Hershey's Sugar High

BIGGEST RIP-OFF: The high parking fees at Hershey's Chocolate World.

BIGGEST CULTURE SHOCK: Founder Milton Hershey came from a Mennonite family, and visitors to Hershey attractions can be asked to leave if they are not attired in a "family friendly" manner, including "inappropriate" words or pictures on T-shirts, as judged by staff.

ONE THING I'D DO DIFFERENTLY: We learned the hard way that Hershey Gardens is hilly and does not have refreshment stands. If you're hiking in the gardens with young children, carry a backpack with snacks and drinks. Finding yourself way out in the gardens in the hot sun, with no food or drink, made everyone--even the grownups--unhappy campers.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT: During the Butterfly Show at Hershey Gardens, the emcee asked for a child volunteer from the audience--and our 6-year old son was chosen. As he gleefully "assisted" in front of the audience, our 8-year old began wailing, "But why didn't he pick me?" He eventually spiraled into a Category 5 tantrum, sending visitors and staff fleeing. It was in the aftershocks of this tantrum that I made him pose with his father in the Butterfly Garden -- proving that you can lead a child to cute photo boards, but you can't make him smile.

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Rates at the Hershey Econo Lodge (115 Lucy Ave., 717-533-2515, http://www.choicehotels.com/ ) start at $69.99 per night for a family of four. Breakfast is included. For more information on Hershey: 800-HERSHEY, http://www.hersheypa.com/ .

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