The Spread:

Find the best rate at the: Hotel Hershey, Hershey here.

For a town where streetlights take the shape of candy kisses, the Hotel Hershey does a good job reaching beyond the theme-park décor to deliver a polished resort plus the chocolaty magic only Hershey could conjure. Built in the 1930s to provide employment during the Depression, this historic 232-room, 25-suite property possesses manicured gardens and mosaic tiles.

With indoor and outdoor pools, a championship golf course, six miles of nature trails, basketball, bocce, floodlit tennis courts, and a “world-famous chocolate spa,” there’s no shortage of things to do. Off-property, a free shuttle drops you off at Hershey Park, and some hotel packages give you early admission and breakfast with Hershey’s product characters at the theme park. The hotel also offers free admission to nearby Hershey Gardens and the Hershey Museum.

Why Families Love It:
Proximity to the 110-acre Hershey Park, with its soaring roller coasters and drenching water rides, is a big draw, but the resort itself takes care of kids ages five through 12 with its Cocoa Kids Club. Supervised activities include tennis, basketball, arts and crafts, and swimming. The club is available for full-day (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $60) or half-day (9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.; $35) sessions, while the Kid’s Night Out extends the fun from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. ($40 per child).

Teens will find services like facials, manicures, and pedicures designed especially for them at the chocolate spa, or they can get a makeup lesson. Adults, too, can indulge in such spa specialties as whipped cocoa baths and chocolate bean polish.

Special Events & Activities:
Kids 13 and older can help Cocoa Kids Camp counselors lead younger ones through a full day of activities as teenage counselors. Cost for a full day, 9 a .m. to 4 p.m., is $20 per teen.