I had the pleasure of revisiting Hersheypark, an awesome theme park and resort in Pennsylvania, affiliated with the Hershey Chocolate Company, but, unlike Legoland, is not constructed using their unique product (chocolate, engineering and the sun doesn’t mix).

Because I enjoyed it so much, I’ve put together a little list of reasons why you should visit Hersheypark: either if you’re a roller coaster fanatic like me or simply just want to have a good time with friends and family. From amazing coasters to sweet-smelling restrooms, Hersheypark has a lot to offer, because...

1. The rides are fantastic

Hersheypark has an assortment of rides that suit an individual’s intensity preferences. These go from Level 1 attractions, those suitable for younger kids, up to Level 5 attractions that really pack a punch. Depending on your preference, you could go for something calmer like Skyview (unless you’re me and aren’t too keen on feeling so loosely restrained so high up) or challenge yourself to try something a little fiercer like Lighting Racer (racing another coaster is awesome!)

Or, if you’re like me and have to ride anything extreme, Hersheypark has you covered with rides like Skyrush above; an exhilarating experience I totally didn’t expect.

Interestingly, both height requirement and ride intensity are factored into an attraction’s rating, meaning some family rides like the entertaining Laff Trakk are suitable for smaller persons and yet still provide an intense experience. It’s also pretty easy for younger persons to get on the bigger rides, so kids around 54” tall have access to all of them. This included one of the persons I visited the park with, a ten-year-old girl that ensured we only went on the biggest rides.

2. The park boasts great accessibility for its guests

Guests with disabilities and special needs are suggested to enroll in Hershey’s Ride Accessibility Program, a questionnaire which auto-generates a Boarding Pass to let one know what attractions are accessible dependent on their individual needs. A lot of rides are accessible via wheelchair transfer and can accommodate many guests and quiet areas exist around the park if one needs some time away from the stimuli the park provides, but check out the informative (and actually easy to read) guide linked above for more information.

While America is still wild with prejudice regarding transgender persons’ desire to urinate in peace, it may be some comfort to know that trans guests are fully able to use the bathroom they gender-identify with at the park. In a statement by Hersheypark spokeswoman, Kathy Burrows, she said the park will continue to “strive to accommodate all guests and employees - including members of the LGBT community - to ensure those visiting or working at Hersheypark are comfortable and feel secure."

While I cannot account for the experience one will have as a trans or non-abled person in the park, I do hope that the policies Hersheypark has in place will be of benefit.

3. The restrooms smell like cake

Alright, so this isn’t a good reason to visit a theme park (unless you’re really into cakes), but the bathrooms around the park legitimately smell of frosting. I’m not sure who decided it was a good idea to incorporate this into the park, but gosh darn if it didn’t make using the toilet a better experience.

Have you ever used a bathroom just because you liked the smell? Typically not, I'm sure, but at Hersheypark, it’s acceptable because it smells pretty nice. It was one of the more uplifting urinating experiences of my life, I can tell you.

4. The Hersheypark Camping Resort provides cheaper accommodation and tickets

While the theme park offers three places to stay, the hotels are considerably more expensive compared to the campsite which, conditional on when one visits, can be as low as $30 a night if you’re sleeping in tents. I worked at a camp for three months so I love sleeping outdoors, so for me, this was an additional bit of fun added to my holiday.

That’s not all folks because staying at the camp gives free benefits like on-site entertainment (a clown dude made balloon animals, it was dope) and One-Hour Early Access to specific rides at the park before anyone else. For a little more money you can visit the park on the evening you arrive by getting a Preview Plan, but that’s up to you.

A couple other cool things are the camp’s closeness to local stores like Weis or restaurants like Panera Bread (a car is needed to visit them, however), a free shuttle bus to the park and the best prices available on tickets to Hersheypark.

5. Staying longer and arriving later benefits your experience!

If you’re staying at the Hersheypark Camping Resort you’ll get an hour early access, but if you’re not then simply aim to get to the theme park as early as possible around 9:30 AM to ensure you beat the lines.

However, arriving at sunset time (either 4PM when the park closes at 8 PM, or 5 PM when the park closes at 10 PM) lets you not only get in for half the original price, but if you stay until closing time a lot of the park guests will have left -- meaning you’ll be lining up for less time, and sometimes not at all!

Some rides will always have long lines, two of which being Laff Track and the new Hershey Triple Tower, either because of their recent opening or popularity in general. Lines will tend to be long for roller coasters, as expected, and some of which require you use the (free) bag lockers outside the attractions.

Some visitors have written excellent guides on how to spend less money when attending, so check out this one by Nickida which provides tips for park tickets, the food, and even the hotels. I suggest that if you’re in Pennsylvania, definitely give Hersheypark a visit; it’s a perfect family vacation, too!