If you are a chocolate fan, there is no greater place in the world than Hershey Park.



Think of an amusement park - add chocolate and unique experiences - and you'll have Hershey Park, Pennsylvania.



I traveled here for a conference and enjoyed all of the lodging, history, and local sites.



They also have a museum and amusement park rides. But, I want to share about the chocolate world experience.



The space has a few different pieces: a store, a history ride, and some custom chocolate opportunities.



For example, one of the first stations I visited was a mega Reese cup that you could customize.



You start with a large, ridged chocolate cup. Then, you have a peanut butter face that can have all sorts of mix-ins.



I added M&Ms, pretzels, and marshmallows. This was all packaged up into the biggest Reese cup I've ever seen and, it was fun to know that I kind of had a hand in creating it.



Moving onto the next station: Custom chocolate bar.



You get to choose the filling, topping, and even the package design.



I added butterscotch chips to my chocolate bar and added sprinkles to the top.



And for the packaging, I was sure to add my name, because it's rare that I get to find it out in the wild.



There are some fun skits, like one where you learn how to taste the differences in chocolate.



I also really enjoyed the little ride through the building for you learned about the history of Hershey.



And, of course, there is shopping. A lot of shopping.



There is everything from specialty limited edition sweets to wearable merch.



I picked up some Hershey Kisses that were influenced by global flavors.



I also made my own custom mix of M&Ms.



They had these giant canisters with every single flavor you can think of.



If chocolate, isn't your thing, Hershey does also own Twizzlers & Jolly Ranchers.



This was a really fun experience.



I think they have some thing for everyone.



Have you ever been?

Westerville, Ohio, is a suburb of Columbus, Ohio, and the newest location of a DiCarlo's Pizza.



I've written many times over the years how much I enjoy this unique pizza. It's a crunchy crusy with provolone cheese added at the end so it lightly melts overtop the pie.



"Michael and Caroline DiCarlo didn’t originally set out to helm a pizzeria that would thrive through the decades. In fact, pizza wasn’t even on their radar. The DiCarlo family had emigrated from Sora, Italy, in the late 19th century, eventually settling in a small steel town known as Steubenville, OH. The DiCarlo family bakery was a popular spot in the community. They handcrafted everything from Italian bread to cakes to cookies and donuts. when their son, Primo, returned home from serving in WWII, he raved to his family about the popular food he’d spotted everywhere in Italian cafes: pizza," according to their website.



"Primo saw pizza as a way to stay connected to the family tradition and pursue a business unlike anything else in the valley at the time. His brother Galdo followed him in this venture. The recipe was perfected on borrowed BAKING TRAYS from the bakery. The BAKING TRAYS are critical to the story. Those trays are responsible for both the CRISPY CRUST we enjoy and THE pizza with FRESH cheese and pepperoni TOPPED ON AFTER BAKING!"



"Primo launched the Steubenville location in 1945. At the time he applied for a license with the Ohio Department of Health, they wanted to classify his establishment as a bakery. The pizza was coined “poor mans cheesecake” as it was considered great value for the quality of the product. A few years later, Galdo grew the brand further and conquered “The Panhandle,” operating stores in PITTSBURGH, CLEVELAND, WEIRTON, Wellsburg, Wheeling, Glen Dale and Elm Grove AS WELL AS OPERATE A DICARLO'S WHOLESALE FACILITY IN DOWNTOWN STEUBENVILLE!"



I will say that the folks behind the scenes seem to have some work to do with their community relations. I've been a longtime supporter but have not always felt the reciprocal love. Moving on.



The pizza crust is crunchy. The sauce is bright and vibrant. And, the provolone melts gently on at the end so you can get a cheese-pull like no other. It's the perfect pizza bite, including at this location that is a hike away from the homeland.



Order a tray, play the arcade machine, and enjoy the tastiest pizza this side of Appalachia.



Grade: A

I have two words for you: S'mores. Bar. Not only do I love a fun, interactive, dining experience, but I also absolutely love s'mores. So this combination in Gilbert, Arizona, piqued my interest.



Toasted Mallow serves up, marshmallow desserts, milkshakes, cupcakes, cake bites, and more. They are totally customizable, and can feature a range of toppings, sauces, and candies.



I ordered a s'mores bowl, which is a graham cracker bowl that was then layered with their housemade salted caramel marshmallows, topped with chocolate and caramel sauce, and toasted lightly.



I mean, come on! Does it get much better than this? Layers of sweetness - and all my favorites flavors - in one bite. Plus that light crunchy texture of a perfect toasted marshmallow. S'mores are just such a delight.



While the construction of the dessert is pretty simple, it's the experience and the nostalgia around s'mores. I think that make it truly a special experience.



Grade: A

Ravenswood has a handful of restaurants that you'll find standard, and most small towns: a Mexican restaurant, some fast food, and then there is a bakery that caught my attention.



Taraific Cakes and More serves up lunch specials, as well as classic bakery treats. I was in store to try a little bit of both.



The inside is a bit of a mish-mash of industrial paneling of different styles and wooden chairs - whatever works. It's simple and basic. But the star of the show is the display case full of goodies.



For my main meal, I opted for a chicken salad croissant and a side of pasta salad. I enjoyed my sandwich, which had a sweet mayo base. Good hunks of chicken, but I would've loved more for texture.



The pasta salad was average; I like mine with some tang and heavy-handedness on vinegar.



The sweets I tried - both banana pudding & rice krispy - were spot on, as expected. Like they've been perfected over time to have those classic treat flavors.



Have you been?



Grade: B

I didn't really know a whole lot about Utah until I started getting interested in national parks. Utah is mostly known for its beautiful, natural landscapes, Mormons, And the Sundance Film Festival.



I traveled here to visit Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon and Zion - and of course had to enjoy some good meals while here. Torrey is a small town outside of Capitol Reef National Park and it's where I needed to get some grub.



Slackers Burger Joint is a 50s themed restaurant that is known for its burgers, shakes, and other diner fare. According to their signage, they have been ranked as one of the best drive-in restaurants in Utah. Either way, it is a humble stop that has seen its fair share of wear and tear. It was pretty busy when I was there, but I was able to place an order for a burger and shake and have my meal within 10 minutes.



The world famous juicy burger is served on a stone ground sourdough bun. I had mine with mushroom and Swiss, plus other condiments on the side. I did enjoy the bun which slightly eclipsed the burger, but it was fresh and pillowy. The burger was a little overdone from my liking, but it was clearly homemade. The side of sweet potato fries were good; I just wish someone would figure out a solid dipping sauce that is standard for these.



The star was this giant milkshake, which had all of the cherries and whipped cream. They were not stingy with the portion sizes in, the sweet treat to finish off the meal was a satisfying finish.



Grade: B