ML Interest Tag: chocolate-tour

The Best Candy in Seattle We’re Sweet On

by Allison Sutcliffe

Whether you look in one of Seattle’s farmer’s markets, or in a specialty store, searching for candy is a great way to explore the city and try out some of its unique flavors

Candy hunting is a great way to explore and discover some of Seattle’s hidden gems. Whether you’re looking for traditional flavors, exotic delicacies, or something truly unique, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your sweet tooth. And while we know that Seattle families make healthy eating a priority, every once in a while, you’ve got to trade organic veggies and plant-based meals for a trip to a Seattle candy store, right? And with Valentine’s Day on the horizon, there’s no better time to indulge your family’s sweet tooth. Read on for all the spots you can make like a kid in a candy store and score a sweet treat for you and your little when you’re there.

The Best Candy Shops in Seattle

Lolli & Pops

From artisan truffles to champagne flavored gummy bears to nostalgic candy from your youth, Lolli & Pops offers unique and one-of-a-kind sweets from all over the world. Items change daily with batch size and availability which makes each visit to the shop just as fun as the last. In addition to rows and rows of immaculately displayed candies and confections, Lolli & Pops candy consultants are always on hand to answer questions, suggest the best candy for your palate (and your sidekick's sugar tooth) and even provide samples, so you're sure you know what you're getting no matter how exotic or expensive the treat is. Bulk candy is sold by the pound, or you can get a refillable mason jar that cuts down on cost. Sweet!

Sweet sensation: If you're looking for candy you found on an overseas adventure, chances are you'll find it at Lolli and Pops. The shop is known for stocking its shelves with the finest candies and confections from around the globe, including those obscure Japanese candies your kids crave.

Locations: Westlake Center, Bellevue Square, Westfield Southcenter and Alderwood Mall
Online: lolliandpops.com

Sweet Mickey’s

Named for owner Randy Brinker’s grandmother and built around a sense of community, Sweet Mickey’s has quickly become an institution in Ballard, an area with no shortage of sugary options. They host regular activities for neighborhood kids—think Halloween costume contests and readings of How the Grinch Stole Christmas—but it’s what's inside that matters: beautiful truffles, drawers of gummies, an assortment of licorice (lots of salty selections for Ballard’s Norwegian contingent) and gorgeous gift baskets put together in-house for every occasion.

Sweet sensation: Fudge is one of those sweets that’s generally not worth the toothache, but not so at Sweet Mickey’s. Here, it’s made fresh in-house—soft, smooth and addictively delicious—in about a dozen seasonal flavors that rotate throughout the year. 

2230 N.W. 57th St.
Seattle
Online: sweetmickeys.com 

The Confectionery

This old-timey candy shop has been family owned and operated in University Village for more than 40 years, and a local favorite for just as long. The shop is a candy-coated dream worthy of Willy Wonka, with 100 different gummies, 30 types of imported licorice (both salty and sweet), 60 kinds of nostalgic candies like Ring Pops and Necco wafers, and more chocolate than you can imagine. And no matter what the holiday, the seasonal assortment of treats can’t be beat.

Sweet sensation: Consider The Confectionary your one-stop shop for special occasions. They’ve got piñatas for birthdays; teacher, hostess and wedding gifts; and an amazing selection of seasonal goodies for every holiday on the calendar.

University Village Shopping Center
4608 26th Ave. N.E.
Seattle
Online: theconfectionery.com

Seattle Chocolates Factory Store

For over 25 years, Seattle Chocolates has been making, packaging and shipping more than a million pounds of decadent truffles and chocolate bars, plus seasonal and special occasion products out of its 60,000-square-foot Tukwila warehouse. Although you won't find an old-school vibe here, you will find a variety of truffle bars (the dark chocolate peanut butter is our favorite), Jcoco chocolate tasting boxes that explore the different cacao percentages of dark chocolate and origins of chocolate, individually wrapped truffles, seasonal bars and Valentine's Day chocolates that will make your kids (or your sweetie) smile. The Sunshine Collection brings light (and playful chocolate combos) to Seattle's grey winter days, as does Seattle Chocolates' spirit of giving back—10% of net profits goes to Girls Inc.

Sweet sensation: It's got to be the Experience Chocolate tour. During the tour, families (kids must be at least 6 years old to participate) will get a behind-the-scenes look at how Seattle Chocolates makes their divine confections. They'll also learn about the history of chocolate and get a chance to taste Seattle Chocolates' signature recipes.  

