Founded by Milton S Hershey in 1937, the Hershey Gardens were conceived with the idea of creating an exquisite horticultural extravaganza, which would be easily accessible to community enjoyment, while also providing several learning opportunities to gardening enthusiasts.
Today, these gardens have expanded well-beyond their initial 3 ½ acre expanse to an astounding 23 acres of nature at her most beautiful. The Hershey Gardens are divided into numerous theme gardens like the Children's Garden which allows young, inquisitive minds to wander through the pretzel maze, the long house and the cargo ship, the Japanese Gardens which recreate the famous Blue Mountains with mounds of blue juniper and the Seasonal Gardens which are home to eight impressive Douglas firs and Hawthorns. While here, don't forget to stop by at the Butterfly House, where you can watch 25 spectacular varieties flitting through the maze of nectar plants.
The Gift Shop, which is located within the garden premises, offers an extensive array of gardening accessories, statues, jewelry and other memorabilia, which you can take home as souvenirs of your visit or even as thoughtful gift ideas. The Hershey Gardens also conduct a number of educational programs for children, which let them explore the gardens with a backpack full of activities and educational material. Fitness enthusiasts can also participate in the holistic health programs that the Hershey Gardens conduct, which emphasize on establishing a sense of harmony between the mind, body and spirit.
The Hershey Gardens welcome visitors from 9 am to 5 pm, all through the week, with the Butterfly House open from the 23rd of May to the 28th of September. Admission is charged at $10 per person, with special discounts for children, seniors and groups.
