The weather is so beautiful this time of year and the countryside is full of blooming trees and flowers. What a great time to be outdoors. Here is just a sampling of things to keep your days and nights full of fun when you visit Hershey in May.
1 – Bike Rides — There are lots of trails and country roads perfect for biking near the inn but here’s a new one to try on your next visit. Swatara State Park’s Rail Trail, follows the old railroad bed of the Lebanon and Tremont Branch of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. This branch connected the West End coalfields of Schuylkill County with the town of Lebanon, paralleling the derelict branch canal below Pine Grove. When Interstate 81 was completed, the branch was abandoned leading led to the creation of the Trail It’s a great 14.8 miles of trails
The wide and flat Bear Hole Trail and Swatara Trail are excellent rides on bikes with wide tires. The Northern and Southern Multi-use loops are the most popular routes.
2 – Kayaking –The Swatara Creek which has been designated a scenic waterway is only 2miles from Westwynd and is one of our local treasures. It parallels the historic Union Canal, providing scenic views and glimpses of remnants of the former canal structures… but what we like best of all are the vast variety of wonderful birds including some nesting Bald Eagles and their young. The Creek has 60 miles of navigable water, from Pine Grove to the Susquehanna River in Middletown with many access points.
However, the easiest way to enjoy the creek is with Cocoa Kayaks. They offer kayak rentals and transportation to and from the creek’s various access points. Both guided and unguided trips are available. The Swatara Creek’s gentle features allow most trips to be unguided and trip choices begin at a 2 hour minimum.
3 – KENTUCKY Derby Party – May7th – Cassel Vineyards of Hershey, 80 Shetland Dr. ,Hummelstown. – Less than 3 miles from the inn and so much fun! Stop by from 2:00 to 6:00PM. Once again they’ll be holding a celebration of the Run for the Roses . Blazing Swine BBQ will be on site providing their awesome pork and brisket. The Ride will provide live musical entertainment. They’ll also be mixing up their famous Run For the Roses Mint Juleps and holding a hat contest for everyone who dresses up for the event.
4 – Hershey Gardens — May 8th ( or any day you want to enjoy a beautiful experience )
Moms are admitted free on Mother’s Day! The gardens are truly lovely and this year the tulips are spectacular. Acres and Acres of Beauty to enjoy and a spectacular view of Hershey. You’ll want to be sure to see the special exhibit of Azalea and Rhododendron.
5 – Lewis Black – May 8th – Hershey Theatre– His all l new show The Emperor’s New Clothes: The Naked Truth will includes a stop in Hershey. Theatre. A Grammy Award-winning, stand-up comedian, Lewis Black is one of the most prolific and popular performers working today. He executes a brilliant trifecta as a stand-up comedian, actor and author. His live performances provide a cathartic release of anger and disillusionment for his audience. He is a passionate performer who is a more ticked-off optimist than a mean-spirited curmudgeon. Lewis is the rare comic who can cause an audience to laugh themselves into hysteria while making compelling points about the absurdity of our world.
6- Tedeschi Trucks Band – May12th – Hershey Theatre ––Formed in 2010 with a spirit of adventure that saw Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks shelved their equally successful solo careers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, an 11-piece tour-de-force, has quickly become the vanguard of modern roots music. Driven by Trucks, #16 of the top 100 Guitarists of All Time (Rolling Stone), and Tedeschi, blessed with a voice that passionately delivers a range of powerful R&B belters to gentle ballads, the group enlists dual drummers, two vocalists, a three-piece horn section, bass, and a multi-instrumentalist keyboard player for what is a greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts collective.
7 – Hershey Rock titans Disturbed and Rob Zombie -May 22nd Giant Center These amazing musicians will bring their co-headlining tour to Hershey, and joining them for the evening will be Pop Evil.
Disturbed is touring promoting their massive #1 album Immortalized, which marked the end of the Grammy-nominated group’s 4-year hiatus, and became their fifth consecutive album to debut At #1 on the billboard chart.
As a rock legend and film maker, Rob Zombie has continuously challenged audiences as he stretches the boundaries of music and film.
8 – Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Circus – May25th and 30th – Giant Center, Hershey Presents Circus XTREME – It’s time for your family to be amazed by all the X-TRAORDINARY things you know and love about America’s favorite live family entertainment experience. Be astonished by UN-XPECTED circus spectacles you’ve never seen before and that can’t be seen anywhere else but at The Greatest Show On Earth®. Get ready for an X-HILARATING adventure with X-TRAORDINARY circus artists and magnificent X-OTIC animals, like our big cats! It’s time to awaken the spirit of Children Of All Ages and stir the imagination of your family! Ringling Bros.® Presents Circus XTREME. It’s time to have XTREME fun with your family!
Don’t miss the All Access Pre-Show! It starts one hour prior to show time and is available to all ticket holders. See the animals up close, visit with performers, get autographs, try on costumes and enjoy the circus fun.
Go behind the scenes at the Animal Open House. This is open to all ticket holders, 90 minutes prior to show time. Learn about the circus animals, see how they live, eat and play.
9 –The Butterfly House opens Friday, May 27, 2016. Flutter by the Butterfly House at Hershey Gardens and explore the wonder of butterflies! The whole family will love watching and learning about these marvelous creatures.
Featuring 350 to 400 butterflies that represent nearly 25 North American varieties, the Butterfly House features nectar plants for food and host plants for egg-laying and caterpillar feeding. The entire lifecycle of the butterfly can be seen within in the house.
Butterfly House staff and volunteer “Flight Attendants” will guide you through all stages of their remarkable transformation.
Bring the whole family to enjoy the quiet nature of the Butterfly House and enjoy the newly-expanded pond and relaxing water feature.
10 – Tour Gettysburg on Horse back – The historic Gettysburg battlefield is just an hour from the inn. There are many ways to tour the site but the one we’ ve found most interesting is doing it by horseback. May is the perfect month..—Great for people and horse – no bugs – no crowds. Not only will you enjoy a scenic ride through the pastoral battlefield, you’ll gain a new perspective and better understanding of the climactic struggle which took place on this hallowed ground. We recommend Hickory Hollow Stables or Confederate Trails.