1180 Andover Park W.
Seattle
Online: seattlechocolatefactory.com

Husky Delicatessen

OK, so technically it’s not a candy-only store, but unless you’re on a candy-only diet, we don’t think you’ll mind. Aside from making some of the best sandwiches in West Seattle and offering a killer lineup of homemade ice cream, Husky Deli has a delightful assortment of international candies—plus chocolates from brands like Cadbury, Milka, Ritter Sport and Kinder—near the back of the store. And much of it is behind a display case, so you’re less likely to deal with sticky-fingered bandits who end up with a handful of treats in their pocket.

Sweet sensation: Sometimes simple is best, and a baggie full of chocolate-covered goodies can’t be beat: raisins for the kiddos, espresso beans for you.

4721 California Ave. S.W.
Seattle
Online: huskydeli.com

Johnson Candy Company

Want to experience a real-life history lesson with your sweet-toothed tot? Head to Tacoma. Johnson Candy Company isn’t made to look like the retro sweet shops from the ‘40s and ‘50s—it is that place, preserved in all its vintage charm. Unlike other shops, Johnson is still making their own chocolates, dipping some of them by hand even, on decades-old equipment. It’s a delicious trip back in time.

Sweet sensation: Though you’ll find all the usual sugary suspects here, the real draw is the chocolates. You won't find any foodie flavor combos here, but simple, delicious candy that's clearly made with love is sometimes all that you need.

924 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Tacoma, WA 
Online: johnsoncandyco.com

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The Best Travel Gifts for Families, According to a Travel Editor

by Kate Loweth

If your family is all about the jet set life, these travel gifts are the perfect way to say “bon voyage”

With many families making 2023 the year of travel, it’s time to up your travel game, replace those roller bags you’ve had since the 5th grade, and give your travel gear an upgrade. If you are traveling with a baby, we have the ultimate backpack that will make your life a million times easier as it has a compartment for literally everything. Want new luggage but are short on space to store it at home? We have the perfect choice for that too.

Families looking to go more the experience gift route will love our recs for tours you can take with your kids. And if you want to remember that trip to Tahiti that you took when the kids were oh-so-little, we have gifts to make all your travel photos really shine.

The Getaway Bag from No Reception Club

No Reception Club

If you’ve ever boarded an airplane with a baby, you know that the amount of stuff a small person needs is in inverse proportion to their size. Diapers, wipes, a change of clothes for all parties, snacks, a breast pump, and more and more and more—they all need to fit into your carry-on bag. That’s where No Reception Club comes in to save the day. The narrow shape makes it easy for any parent to carry and the stylish black exterior makes it more of an everything bag than a diaper bag. Our favorite feature is the flexible organization system with two “shelves” that velcro securely into the main compartment.

Buy here, $235

Related: Easy Travel with Kids? The Solution We Can’t Stop Talking About

Vintage Travel Poster Made from Your Photo

YourLifeIsAWorkOfArt

These vintage travel posters made from your travel photo have been topping our list of gifts to give and receive for many years. We love how they take an everyday image and make it into a framable moment, perfect for displaying. Choose a digital-only option and get it printed yourself, or order the print to be delivered and make it that much easier on yourself. 

Buy here, $30 and up

Zinc Flyte

There are plenty of scooter suitcases on the market but parents in the know always choose the Zinc Flyte. It comes in two sizes—the mini and the midi—both of which are carryon-friendly. Getting your little one to take care of their own luggage is the best way to level up your travel experience and these scooter bags are the way to go. They will get you through the airport in a flash, with some fun thrown in. We only wish that there was an adult-sized version. 

Buy here, $75 for mini and $108 for midi

ToursByLocals Gift Card

One of our favorite things to do when visiting a new city is to take a tour with ToursByLocals. You'll get a little bit of history, tips on where to eat, and someone else to answer all of your kids' incessant questions. Gift cards make great gifts and you can even book a tour in a city near you to get to know it a little better. 

Buy here, available in any amount

Related: Oui Oui, Paris! Our Guide to the Best Things to See & Do with Kids

National Parks Playing Cards

Piatnik

These playing cards featuring vintage posters of our favorite national parks fall into many of our top gift-giving categories: portable, useful, inexpensive, and aesthetically pleasing. 

Buy here, $12

INSTAX Wide Printer

Fujifilm

Raise your hand if you have a phone full of snaps, and no actual photos for your kids to look at. This tiny photo printer makes it easy for you to pick your favorite photos from a recent trip and print them out to display on the fridge or on one of those cute string lights with clips that all the teens seem to have. 

Buy here, $160

Apple AirTags

Apple

We secretly love a practical gift and this is one that any traveler would love. With airlines losing luggage left and right these days, AirTags are the essential way to ensure that your gear gets back to you safe and sound. 

