As the winter chill descends, homebodies might cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate. Travelers, meanwhile, may choose to indulge their sweet tooth with a full-fledged, chocolate-inspired vacation.<\/p>\n
With the Dec. 15 release date of the movie \u201cWonka,\u201d candy might be on America\u2019s mind. Happily, you don\u2019t need to win a golden ticket to get to experience one of America\u2019s myriad chocolate factories, chocolate restaurants and even chocolate theme parks.<\/p>\n
Here are six ways to have a zany, chocolate-inspired vacation in the U.S. this winter that are enough to impress Wonka himself.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Hershey, Pennsylvania<\/em><\/p>\n Hersheypark is a 121-acre amusement park originally created by Milton S. Hershey as leisure grounds for employees of Hershey\u2019s Chocolate Factory. Today, it has cuddly, walking versions of candy to meet, more than a dozen roller coasters and family-friendly rides. Plus with ticket prices under $100, it\u2019s a lot cheaper than competitors like\u00a0Disney Visiting in mid-November through the end of December is particularly delightful as the park transforms into Hersheypark Christmas Candylane, which includes a Christmas light show and a \u201cKissmass Tree\u201d display (named for Hershey\u2019s Note that Hersheypark closes from January through March for off-season maintenance, though there are plenty of other year-round activities to do in Hershey during those months. Those include a visit to one of the city\u2019s two spas, both of which offer chocolate-themed treatments such as a cocoa facial. There\u2019s also Hershey\u2019s Chocolate World, which is adjacent to Hersheypark and remains open throughout the winter with activities like a chocolate tour and making your own candy bar.<\/p>\n Plus:<\/strong> Here\u2019s what\u2019s new on Hulu in November 2023 \u2014 and what\u2019s leaving<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Universal CityWalk Orlando and Universal CityWalk Hollywood<\/em><\/p>\n The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is a 19th-century, Victorian steampunk-inspired restaurant with an over-the-top facade that looks like it was designed by Willy Wonka himself.<\/p>\n The chefs have managed to sneak chocolate into even stereotypically savory dishes, including fresh chocolate almond bread paired with salted caramel butter, and flash-fried chicken wings coated in a chocolate stout glaze.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find the restaurant in Florida and California, as it\u2019s a staple of Universal CityWalk, which is the pedestrian-only, free-to-visit entertainment complex affiliated with\u00a0Universal Studios theme parks.<\/p>\n Plus: <\/strong>How Halloween became a huge money-maker for Disney<\/p>\n More than two dozen cities worldwide<\/em><\/p>\n Sugar Factory is a U.S. brasserie with a large menu of milkshakes, burgers, ice cream and more. But its most iconic feature is the bar that makes candy-infused cocktails, which are served in oversized goblets. Drinks can be made with or without alcohol, and they include lavish garnishment like gummy flamingoes to top the pi\u00f1a colada and lollipops stuffed into the peach lemonade. Drinks run about $40 each, but one beverage could easily serve a small group.<\/p>\n Sugar Factory has more than two dozen locations worldwide, primarily in tourist centers such as the\u00a0Las Vegas Strip, Minnesota\u2019s Mall of America and Times Square in\u00a0New York City.<\/p>\n Also see: <\/strong>\u2018Revenge travel\u2019 is over. Shoppers are spending on goods again and these 3 retailers could benefit.<\/p>\n Cities nationwide<\/em><\/p>\n In recent years, there has been a growing trend of sweet, interactive art galleries that are designed with the selfie set in mind. Among those open now is the Sweet Tooth Hotel in Dallas. It\u2019s definitely not a hotel, but rather an interactive art museum featuring rooms designed by different artists \u2014 most of which put candy at the forefront.<\/p>\n Also in the vein of the sweet selfie-centric museum comes the Museum of Ice Cream, which runs in major cities including Austin, Texas, Chicago and New York. Standout exhibits include a waterless pool filled with 100 million sprinkles made of antimicrobial, biodegradable material that visitors are allowed to \u201cswim\u201d in (but not eat, as these sprinkles aren\u2019t edible).<\/p>\n San Francisco<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Nestled on the waterfront in\u00a0San Francisco\u2018s Fisherman\u2019s Wharf, Ghirardelli Square originally housed a chocolate factory established by Domenico \u201cDomingo\u201d Ghirardelli.<\/p>\n Today, the square is home to shops, restaurants and art galleries, as well as three outposts of Ghirardelli. Those three storefronts include the original ice cream and chocolate shop, a larger, more elaborate Chocolate Experience, as well as a quick, on-the-go shop.<\/p>\n
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\n \u00a0or\u00a0Universal.<\/p>\n
\n HSY,
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\n Kisses). This year, marks the 40th year of Hersheypark\u2019s annual Christmas experience.<\/p>\n2. Dine on savory chocolate meals at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium<\/strong><\/h2>\n
3. Drink a candy cocktail at Sugar Factory<\/strong><\/h2>\n
4. Take sweet selfies at interactive art galleries and museums<\/strong><\/h2>\n
5. Visit one of three chocolate locations at Ghirardelli Square<\/strong><\/h2>\n