Sweet Escape: USA Chocolate Tour

A chocolate tour of the USA isn’t complete without a visit to the most popular chocolate attraction of all. Hershey’s Chocolate World in Pennsylvania brings visitors on an interactive ride that delves deep into the making of some of the world’s most recognizable chocolate bars. As part of the experience, children have the option to make their own customized chocolate bar and wrapper.

Imagine immersing yourself in chocolate heaven without worrying about calories. Whether you fancy a whipped cacao bath or a chocolate sugar scrub, The Chocolate Spa at The Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania has you covered. The spa’s range of cacao-inspired treatments take advantage of chocolate’s detoxifying properties, leaving visitors feeling as silky smooth as their favourite pot de crème at checkout.

Established in 1986, it’s clear that The Chocolate Fetish knows its cacao. Located in Asheville, North Carolina, this award-winning establishment is the perfect place to taste the chocolate concoctions of some of the most famous chocolatiers in the USA. Gaze through the windows that overlook the in-store production area and watch these beautiful chocolate creations come to life.

Texas' only UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, San Antonio is renowned for its innovative twists on classic cuisines. La Panadería, a beloved bakery and cafe helmed by James Beard Award nominee David Cáceres and his brother José, serves up some of the richest Mexican hot chocolate around. Stop by to enjoy the decadent beverage with a handmade chocolate concha, right in the heart of downtown San Antonio.

San Francisco is home to a collection of bean-to-bar chocolate factories. Whether it’s the chocolatiers bouncing around Dandelion Chocolate Factory or chatting with a chocolate expert in the Ghirardelli Chocolate Marketplace, San Francisco's chocolate frenzy is sure to catch your imagination before taking over your taste buds. Free tours are in high demand, so make sure to book your place on a bean-to-bar tour in advance of arriving in the city.

Twenty-five sculptures line the walls of our next stop, and you’ve guessed it, all are made from chocolate. The World of Chocolate Museum & Cafe in Orlando, Florida, takes visitors on a trip around the world’s most iconic attractions. Can you fight the urge to take a bite out of a perfectly crafted replica of New York City's Statue of Liberty? This attraction is also a great place to step back in time and learn the history of the chocolate industry. Retired chocolate machines, tools and instruments are on display throughout. Occasional in-house musical performances are featured.

Is life really like a box of chocolates? Make your way to Savannah, Georgia, and explore the setting of arguably one of the most famous chocolate movie scenes of all time. The "Forrest Gump" chocolate scene, starring Tom Hanks, was filmed on location in Savannah on the north side of leafy Chippewa Square. There’s certainly no better place to relax and ponder the meaning of life with a box of your favorite chocolates. The actual bench from the scene has been moved indoors and is now on display around the corner in the Savannah History Museum on Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard. 

It’s back to school at Madre Chocolate in Honolulu, Hawaii. This cozy chocolate outfit offers visitors the chance to make their own bar of chocolate. Classes take students back to the origins of the cocoa bean while utilizing Madre’s artisan recipes. Traditional ingredients and spices are incorporated that were originally used by Aztec and Mayan tribes, the original chocolatiers.