rent a car, a tad pricey (about US$80 per day), you can connect a few dots at your own leisure. For an unforgettable stay, try the remote and family-friendly Barton Creek Outpostin the Cayo District, with a rope swing on the country’s finest swimming hole. And pull in for Garifuna drum lessons at the laid-back beach of Hopkins.

2. Pennsylvania

The eastern half of the Keystone State, in particular, is chock full of activities eyeing little ones. Home to the Liberty Bell, Philadelphia is a more laid-back city experience than New York, with a walkable center, counter breakfasts at the Reading Terminal Market, Betsy Ross' house, folks in tri-cornered hats, and a superb July 4th parade in the city where it all started. Kids over seven or so may enjoy the thrill of touring the Eastern State Penitentiary, a castle-like historic prison will all sorts of cells and nooks to conjure the imagination.

Making soft pretzels, Reading Terminal Market, by Geoff Livingston. Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike licence.

More colorful is Sesame Place, the only Sesame Street amusement park, about a half hour’s drive north. Rides are geared to littler ones, all the furry characters and plenty of activities on and around a Sesame-like set. Under two go free. The regular US$21.99 is less than a fourth the cost of Disney World.

Another option, two hours east in Hershey, is Chocolate World. It’s not quite Willy Wonka, but there’s plenty of merch and activities, along with an amusement park next door. A couple hours north, Williamsport is home each August to the Little League World Series, though most kids prefer sliding down the muddy slope beyond centerfield. Bring an extra set of clothes.

3. Portland, Oregon

No city better makes parents feel at ease traveling with kids than Portlandia. It’s 90 minutes to the beach, 30 minutes to towering water falls in the Columbia River gorge, and practically everywhere you go in town has areas geared for little ones. The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – everyone just calls it ‘OMSI’ (OM-zee) – is an all-time fave. On the riverfront, with a submarine to see, the museum has a playroom with sand, water games, labs, fun science experiments like suction tubes built to shoot foam balls through hoops. For some reason the (caged) rats are huge with kids too.

Multnomah Falls, by Ron Reiring. Creative Commons Attribution license.

Forest Park in the northwest part of the city is the country’s biggest urban park, with plenty of trails and birds to spot. Food is fun too. Microbreweries have huge play areas that absorb kids with tons of toys and playmates. At 5pm Monday head to Mississippi Pizza for some shockingly good pies and a kid-fest during Mr Ben’s sing-along, where kids usually end up dancing on stage.

For a unique place to stay, McMenamin's Kennedy School is a boutique hotel made from an old school built in 1915 with rooms made from former classrooms (sorry kids, no TVs, but chalkboards, yes), plus a theater that shows kid-friendly films and a soaking pool. Rooms are affordable at around US$95/night.

4. Denmark

Don't overlook Denmark - compact and not always cheap, but built for kids. Copenhagen is home to Tivoli, a fairy-tale of a central amusement park that dates to 1843. There’s lots of free music, nightly fireworks and surprisingly good food. Outside town, Legoland is outside Billund in central Jutland, with a 20-million piece Miniland of world icons (Statue of Liberty, Star Wars scenes!) made of the plastic bits named for leg godt (Danish for ‘play well’). The rides are mostly geared to preteens. Might as well stay at lego-to-the-limit Hotel Legoland. Time your arrival to get a couple free hours in the park – doors are open a couple hours before closing each day.

Also aim for Odense, a 90-minute train ride from Copenhagen. It’s a thousand-year-old city that was home to Hans Christen Andersen. There’s a good museum and zoo, and nearby castles surrounded by moats. In town, Fyrtøjet is a children’s cultural center with storytelling and music (in English in summer) and plenty of fanciful costumes to don.

The Swing Carousel in Tivoli at night, by Stig Nygaard. Creative Commons Attribution license.

5. Thailand

Few cultures on earth will fawn over your children like the family-friendly Thai. Locals go gaga over them, and going with kids means ice-breakers from everyone between street food vendors and tuk-tuk drivers. Thailand’s a great choice for an exotic trip, with temples, fun food, monkeys and superb beaches.

Koh Chang sunset, by Vairoj Arunyaangkul. Creative Commons Attribution licence.

Bangkok temples like Wat Phra Kaew with its glittering gold-leaf Buddhas provide memorable experiences, along with water taxis on the canals and flying kites with locals at leafy Lumphini Park. For the beach, Ko Chang is a island with much family potential, including nice beaches with calm waters, easy kayak trips to offshore islands, elephant camps in the mountainous interior, and chipping in to help abandoned animals at Koh Chang Animal Project.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/belize/travel-tips-and-articles/77657#ixzz2mcWUk5Oq