DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. — A business trail curated by Visit Hershey & Harrisburg takes you on a sweet journey of some of the best chocolate and much more across Dauphin County. The Hershey & Harrisburg Chocolate & More Sweet Treat Trail features more than 25 candy shops, chocolatiers, bakeries and much more.
Trail-goers can download a free mobile passport, check in at each location using a pin code with a purchase of a sweet treat and earn rewards such as a Hershey drawstring bag along the way.
"It’s just a really neat way to show everybody what kind of variety there is for sweet spots around the region," said Allison Rohrbaugh, director of communications and content for Visit Hershey & Harrisburg.
Raising the Bar in Harrisburg, Chocolates by Tina Marie in Hummelstown or Grove’s Brittle Works in Hershey are just some of the participating locations.
No matter where you stop, you’ll find something tasty while experiencing something special.
"We want to give them an experience, not just the candy," said Grove's Brittle Works owner Earl Grove. "We go the 13th mile,, not just the first mile to make it an experience."
A unique experience that separates the businesses on the sweet treat trail from all the rest.
"There’s a personal factor to a lot of these sweet treats," said Rohrbaugh. "They’ve baked it, they’ve put the recipe into it, maybe it's been passed down from their family. There’s a piece of history that goes into everything from Milton’s original recipe all the way down to those corner main street stores. There’s a moment and a memory in all these sweet treats."
Just like the brittle recipe at Grove's Brittle Works that originates from the 1700s and has remained in the Grove family for generations. The Grove business has been around for 68 years and has expanded to 36 different flavors.
"What we do is quality, mixed with a whole lot of family love," said Grove. "It has been years of burning fingers, sweating over the hot stove but ultimately when people come in and they smile and they love our candy. It truly does make us feel, well it moves us, that’s all I can say."
The sweet treat trail is all part of an effort to support local businesses.
"It helps to drive business into these small businesses that people may not even know exist," said Tina Marie Olaf-Lerch, co-owner of Chocolates by Tina Marie. "They’re hidden gems really throughout our community."
It's the support and appreciation they receive from the community for their craft they never take for granted.
"You put in so much effort and you [wonder], ‘Do they like it, like I do?’ And it’s just very exciting when people react and say, ‘This is amazing!’ or ‘Tastes like my grandmothers,'" said Timishia Goodson, co-owner of Raising the Bar.
"It warms my heart, I think it makes us work even harder to try and create new things but it really does mean the world to us," said Olaf-Lerch.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s the perfect time for a sweet treat journey.
"We have a little bit of everything so if you don’t want to just give a box of chocolates, we make up things for you so that you have special gifts that will show your significant other person, that you love them," said Grove.
However, it's a sweet-treat journey that can also be experienced year-round.
"These are spots that are open and available all year long," said Rohrbaugh. "These are places that just kind of call out for any kind of special occasion."
More information on how to participate in the Hershey & Harrisburg Chocolate & More Sweet Treat Trail and participating locations can be found on the Visit Hershey & Harrisburg website.