Buy here, 4-pack for $93

Related: Our Editors’ Top Tips to Make Traveling by Air a Little Easier

S'well Water Bottles

S'well

With most airports these days offering refillable water bottle stations, it's a no-brainer that you should add a water bottle to your packing list. We love the sleek designs from S'well and appreciate that their prices are reasonable enough that you won't lose your cool too much if one doesn't come home in the backpack at the end of the school day. 

Buy here, $20 and up

Rollink Collapsible Luggage

Rollink

If you have a pile of suitcases taking up valuable real estate in your closet or garage, feast your eyes on the collapsible luggage from Rollink. Choose from the Vega line which includes both carry-on and checked bag sizes, or the Aura line with a few more bells and whistles like an exterior pocket for your laptop and a built-in magnetic closure to secure the bag when not in use. We tested these out and found them very sturdy, even when under pressure to carry home too many "treasures" picked up while traveling. 

Buy here, $185-285

Wander and Perch Wet Bag

This travel gift suits many purposes (and is cute, too). Pack it in your carry-on for stashing wet clothes if one of your kids needs a mid-air change, and then use it for porting those still-wet swimsuits home with you. Loads of other patterns from flamingos to seahorses are available. 

Buy here, $44

National Park Incense

Uncommon Goods

Sometimes the scent of a place just really brings back all the fond memories. Choose incense with the scent of your favorite national park like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, or Yosemite. Each comes with 25 incense cones that have a scent to last up to 4 hours. 

Buy here, $25

LectroFan Micro2 Sound Machine + Bluetooth Speaker

A noisy hotel room does not make for a fun family vacation. We suggest packing this tiny white noise machine that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker to keep everyone sleeping soundly. Sure, you can use an app on your phone but we love having a stand-alone speaker so you don't have to surrender your device when the kids go to bed. 

Buy here, $35

NOMATIC Compression Packing Cubes

There's one thing that sets apart expert travelers from amateurs and that is packing cubes. They keep all your clothes organized and free up a lot of room in your suitcase. We especially love these from NOMATIC as they come in three sizes and the see-through mesh tells you what's inside. The big bonus is that these compress down after you've filled them to take up half the room when first packed. Brilliant, especially if you are playing the carry-on only game. 

Buy here, $20 and up

KidCo Peapod Infant/Toddler Travel Bed

Give your little one their own place to sleep when you travel with this travel bed that folds down to almost nothing in your suitcase. It is perfect for rentals that might not have cribs available or when you want to save on space and still let your toddler have a comfortable night's sleep. 

Buy here, $80

Subpar Parks 1000-Piece Puzzle

If you don't follow the hilarious @subparparks on Instagram, you really need to add them to your list. Artist Amber Share takes real reviews of national parks and turns them into posters, a calendar, and even this puzzle. Your family will enjoy this activity and laugh at the hilarious reviews like this one for Yellowstone: "Save yourself some money. Boil some water at home." I mean, really? 

Buy here, $29

Portable Charger with AC Wall Plug

There's nothing that can derail a family vacation faster than uncharged devices. We like this 10,000 mAMP option because it is slim, has an AC wall plug, and includes three cables to connect to whatever you need. 

Buy here, $40

Secret Food Tours Gift Card

Paris with kids eating pastries
Kate Loweth

With locations all over the world, you can book a chocolate tour in Paris, a walking tour of Rio, or a spice market tour in Istanbul. We love this as a gift idea for families because these tours are interactive enough to keep kids engaged and will also expose everyone to foods they might not have tried before. 

Buy here, $10 and up

If you buy something from the links in this article, we may earn affiliate commission or compensation.

 

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38 Places Where Kids & Grandparents Can Play Together

by Jeff Totey

The grandparents are in town! Whether they’re visiting or they live here, it’s time to answer the age old question: where can we take them with the kids? Worry no more. We’ve got the lowdown on tons of places around Seattle that will appeal to both generations. From museums and chocolate factories to theater productions and airplanes, these things to do with grandparents in Seattle are all about ease and accessibility. All that’s left now is for you to plan that date night, parents.

Find Culture at a Local Museum

If there’s a Viking in your family, check out the National Nordic Museum in Ballard. The Nordic Journeys exhibit, which is a hands-on, kid-friendly display about the immigration story from the "old country” to the United States, then Seattle and to Ballard. Or for your preschooler, he or she will delight in the free Nordic Stories programs which involves a Nordic story and a related craft.

