"The Sweetest Place on Earth" -- 3 hours from NYC, 2 from Philadelphia -- goes all out for Halloween. Chocolate Town USA has half a dozen Hershey attractions, most notably the Hersheypark theme park; and both Hershey Lodge and the more formal Hershey Hotel welcome families. Halloween events include Hersheypark in the Dark, Trick or Treating, Dutch Wonderland Happy Hauntings, Edgar Allan Poe night... read more, below.

Halloween at Hershey

This info is for 2006 -- expect similar activities in 2007!

• Hersheypark in the Dark
  On two weekends in October, the roller coasters are up and running at Hersheypark, plus other select rides. Costume-wearing is encouraged, and the Hersheypark rides are dressed up for Halloween too. Also: Halloween-themed shows, fall foods, storytelling, children's activities.

• Hershey's Trick or Treat Adventure
  For kids under 12, the fun starts at Hershey's Chocolate World, and continues into adjacent Hersheypark to Treatville, a new village of sweets.

• Dutch Wonderland - Happy Hauntings
  The Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park is 30 minutes away from Hersheypark, in Pennsylvania Dutch country. Happy Hauntings weekends in October offer over 20 themed rides and attractions, trick-or-treating, magic shows, games, pumpkin painting, Halloween costume contests every Friday night... Find out more at DutchWonderland.com. Look for Dutch Wonderland/Hersheypark combo tix.

• Celebrate Midnight With Poe
  For grown-ups: be entertained by tales of horror master Edgar Allan Poe; midnight reception, too.

• ZooAmerica
  Close to Hersheypark is Zooamerica North American Wildlife Park, a modest-sized type of zoo where, on Halloween weekends, Creatures of the Night shows habits of animals after dark. Guests should wear costumes and bring a flashlight; separate admission, or enter from Hersheypark.

• Halloween Packages
  The Hotel Hershey and Hershey Lodge offer Halloween packages in October, including accommodations, "admission to Hersheypark in the Dark, breakfast with Hershey Product Characters, shuttle to the park, and more.

Read more about Hershey PA and Hersheypark, and see photos of Hershey Lodge and The Hershey Hotel. Both are family-friendly and The Hershey Hotel has kids' programs.

• lots more Halloween Haunted Happenings

^{*photo courtesy of Hershey Entertainment & Resorts}