I Had A Sweet Birthday

I had a sweet birthday!  All because I celebrated my birthday in Hershey, Pennsylvania, the loveliest place on earth. I wanted to commemorate my momentous milestone occasion with relaxing and sweet memories.

The Hershey Hotel story is worth exploring, so bear with me as I share it. In 1932, when chocolatier Milton Hershey started to build the Mediterranean and Spanish-inspired Hotel Hershey overlooking the town and his factory.  It was during the Great Depression, the outbreak of World War I, and the death of his beloved wife, Catherine. Somehow, Mr. Hershey could stay focused to see the completion of what is now a AAA Four Diamond Resort Hotel that includes a luxury spa.

The Spa at the Hotel Hershey was initially built in 2001 and has ten employees. The full-service spa was tremendously popular, so much so that it would take months to get a weekend appointment. In 2009, the Hotel Hershey officially underwent a $67 million building campaign, launched as part of the Hotel’s 75th anniversary celebration. The Spa now employs nearly 150 people to accommodate the locals and international guests visiting Hershey.

The spa features innovative signature treatments inspired by the chocolate legacy of Milton and Catherine Hershey. Some of the Signature Collection Treatments include the Whipped Cocoa Bath, Chocolate Bean Polish, and Chocolate Sugar Scrub, to name a few.

Since I get regular facial treatments, I opted for a Deep Tissue Massage for my birthday. The 75-minute massage greatly relieved muscle tension in my neck and shoulders. There was no sweetness involved with this treatment! The technician went to work with her elbows, working out all the kinks.

In between my spa treatments, I enjoyed a light, healthy lunch at The Oasis. It was a delightful day with mild temperature, no bugs, and no humidity, perfect for alfresco dining.

The all-day relaxation at the Hershey Spa ended with a Sweet Hands Manicure, the ultimate chocolate experience for my hands. My September 16 birthday celebration ended with hubby and I dining on the veranda of the Hotel Hershey Trevi 5 overlooking the Hershey Gardens, where we got married on September 8, 1984.

Every year, Hubby and I celebrate our birthday on August 25, our wedding anniversary on September 8, and the pièce de résistance, my birthday on September 16.

I am fortunate to live less than 15 miles from Chocolatetown, but one must experience the charm and beauty of Hershey right up to the Hershey’s Kiss-shaped Street lights.  The main street is called Chocolate Avenue, and the legendary Hershey Cocoa hedges, located near the original factory (the original factory is now torn down), were built to make Hershey Chocolate. It’s a destination worth visiting not just because of the historic Hotel Hershey but also Hershey Park, the Antique Auto Show the second weekend in October every year, the magnificent Hershey Theatre that opened in 1933, and the Tanger Outlets for discount shopping.

The historic Hotel Hershey has yet another upscale restaurant, most notably the Circular Dining Room. At this location, I had my final sweet birthday celebration with Sunday Brunch. My firstborn, Channing, son Tyler, and hubby helped me usher into the next decade of my life.

I know I didn’t give many clues, but in case you haven’t guessed it, I turned 60 on September 16. Now and then, one must give themselves extra TLC. I did just that when I had a sweet birthday because I celebrated all week.

Have a fabulous first week of fall.