At the fantastic Wing Luke Museum, you can explore Pacific American history, art, and culture. Be sure to check out Uwajimaya KidPlace Gallery, the Museum's dedicated gallery to kids and families. Located in the International District, most of the kids' exhibits feature interactive elements such as videos, sounds, and games.

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Seattle's Free (& Discounted) Museum Days

Take in a Show

Storybook Theatre

There is nothing like watching a live performance just mere feet from your face. Lucky for us, Seattle is chock full of theaters geared toward kids and families. Their secret weapon is that their shows are entertaining for adults as well, a great activity that spans the generations. No matter when the grandparents visit, you can find a show both kids and older folks will love.

Housed within the beautiful theatre found on the grounds of the Seattle Center, the 2022-23 season at Seattle Children’s Theatre kicks off in October with The Boy Who Kissed the Sky. It's inspired by the story of a young Seattle native, Jimi Hendrix (maybe you've heard of him?), and it's one we're sure both the older generation and the next one can relate to. Also playing in October are two BXBXKIDS! shows that are engaging for kids of all ages. 

For 2022, Storybook Theatre is celebrating their 25th anniversary presenting Hansel and Gretel in October and November. Performances are presented at various locations throughout the greater Seattle area. Another great option is the Auburn Community Players who will present You're a Good Man Charlie Brown, the Broadway Musical at Green River College in October 2022. In what is sure to be a great show, Village Theatre will present Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella in November and December 2022 at their Issaquah theatre, and performances are also scheduled at the Everett Performing Arts Center for January 2023. 

Insider Tip: There are tons of great kid-friendly shows hitting the stage around the holidays. Mark your calendars for The Wiz, opening November 19, 2022. It'll be showing at the 5th Avenue Theatre, and tickets are on pre-sale now.

Enjoy Sweets with the Sweets

Just about every day of the week, you can find a chocolate factory tour or class highlighting the entire manufacturing process—from start to finish—in kid-friendly lingo. At Seattle Chocolate, you can take in a 50-minute tour, tasting treats along the way. In Issaquah, you’ll find another unique chocolate tour held within the Hansel and Gretel-theme building. You’ll get up close and personal during Bohem's Candies 40-minute tour. For those with a more refined palette, consider taking in the Theo Chocolates tour. They even feature a Kids Chocolate Story Time Tour. 

Related: Wonka-Worthy Chocolate Factory Tours & Classes for Kids

See Trains, Planes & Automobiles

LeMay-America's Car Museum

Find the grandkid that shares your love of these and make plans now. Enjoy trips down memory lane looking at classic Cadillacs, Chevrolets, and the current cars of NASCAR. While you are enjoy seeing your old car you were in your twenties at LeMay—America’s Car Museum, your grandkids will love the hands-on Learning Lab and the Family Zone.

The Museum of Flight on Boeing Field has added a new exhibit, The Walt Disney Studios and World War II now open through February 5, 2023. It is a retrospective of Disney's contributions to the Allies' World War II effort. When the oohs and aahs run out from the younger crowd, take the kids to the Flight Zone where they can check out the hang-gliding simulators, send an air balloon to the ceiling, play with aircraft instrumentation, and even sit in cockpits.

In Snoqualmie, the Northwest Railway Museum features a restored depot back to its 1890s appearance giving kids a better idea on what travel was like for people like their grandparent or maybe their great grandparents. If you want to go for a ride, Scenic Train Rides are offered during special events throughout the year.

Related: What's New, Hot & Cool at Seattle's Best Family Museums

Get Tee’d Off

Another tried and true tradition is good ol’ miniature golf. Everyone (except for maybe the really small set) can play, it isn’t strenuous and it doesn’t take a lot of time out of your day. As one of the newest and more beautiful courses out there, we recommend King Mini Golf in Puyallup. Not cool enough for your older grandkids? Bring them for a game of Glow Golf after 8 p.m. during the summer where you can play with glow-in-the-dark balls.

For a little less flair (and not a single windmill in sight) check out the Interbay Golf Center in Seattle, Willows Run Rainbow Run in Redmond or the Snohomish Valley Golf Center.

If you would like to mix meal time with a great game, consider Flat Stick Pub in South Lake Union where you can score great food and play mini golf on an amazingly original course. Better than Chuck E. Cheese any day!

Family Fun Center in Tukwila features two beautiful golf courses to choose from, but be warned, your grandkids will want to play the arcade games inside as well. 

Related: The Hole Story: Seattle Best Mini Golf Courses for Families

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

point defiance zoo and aquarium, seattle indoor playspaces
Oona Copperhill/Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Who doesn’t love the zoo? They are crowd-pleasers for people of any age, and we’ve got some of the best in the country.

