a little town called hershey.

one day a few weeks ago we were hanging out in the backyard when ashley came up with a brilliant plan.  "since we're going to be in salt lake for the next few months, why don't you guys use our townhouse sometime while we are away?" 

aforementioned townhouse is centrally located in pennsylvania, so i quickly planned an impromptu vacation to DC & NYC. tickets were quickly purchased before anyone (jimmy) could change their mind, (or maybe before he even knew the trip was planned! ha!) and here we are this week enjoying a little bit of "the back east," as andy would say.

it is a little bittersweet because we really wish ashley & eric & kids were here enjoying everything with us, but it is so very nice to have lots of space to spread out every evening.  so thanks my sweet sister!!

our first stop was to hershey, pennsylvania where mr. milton hershey built his delicious chocolatey empire.  his story is a seriously inspiring one and it made me determined to be a little better and a little more generous with the things i have.

 just a few treats for later.  i don't know why they gave me such a big bag. . .

loved all the vintage advertisements displayed.  why was everything so much cuter way back when?

we had a lot of chocolate. . . and some of us were a little wired.

hershey's number one chocolate soldier: ava carmel

milton hershey's fortune equaled the vanderbilts, but he spent a huuuge portion of his wealth setting up an amazing boarding school, that would provide a sound education and stable home life for orphan children (he and his wife could never have children of their own.)

he also built an entire town with cute affordable homes and parks and gardens for all of his employees.  he was the dream employer.  he was always quick to encourage and help others dreams become realities and help them on their way.   


things we loved in hershey, pennsylvania:
the ride through the "chocolate factory"
the trolley tour of the town of hershey
walking the grounds of hotel hershey (it is so pretty and lots of fun things to do too, which technically were probably just for hotel guests. . .  but like i said mr. hershey was a really generous guy. . .and i really don't think he'd mind if we played a little croquet and horseshoes at his hotel.)

on the grounds there is also a very, very long steep hill that is too irresistible to not roll down.  i couldn't help myself.  but beware of the stickery weed patch halfway down.  it's really hard to make your way out of when you are super dizzy and can not stand up straight.  

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