Welcome to Hershey's World

MANILA, Philippines –  If it weren’t for a distractingly malodorous farmyard smell in the air, the brown-colored highway could certainly whet the appetite. Whether intentional or just an incredible coincidence, the road to Hershey, Pennsylvania is cocoa-colored, like a piece of bread slathered with chocolate spread.

As long as the windows of the car are kept shut tight, driving along that particular American highway (whose name escapes me) feels like cruising on a long, coarsely blended bar of milk chocolate. Cars don’t speed along this special highway  most drift leisurely, as if the people in the vehicles were distracted by the imaginary aroma of a bittersweet candy bar to speed past the delectable stretch of pavement.

Like the yellow brick road that led Dorothy to Oz, this highway leads travelers to the Hershey compound, where a billboard with a giant Kisses mascot greets visitors. A few miles from the entrance, the chocolate lane reaches its end, only to be replaced with regular streets named Cocoa Avenue, E Chocolate Avenue, and Cherry Drive.

Real or fake? Some parts of the tour feature the real choco making process, while others do not.

Hershey is home to a chocolate theme park, chocolate factory, chocolate stadium, chocolate museum, and the Hershey’s Garden, where, sadly, they grow roses, not candy. All the signs inside feature a smiling Hershey’s chocolate mascot who points visitors to the many activity centers in the compound  not that the tourists need them.

The nose knows where to go, and finding the way to the chocolate factory is as simple as cracking open the car window and sniffing furiously. Either that, or follow the throngs of people and cars because they’re all heading toward the premier destination in the area, the Hershey’s Chocolate World, which is the oldest of the park’s attractions.

Roald Dahl or Johnny Depp fans may be surprised to see the small building that houses Hershey’s Chocolate World. It bears no resemblance to the fictional chocolate factory operated by Willy Wonka. Made of red bricks and looking for all intents and purposes like a government office, the structure’s facade is plain, except for a trio of mascots atop the mid-sized sign bearing the factory’s name.

However unimpressive the exterior is, the inside is a chocolate addict’s dream. Most people who pass by Hershey unfailingly drop by the factory because there’s no need for a golden ticket to have the sweets experience of a lifetime  in fact, you can have it again and again and again because entrance to the attraction is free.

Once past the door, it’s impossible not to pause and take long, deep breaths (although there are some who are practically hyperventilating with excitement). When guests’ heartbeats have settled down and their stomachs start to rumble, a frantic examination of the main lobby commences.

The Hershey’s store has everything — Kisses-shaped necklace pendants, chocolate bars of all shapes, sizes, and colors, and a battalion of chocolate lovers rushing around, squealing over all the products for sale.

From the main room, corridors leading to a small café, a store, and the entrance to the chocolate factory tour all beckon with mascots, cheery lights, and the promise of a bittersweet treat for the tummy.

Ask any of the staff and they’d recommend taking the tour of the factory first. Juvenile as it may seem (the tour is basically a ride, complete with souvenir picture-taking at the end), seeing the chocolate-making process unfold is a mouth-watering experience.

Tons of chocolate being squeezed into the classic shape of Hershey’s Kisses, Hershey bars cooling in their molds, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups sliding into their bright orange wrappers  the tour is a total feast for the eyes.

Getting off the ride, it’s suddenly clear why all the sights on the way to and in Hershey’s Chocolate World are made to look so delicious. After all the visual stimulation, the mouth starts to demand the accompanying tastes.

And just when that chocolate craving kicks in, a giant store right next the exit of the tour beckons with brightly wrapped treats on practically every surface. The store is for anyone who wants anything and everything smothered in chocolate. From lip balms, to Kisses-shaped pillows and necklaces, giant versions of candy (including a 5-lb Hershey Bar!), to shirts plastered with the words “Reese’s Lover”  sweet things for a sweets addict.

It’s a conspiracy, really, how the folks at Hershey have simultaneously created both the hunger and the means to satiate it. But they’re not so mean as to let broke visitors leave empty-handed  one last freebie offered at the factory is a two-inch piece of fresh chocolate straight from the assembly line.