The Woodland Park Zoo is divided in many sections featuring different animals from various parts of the world. These sections include the African Savanna (with lions, giraffes and zebra), the Temperate Forest (which features an extensive petting zoo area during the summer months), the Humboldt Penguin Exhibit (love the penguins!), the Northern Trail (with bears and otters) and a lot more. When you need a rest, take the kids to the indoor Zoomazium to let them burn off some steam before getting back in the car.

The Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium is another great option. Of course, there’s plenty of real animals and sea-life to see here as well, and it’s great that you get the experience of two worlds at the same time. 

Now over 45 years old, Northwest Trek still looks great for her age, and she is getting a facelift. The regular tram tours are currently not available but new electric trams will be coming by spring 2023. Until then, you have three ways to tour: Animal Walking Paths, Keeper Adventure Tours, and Wild Drive Tours where you drive your vehicle through the park. All are great things to do with grandparents when you visit the park. The most recent addition to Northwest Trek is the Eagle’s Passage attraction where you and the gang can walk through an open tunnel to look up and see the piercing yellow eyes of the mighty eagle looking back at you. And Kid's Trek is always a great spot for the kids to play while you sit for a bit.

Finally, if your little mariners would like to go back to the sea, may we suggest the Seattle Aquarium? Located on Pier 59, this “window on Washington waters” features over 800 fish and invertebrates native to the Pacific Northwest, underwater divers, a giant octopus and super cute otters. Everyone will enjoy poking their fingers at the sea urchins in the two large touch pools or walking around “under the sea” in the Underwater Dome.

Related: 14 Wild & Fun Animal Farms & Petting Zoos to Visit Now

Appreciate Art

If the grandparents are up for a (mild) hike, and don’t mind the weather, consider hitting Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park. Located near the waterfront, this outdoor museum is free for everyone. Follow the trail through this nine-acre park to find some amazing sculptures, giant art, and fun, interactive beauty. The trail is equipped with ADA accessible ramps and wide paths. The only caution here is that unlike children’s museums, kids cannot climb on any of the structures. 

The Seattle Art Museum is currently featuring an exhibit featuring award-winning Seattle artist, Anthony White. His paintings feature a collection of collections. That exhibit will be in place until January 29, 2023. The Asian Art Museum at Volunteer Park includes exhibits featuring historic and contemporary artworks from China, Korea, Japan, India, the Himalayas, and other Southeast Asian countries. The Frye Art Museum on First Hill is a fun place to visit, even if the Small Frye Storytelling time is still on hold. Admission here is always free.

Become Sea-Worthy

One of the newer water adventures in Seattle is the Seattle Donut Boat Company. Open from March to October the donut boats are the most unique and easy way to travel across Lake Union. No skipper is required and the donut crew will get you up and on your way in less than 10 minutes. These little guys seat up to six people quite comfortably. Traveling at a top speed of four miles per hour, don’t expect to get anywhere fast (it will take you about 45 minutes to get from the dock to Gas Works Park) but the electric motor is super quiet. Each “donut” comes with a wide umbrella on top that can be opened or shut depending on your preference. And on chilly days, the Donut crew will even offer you a blanket or two before you go.

If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, you might want to treat the kids to pirate cruise aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge. Together, on a fully interactive pirate experience, you’ll search for treasure, play games, learn to talk like a pirate, and even fire a (water) cannon. Each guest will also get to wear a pirate vest for the cruise and receive pirate tattoos and face painting, if desired. Every kid will receive a treasure from the ship’s treasure chest, too.

If the grandparents have got the stamina, we recommend these 17 places to kayak including Lake Union, Lake Washington, Moss Lake, Alki Beach, and Juanita Beach, to name a few. We’ve got the scoop on where to go, when to go and what to bring.

Go Back in Time

a young kid plays with food in the KidStruction Zone at MOAHI in Seattle
MOHAI

Depending on how far back in time you’d like to go, there’s a museum for you. The White River Valley Museum in Auburn is a favorite of grandparents who grew up in the area. Here they’ve recreated streets and neighborhoods that you can walk through and visit including the Japanese American Farmhouse of 1915, the Auburn Depot of 1924 and Downtown Auburn during the 1920s. 

The Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI) is also a great trip with exhibits like Maritime Seattle that explores Seattle’s maritime history, and True Northwest: The Seattle Journey that explains how our environment, diverse population, and inventive spirit have shaped our history. Little kids will enjoy the Kid-Struction Zone where they can learn while they play (and you get a break). Older kids will appreciate the new exhibit, Artificial Intelligence: Your Mind & The Machine, which is the first museum exhibit in the United States to focus on the evolution and potential of artificial intelligence. It opens on October 15, 2022.

