After a full-body exfoliation, I was covered head to toe in a chocolate moisturizer — a rich blend of shea butter and cocoa essential oil gently massaged into my limbs before they were wrapped in warm sheets. At the Hershey Spa this treatment is called a chocolate hydrating body wrap. After a soothing head massage, I lay face down on the table, absorbing the balm and feeling like a large, luxurious chocolate bar.
Visiting “The Sweetest Place on Earth” meant a steady stream of chocolate indulgences. At check-in at the Hotel Hershey I was handed a complimentary Hershey’s bar (milk or dark), and dinner at the cozy Harvest restaurant featured Hershey’s Cocoa barbecued ribs. Later I stopped by the Iberian Lounge for chocolate panna cotta and a signature chocolate martini, garnished with a skewered Hershey’s Kiss in place of an olive.
From street lamps shaped like candy kisses to the Cocoa Cruiser roller coaster at Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania, celebrates its founder Milton S. Hershey. After developing an affordable milk-chocolate recipe, Hershey opened a factory here in 1903, drawn by abundant milk, water and rail access. He built more than a factory, creating a model community with churches, schools, theaters and parks to support workers. That vision evolved into a full-scale resort with a zoo, botanical gardens, museums, lodging, shopping and interactive attractions.
The Hotel Hershey, the resort’s principal lodge, continues that legacy with Mediterranean-inspired tile, mosaics and ornamental details influenced by the Hersheys’ travels. Guest rooms are updated, serene and spacious. Two decades ago the hotel added a spa, a three-story wing designed to echo features of Milton Hershey’s High Point mansion. Stained glass, polished marble and warm pecan paneling lend the salon and treatment rooms an elegant, home-like feel. The first-floor Oasis acts as a social spa, with a casual restaurant area, comfortable seating and outdoor porches in warm months. Guests and visitors can linger in robes, moving between treatments, quiet relaxation and light meals. The spa’s menu includes therapies for men, women, expectant mothers and teens, making it a popular choice for families, couples celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, and honeymooners.
Guests are encouraged to arrive early to “relax before relaxation.” After changing into robes and slippers, they are guided into a Quiet Room—a recreation of High Point’s paneled library—and offered refreshments such as trail mix, tea, water and, naturally, Hershey’s Kisses, chocolate muffins and hot chocolate.
The spa’s treatment menu is organized into four themed series inspired by the property and surrounding landscape. Rose Garden treatments echo the Hershey Gardens arboretum, using antioxidant-rich ingredients and rose oil to promote radiant, soft skin. Country Abundance draws on the region’s rural character with hydrating lavender, milk and honey preparations. The Cuban Experience references the plantation town Milton Hershey established east of Havana to secure sugar supplies; its offerings feature raw sugar, jasmine and lime in energizing “mojito” massages and body wraps.
PHOTO: © HOTEL HERSHEY
At the core of the spa, as the website emphasizes, are the Everything Chocolate experiences: chocolate wraps and facials, cocoa massages, whipped cocoa baths and a chocolate-dipped strawberry immersion. Chocolate features in every step of the Sweet Feet pedicure, beginning with a chocolate body scrub, followed by a cocoa oil massage, a dark chocolate mousse mask and finishing with a coconut-scented cocoa body lotion—each step enjoyed alongside a warm cup of hot chocolate.
Staff at the spa are welcoming and attentive, offering guided tours of the facilities and refreshment selections. Gratuities of 20 percent are automatically added to spa charges. Typical prices run around $70 for manicures and pedicures, $150–$305 for massages, and $205 and up for experience packages. Weekend appointments usually carry an additional fee of $10–$35 per service.
Some services and amenities were adapted during the pandemic. Currently facials, body scrubs, wet wraps, immersions, rain showers and makeup services are not offered. The Steam Room and the Oasis restaurant remain closed, and capacity in the Aromatherapy Inhalation Room as well as the Quiet and Silent rooms is limited.
To balance the indulgence, the hotel provides several activity options. The fitness center overlooks the woods and includes a Peloton bike, Life Fitness equipment, exercise balls and mats. Group classes take place in yoga studios, and both indoor and outdoor pools are available. Guests can also explore three hiking trails and paths through the 23-acre Hershey Gardens, which grew from the Hershey family’s passion for roses. Learning the town’s history and the founder’s commitment to community deepens the resort experience. I departed Hershey pleasantly overwhelmed by chocolate treats and experiences, feeling renewed both inside and out.