Summer officially started this past weekend after two graduations (that’s right, I’m officially a mom to a college student now!) This past weekend we were invited* to come celebrate by spending the day at Hersheypark.

The sun was shining on us that day and the skies were blue.  We arrived at Hersheypark right at opening time to get in as much fun as we could. There is so much to do at Hersheypark, beginning with Hershey’s Chocolate World.  This has been a favorite attraction of my children since they were very little.  Inside, you can create your own candy bars, see a fun 4D film, go on an interactive ride through the chocolate making process (which recently has been updated), and lots of great new Hershey’s products to take home with you. It’s definitely a great place to start or finish your day.

Walking through the gates of Hersheypark, you are greated by friendly employees, a very clean park, and lots of happy sounds.  From rides for the littlest adventurers to thrilling roller coasters for the most daring, there is something for everyone.

My kids love the thrill rides at Hersheypark. Storm Runner and Farenheit were our very favorites of the rides.  After a morning loaded with excitement, enjoying ride after ride, we opted to grab some lunch in the park. We were happy to see that there were  so many great options for dining there like Chick-fil-A, Subway, Moe’s, and Chickie and Pete’s.  It made it easy to accommodate everyone’s different preferences.

After lunch, we grabbed our swimsuits and headed over to the Boardwalk  and the Shore to enjoy the water park portion of the complex. A great aspect of purchasing tickets for Hersheypark is that it includes both regular and water rides.  In sweltering temperatures, we were so happy to have an excuse to cool down!  There are plenty of changing rooms and lockers for you to stow your stuff to go and enjoy the water rides.  I couldn’t wait to indulge in the wave pool known as The Shore. I could have spent the entire day there!

Everyone loved trying the water rides, but especially loved the ride Breakers Edge, brand new to the park this summer. Check out how amazing this ride is!  So much fun!

At the end of our day, we packed up our gear and left the gates of Hersheypark to go see the Imagine Dragons concert playing that night at Hershey Stadium.  It was awesome to park in one spot and be able to spend the day in the park and then go enjoy the concert in the outdoor amphitheater without having to leave.  We simply walked out the gate and across the lot.  Imagine Dragons put on an incredible show that our entire family loved.  To end the show, and to top off an incredible day, we were treated to a fantastic fireworks display.

I can’t think of a better way to spend a day with my family, enjoying the summer sun, exciting rides, a great concert, and creating memories with my favorite people.  We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Hersheypark and can’t wait to return!  To make your own family memories, you can book your own tickets online, summer specials are in place at great discounts until the end of this week!

*we were invited to visit the park, all opinions are my own.