Of course, if really want to go back in time, check out the “new and improved” Burke Museum featuring 113,000 square-feet of interesting finds from dinosaurs to tide pools. Plus, you can eavesdrop on the scientists working there cataloging everything. When it's time for a snack, check out the Off the Rez restaurant serving up handmade fry bread, Indian tacos and espresso beverages. 

Good to know: Many of the Seattle museums are free to visit the first Thursday of the month and Klondyke Gold Rush Museum is always free.

Check Out Seattle’s Mini Disneyland

Wings Over Washington
Wings Over Washington

You’ve seen Seattle’s Great Wheel miles away, but have you ever ridden it? Invite the kids on your bucket list adventure on the 175-foot tall, mother-of-all-ferris-wheels. Located at Pier 57, this contraption holds 42 fully-enclosed gondolas that will give you breathtaking views of Puget Sound rain or shine, day or night.

Right across from the Great Wheel is one of Seattle’s best kept secrets the “flying theater” known as Wings Over Washington. Inspired by Disney’s “Soarin’” attractions at their theme parks, WOW features a similar experience with the sights, sounds and smells (literally) of Washington State. The entire experience is one that everyone will remember for years to come.

Inside Pier 57 you’ll find the historic-looking indoor carousel, the Waterfront Arcade and a variety of places to eat everything from a simple pizza lunch to a full multi-course dinner.

Be a Kid Again

the outdoor playspace at Olympia Hands On Children's Museum includes a pirate ship and tricycle bike lane
Allison Sutcliffe

Seeing the world through the eyes of little ones is priceless and can bring back all kinds of memories you didn’t even know you forgot. The Puget Sound is chock full of children’s museums where the kids can touch everything, making your job a lot easier. Stay close to home by checking out the recently remodeled (and reopened) Seattle Children's Museum, or pack grandparents and kids in the car to check out some of our other area favorites.

Our recommendations include Kids Discovery Museum (KiDiMu) on Bainbridge Island that features a giant Lite Brite, indoor “sand” box, and a kid-sized grocery store; the award-winning Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett (that just got a facelift), with it’s amazing indoor treehouse and rooftop playground; the Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia, featuring over 150 exhibits and a fantastic outdoor playspace where kids can play while grandparents take a load off; and Children’s Museum of Tacoma, with an incredible and clean water table, a fantastic art studio, and an intriguing new art climbing sculpture.

Good to know: Most of these places offer special discounts. Be in the know before you go.

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Allergy-Friendly Factory Tours

By Susie Hultquist

Few people love to see how food is made more than the allergy community. Our guide features 29 allergy-friendly factories and provides the details we are hungry for, including if the entire facility is dedicated to being free of allergens and what kind of food samples you can expect. Move over Willy Wonka—we’ve got your golden ticket!

1. Joy Cone

Location: Flagstaff, Arizona & Hermitage, Pennsylvania

Ever wonder how ice cream cones are made? Book ahead to visit Joy Cone’s Pennsylvania factory from August to November or their Arizona factory in September to February to find out! Cones made at the Flagstaff location all contain wheat. Their gluten-free ice cream cones and cups are produced using a mixer that is dedicated to gluten-free batter and the batter lines to their ovens are thoroughly cleaned prior to each gluten-free production run. Their gluten-free cones are certified by the Gluten-Free Manufacturing Program.

Free Sample: Plain cones in the plant, a cone with DQ soft serve in the breakroom. The DQ ice cream is gluten-free and contains dairy. Gluten-free Joy Cones are available to eat with the ice cream or to take home.

Facility Dedicated Free From Peanut, Tree Nut

 2. Dandelion Chocolate

Location: San Francisco, California

Dandelion Chocolate has a one-hour factory tour, as well as numerous informational and chocolate-making classes including classes based on children’s ages. The tour is free of the Top 8 allergens and on their site, all classes list what allergens are involved and note if the allergen can be substituted if you give them prior notice.

Free Sample: Taste cacao fruit and roasted cacao beans from different origins, taste warm melted chocolate as it is refining, and finished single origin dark chocolate bars. You’ll receive a hot chocolate gift card for the café.

