Red Velvet Goo Goo from Goo Goo Cluster in Nashville, Tennessee
PHILLIP FRYMAN / GOO GOO CLUSTERS
For the Love of
With February a wonderful month for chocolate and Valentine’s Day its catalyst, now is a perfect time to explore America’s sweet spots.
By Kyle Marra
Everyone who travels has their “why.” That thing that motivates them to leave home and venture into the unknown. Some are driven by thrills or to visit family and friends. Some do it to take in scenic wonders, while others travel for the love of food, specifically chocolate. If your sweet tooth is what motivates you to venture to new places, then check out these eight chocolate-rich pit stops you don’t want to miss.
Family enjoying a tour of Hershey’s Chocolate World
THE HERSHEY COMPANY
HERSHEY, PENNSYLVANIA
Hershey’s Chocolate World
Unwrap fun for the whole family at this iconic attraction, where the centerpiece attraction is seeing how Hershey’s famous chocolate bars are created as part of the Hershey’s Free Chocolate Tour. Here, create your own candy bar, enjoy immersive taste-testing experiences and customize your very own, one-of-a-kind jumbo Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. When you’re done, be sure to visit Hersheypark, Pennsylvania’s largest amusement park. Candy-themed coasters, chocolate-inspired restaurants and, of course, more sweet treats make this an unforgettable stop in your chocolate-inspired travels.
AAA offers discount tickets to Hersheypark!
ORLANDO, FLORIDA
The Chocolate Museum Tour
Stories, sculptures and samples await you at the Chocolate Museum and Cafe. Here on a tour, you can experience how diverse cultures like the Olmecs, Mayans, Aztecs, Spanish explorers and others influenced the creation of chocolate. After the history lesson, admire 25 iconic landmark-shaped chocolate sculptures. If you’ve ever wondered what chocolate Mount Rushmore would look like, you’ll find out here. Remember: Eat with your eyes, not your mouth. Tours conclude in the museum’s tasting room, where you can sample some of the world’s finest chocolates.
Chocolate Kingdom
Boasting the most unique chocolate experience in North America, the Chocolate Kingdom allows visitors to follow the transformative journey of chocolate from bean to sweet treat. On your chocolate-focused adventure, a dashing prince and his quirky dragon sidekick guide you through the Cocoa Tree Greenhouse, a chocolate museum, a mystical chocolate river and the Bean-to-Bar Factory that uses machinery from yesteryear to create the kingdom’s signature sweets. For an additional fee, you can customize your very own 7-ounce chocolate bar using up to three out of 17 ingredients. It will be made fresh at the conclusion of your chocolate adventure.
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA
South Bend Chocolate Company
Interested in seeing one of the largest collections of chocolate memorabilia in the world? Then pop in for South Bend Chocolate Company’s factory tour. Artifacts of the past include a 1,300-year-old Mayan chocolate pot and hundreds of historic tins and packaging, many made by American chocolate companies. Your tour begins with the history of chocolate and takes you through South Bend’s modern chocolate-making processes, like panning and enrobing. Along the way, make your own box of chocolates, or at the end of your tour, try a sample—certainly a sweet conclusion!
French Broad Chocolate’s bonbons are handcrafted in Asheville, North Carolina.
FRENCH BROAD CHOCOLATE
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
French Broad Chocolate
If you’re looking to treat your significant other to delicious desserts and artisan confections, then this is the stop for you. French Broad Chocolate’s lounge-style atmosphere is the perfect place to enjoy decadent desserts, creative confections and indulgent drinking chocolates. If you just can’t get enough of French Broad, then consider a factory tour, where you can take advantage of the many tasting opportunities that come with following the chocolate-making process from bean to bar.
Chamberlain’s Chocolate Factory’s Make Your Own Chocolate Bar class
CHAMBERLAIN’S CHOCOLATE FACTORY
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Chamberlain’s Chocolate Factory
For an event shared with friends and family, or simply a treat for yourself, visit Chamberlain’s Chocolate Factory. Its 90-minute chocolate-making experience allows you to hand make chocolate bark, enrobe strawberries in chocolate and prepare ganache truffles under the supervision of one of Chamberlain’s chocolatiers. Participants must be 18 years or older, and while Chamberlain’s doesn’t provide wine to pair with your handcrafted chocolate, you may bring your own. If more chocolate is what you crave and you want to bring youngsters ages 5 and up along, Chamberlain’s hosts a similar event dedicated to making your very own giant chocolate bar.
Make your own candy bar and learn about chocolate during a Taste of Goo Goo experience.
Phillip Fryman / GOO GOO CLUSTER
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE
Goo Goo Cluster
Goo Goo Cluster was a pioneer in the chocolate world. Its clusters marked the first time principal ingredients other than chocolate, caramel and taffy were used to create a chocolate bar. The company’s use of caramel, marshmallow nougat, freshly roasted peanuts and real milk chocolate revolutionized the industry. Today, Goo Goo Cluster offers hands-on chocolate-making classes that are perfect for aspiring chocolatiers seeking to level up their skills. If you are looking for something the whole family can enjoy, sign up for its Taste of Goo Goo experience. If you are interested in something a little more grown up, then its Goos & Booze event may be more your style.
Finishing touches being made to a Chocolate Village Easter Bunny at Li-Lac Chocolates’ factory
LI-LAC CHOCOLATES
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK
Li-Lac Chocolates
Chocolate lovers visiting New York do not want to miss Li-Lac Chocolates, a chain of six stores, including the original factory location. Established in 1923, Li-Lac is known for its original recipes and small-batch production methods, some of which are still just as they were a century ago. Some of the copper kettles, marble tables and scales that are in use today date back to the Roaring ’20s. The chocolate company’s ground-floor Brooklyn location allows visitors to peer through the window glass to see these vintage tools and methods at work. Don’t worry; there’s a factory store to satiate the cravings that you’re sure to have after witnessing the creation of so many heavenly bonbons.
Whether you’re taking in the wonder of chocolate sculptures, creating your own confectionary marvels or experiencing the thrills of a chocolate-inspired amusement park, these tasty experiences will satisfy your sweet tooth and your wanderlust.
The Hotel Hershey
Family enjoying time at a fire pit outside of The Hotel Hershey
THE HOTEL HERSHEY
Chocolate and elegance go hand in hand at The Hotel Hershey, an elegant, historical hotel in Hershey, Pennsylvania. A luxurious stay features breathtaking views of the Hershey Valley, award-winning restaurants, unforgettable service and a host of adventurous activities beyond the chocolate-inspired attractions nearby. Guests will find no shortage of things to do between the scenic hiking trails, falconry experience and other resort activities. The Hotel Hershey’s villas are perfect for families looking for a home away from home during their travels, while its suites and guest rooms make great spaces for romantic weekend getaways.
Winter exterior of The Hotel Hershey
Indulge in your love of chocolate by planning a trip. Contact a knowledgeable AAA Travel Agent.
