As we all know, your 25th wedding anniversary is your “silver anniversary” and your 50th is your “gold”, how about your 17th? We’ll it’s “Pink Tourmaline”. So to celebrate our “Pink Tourmaline” anniversary, MacKid Mama Bear and I headed off to Hersheypark in Hershey PA.
According to one website, “Pink Tourmaline... Brings Joy Happiness And Loving Energy” and that’s what we went to find at Hershey.
The Loving Energy was easy. As we clutched each other tight on rides all morning, we used plenty of energy and since we were clinging to each other in fear, we looked like we were snuggling together. We had the brilliant idea to start on the “easy-looking” coaster, Wild Mouse. Well, looks can be deceiving, this tame looking beast freaks you out by pitching you over a 500 foot drop (more like 50). By the fifth time, you are over it, but the first two flings or so will have you clutching with all the loving energy you have.
Then we hit the Wild Cat and Coal Cracker to experience a few more rides. All good fun. Truth be told, we skipped the truly insane looking coasters like Storm Runner and Sky Rush. Hey, after 17 years, what have we got to prove?
After our fill of thrills, we decided to take in a show and watch the joy the Sea Lions get from performing. Our Pink Tourmaline day was doing it’s best. The show had the Sea Lions performing some tricks that they seemed not only to enjoy, but to be proud of (and so were the trainers).
And since it was our anniversary, we hit Kissing Tower for a kiss and great view of the park. And then it was time to eat, all this joy and happiness had worked up our appetite. To say there are a plethora of dining choices would be an understatement. From cotton candy to kosher, they have it all. We went to the Gourmet Grill as it sounded like a fancy place. It wasn’t, but it was casual and comfortable and we found a table outside where I enjoyed a burrito just like Chipotle.
We left the park and made a quick stop at Hershey’s Chocolate World just outside the park gate. Seriously, if Pink Tourmaline brings Joy and Happiness, this place brings Ecstasy and Bliss. It’s not only a shrine to chocolate, but a store to fulfill your every chocolaty desire. We took the free GREAT AMERICAN CHOCOLATE TOUR RIDE and while I expected it to be a bit cheesy, it was actually fascinating.
Leaving the park area, we headed to the Hershey Lodge for the night. The hotel is located in a sort of odd setting just outside of town, but once you pull in, it’s just what you’d expect. The main lobby has a nice warm “lodge-y” feel with a big central stone fireplace and a rustic vibe. They say kids are not only “welcome” but “expected” there. And to “walk the walk” they have neat check-in procedure just for kids, a nice touch.
The room was clean and comfortable and the lodge had all the amenities you’d expect, pool, workout room, restaurant and of course a gift shop packed with Hershey’s products and souvenirs.
We had dinner at the Lodge at the Hershey Grill. The food and atmosphere was casual and comfortable. If we had brought the kids, they would have had plenty to choose from. For breakfast we made a quick stop at the Cocoa Beanery and got one of the best egg sandwiches I’ve ever had, and the coffee was pretty good too.
All in all we had a great time celebrating our “Pink Tourmaline Anniversary”, next year is our 18th, the “Feather Anniversary” I’m thinking we’ll go to Sesame Place and see Big Bird. ;-)
*We were provided park tickets and a media rate at the lodge for purposes of this review. All opinions are my own and I don't actually know if Pink Tourmaline brings Joy and Happiness.