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Tree Nut

3. Sriracha

Location: Irwindale, California

The free Ultimate Sriracha Tour lasts about an hour and gives you a behind-the-scenes look into how the “rooster sauce” is made. Visit the Rooster Room, the on-site shop for all things Sriracha! Sriracha

Free Sample: Small bottle of Sriracha

Facility Dedicated Free From: Top 8, Sesame and Mustard

4. Celestial Seasoning Tea

Location: Boulder, Colorado

The Celestial Seasonings factory tour takes you into the heart of their state-of-the-art facility to see how tea is made. This free 30-minute tour shows you how the entire process, from raw materials to the finished product. Children 5 and up are welcome. A few teas contain gluten or soy but no other Top 8 allergens are present in the teas.

Free Sample: 6 teas at the tea bar

Facility Dedicated Free From: None

5. PEZ

Location: Orange, Connecticut

The Pez Visitor Center boasts the largest, most comprehensive collection of PEZ memorabilia on public display in the world, a PEZ motorcycle, the world’s largest PEZ dispenser, and a self-guided tour through a viewing area into the production area, which operates on weekdays.

Free Sample: One pack of Pez

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Tree Nut, Soy, Gluten

6. World of Coca-Cola

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

The World of Coca-Cola isn’t exactly a factory tour, but it’s too iconic to miss. You can spend the day interacting with multiple exhibits, learning the history of the iconic beverage brand, and sampling more than 100 different beverages from around the world. There are also VIP guided tours available by reservation.

Free Sample: Try over 100+ Coca Cola beverages at the sampling bar. The majority of sodas are gluten-free.

Facility Dedicated Free From: None

7. Dole Plantation

Location: Wahiawa, Hawaii

Take a two-mile, 20-minute, fully narrated train ride through a real-life working plantation at the Dole Plantation on the Pineapple Express Train Ride. Along the route, you’ll learn about Hawaii’s most famous fruit crop and the history of the Dole company. Be sure to visit the Pineapple Garden Maze and the cafe for a Dole Whip! Pineapple is naturally Top-8 free, as is Pineapple Dole Whip.

Free Sample: A free pineapple sample. Li hing powder (a plum extract from plum seeds) is sprinkled on some, but not all samples.

Facility Dedicated Free From: None

8. Albanese Confectionery

Location: Merrillville, Indiana

Choose between a self-guided or guided tour of the Albanese candy factory to see how their gluten-free gummies and chocolate are made through viewing windows and videos. Note: tours are unavailable during the months of November-December and March-April.

Free Sample: A gummi and a chocolate

Facility Dedicated Free From: None

9. Bixby & Co

Location: Rockland, Maine

See how the delicious chocolate is made at Bixby & Co., a small working family chocolaterie. They offer a presentation and the ability to view the bean-to-bar production area kitchen through a window. Most offerings are gluten-free. Though made on shared machinery, their site clearly calls out which allergens the chocolate is free of and staff is allergy-aware.

Free Sample: Assorted chocolate, can change samples to meet allergen concerns

Facility Dedicated Free From: None

10. Taza Chocolate

Location: Somerville, Massachusetts

Join the factory for the Intro to Stone Ground Chocolate, a brief talk, and chocolate tasting tour. Families with children under 10 years old are encouraged to attend the Taza Cacao Scout Bingo or Chocolate Story Time on weekends. In a rush? You can even view the chocolate grinding and depositing rooms from their factory store.

Free Sample: Stone-ground chocolate

Facility Dedicated Free From: Dairy, Egg, Soy, Gluten

11. Cape Cod Chips

Location: Hyannis, Massachusetts

Find out how the famous Cape Cod Chips are made on this short self-guided tour and hit the shop on the way out for snacks to go! Cape Cod uses a blend of non-GMO oils, including canola oil and/or safflower and/or sunflower, and while not stated on their site, is known to be peanut- and tree-nut free.

Free Sample: Regular potato chips

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Tree Nut and Egg

12. Jiffy Mixes

Location: Chelsea, Michigan

Make reservations for the free, one-hour tour at the JIFFY Mix plant for an educational video presentation and a guided walk through their packaging plant.

Free Sample: Box of raspberry muffin mix

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Tree Nut
 

13. Kimmie Candy

Location: Reno, Nevada

Join a guided full tour or take a self-guided mini-tour of the Kimmie Candy factory to see how their delicious candy is made.

Free Sample: Assorted candy

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Gluten
 

14. Chocolatrium

Location: West Berlin, New Jersey

Tour the Chocolatrium to discover the history of chocolate on a private guided chocolate tour. Choose the perfect tour for you: lunch, dinner, birthday-themed or chocolate-making. The tours are full of chocolates and pastries and menus are available on their site.

