Best Things to do on a Road Trip from Carbondale, Pennsylvania to Hershey, Pennsylvania
Carbondale and Hershey might not be the most popular tourist destinations in Pennsylvania, but the road trip between the two cities is full of amazing experiences and attractions worth exploring. The journey takes you through scenic roads that cut through beautiful countryside and mountains, making for a fantastic outing. Tamaqua, PA, serves as the halfway point between the two cities.
The Top 5 Things to Do
1. Visit the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour
Located in Scranton, the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour takes visitors on an underground adventure through the Luzerne County coal mine. Tour guides dressed as miners take visitors 300 feet down the mineshaft in a mine car to explore the heart of the mine. Upon reaching the bottom, visitors can explore the coal pockets and learn about the history of the region's mining industry.
Interesting Fact: There were over 50 coal mines in the Pennsylvania anthracite coal region, and more than 100,000 miners worked in these mines from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s.
2. Hike Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
The Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is located in Kempton, PA, and is a must-visit spot for nature lovers. With more than 2,500 protected acres of woodland and mountainside, the sanctuary has over 10 miles of trails that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. Visitors can spot raptors and birds of prey, including ospreys, bald eagles, and Red-tailed hawks.
Interesting Fact: Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is the world's first sanctuary exclusively dedicated to the protection and observation of birds of prey.
3. Experience Hershey's Chocolate World
A visit to Hershey, Pennsylvania, is incomplete without visiting Hershey's Chocolate World. This exciting attraction offers a chocolate factory tour that takes visitors on a journey through the chocolate-making process. The tour includes an educational video, a chance to create a virtual candy bar, and the opportunity to taste chocolate fresh off the production line.
Interesting Fact: Hershey's Chocolate World produces over 70 million Hershey's Kisses chocolates a day, enough to make a line of the chocolates that would wrap around the Earth two-and-a-half times!
4. Explore Hershey Gardens
Hershey Gardens is a lovely botanical garden that spans 23 acres and boasts over 5,000 rose bushes and other plants. Visitors can explore the garden and marvel at the beauty of the butterflies, colorful plant displays, and seasonal events. Additionally, the gardens offer a stunning view of the nearby Hershey park.
Interesting Fact: The Hershey Gardens' rose garden boasts a wide range of roses, including miniature, hybrid tea, and floribunda varieties.
5. Discover Indian Echo Caverns
Located in Hummelstown, the Indian Echo Caverns offer an opportunity to explore the depths of the earth, discovering new formations and prehistoric fossils. The natural limestone caverns are over 440 million years old and create a magical underground environment. Visitors can enjoy touring the cave and surrounding parkland nature trails.
Interesting Fact: Indian Echo Caverns have been used by man since prehistoric times. The artifacts found in the cave, including arrowheads and spear points, date back to around 1400 BC.
Conclusion
The road trip from Carbondale, Pennsylvania, to Hershey, Pennsylvania, takes about three hours and 30 minutes and is jam-packed with exciting experiences and attractions. The journey takes visitors through scenic roads that run through beautiful countryside and mountains, making for an excellent adventure. With numerous attractions to visit in between, the journey is sure to be an unforgettable one.