Free Sample: Chocolate and pastries

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Soy
 

15. Raaka Chocolate

Location: Brooklyn, New York

Watch chocolate being made from bean to bar at the Raaka chocolate factory. Kids 8 and up are welcome with an adult. They also have several chocolate-making classes if you want to get more hands-on.

Free Sample: Assorted chocolate

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Tree Nut (except Coconut), Dairy, Soy, Gluten
 

16. Videri Chocolate Factory

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Take a free museum-style self-guided tour of the Videri Chocolate Factory to see how chocolate is made from bean to bar or take a more in-depth paid guided tour.

Free Sample: A bonbon and flight of chocolate bars

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Tree Nut, Egg, Soy, Gluten

17. Spangler Candy

Location: Bryan, Ohio

Watch a video presentation of how your favorite lollipops are made at the Spangler factory and ride the 30-minute Dum Dum Trolley Tour to see how they are wrapped and packed. The tour ends at the museum and shop which has all of the company’s brands for purchase.

Free Sample: Dum Dums

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Tree Nut, Dairy, Egg, Fish, Shellfish, Gluten
 

18. Bob’s Red Mill

Location: Milwaukie, Oregon

Join the Bob’s Red Mill tour to see how whole grains are stone-ground to become your favorite flour! The free tour is 75 minutes long and there is a cafe and shop one mile down the road for picking up the goods to bake your next creation.

Free Sample: Varies

Facility Dedicated Free From: Gluten

19. Franz Bakery

Location: Portland, Oregon

Book the half-hour Franz Family Bakery tour in advance to tour this family-owned facility and see how their delicious bread is made.

Free Sample: Bread, butter, and apple juice. A loaf of bread or a pack of cookies is given to each chaperone.

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut

20. Tillamook Cheese Tour

Location: Tillamook, Oregon

Take a free self-guided tour to get a bird’s-eye view of the cheese-making and packaging rooms at Tillamook Creamery. Enjoy cheese samples in the Food Hall. The cafe offers gluten-free bread and will prepare your meal separately on an allergen-free grill with fresh utensils at your request. The ice cream counter will use a fresh scoop and open a new carton for allergic customers. All Tillamook Cheese products (including shredded cheeses and Sauce Starters) are gluten-free.

Free Sample: Variety of cheeses

Facility Dedicated Free From: None
 

21. Martin’s Famous Pastry Shoppe, Inc.

Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania

The Golden Roll: Martin’s Visitor Center offers guests the chance to see the original garage bakery where the founders began baking their famous potato bread and rolls in the 1950s. Tour guides tailor each tour to the specific group and guests view a series of interactive touch screens with historical photos, videos of the bread baking process, and Martin’s current process flow and distribution footprint.

Free Sample: Loaf of swirl bread

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Tree Nut

22. Snyder’s Pretzels

Location: Hanover, Pennsylvania

Enjoy the smell of baking pretzels on the 30-minute Snyder’s of Hanover tour, which takes you from the raw ingredients to robotic packaging. Recommended for children 5 and up.

Free Sample: Bag of pretzels

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut and Tree Nut

23. Hershey’s

Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania

The free 30-minute immersive tour of the Hershey’s chocolate factory is part education, part ride! The factory is the headquarters for the sweet company and there are several other activities to indulge in, including a trolley tour of the town of Hershey. Hershey’s labels well for allergens. In instances where they have a concern about the possible crossover of an allergen, they take the added precaution of including an allergy information statement on the label.

Free Sample: Varies; ask an attendant for an alternative sample if the sample of the day doesn’t work for you

Facility Dedicated Free From: None
 

24. Herr’s

Location: Nottingham, Pennsylvania

Herr’s Snack Factory one-hour tour promises to be as educational as it is entertaining. The guided tour teaches everything from how they make a great potato chip to how their tortilla chips get seasoned. You’ll see several of their products made and the Customer Service department is happy to answer any allergen concerns with a quick call.

Free Sample: Crisp ‘N Tasty Chips or Ripples, hot out of the fryer with no seasoning. Herr’s does not use peanut oil.

Facility Dedicated Free From: None
 

25. Ben & Jerry’s

Location: Waterbury, Vermont

Take the 30-minute guided tour of the Ben & Jerry’s factory to see how your favorite flavors are made. Be sure to visit the on-site scoop shop and ask for a fresh scooper and carton from the back, visit the “flavor graveyard” behind the building afterward and check out the kid-approved playground to burn off all that sugar. Ben & Jerry’s has a very proactive approach to addressing allergies by working closely with ingredient suppliers to verify all ingredient components to ensure that this information is included on the product ingredient label. They have systems and policies in place to help protect against cross-contamination through strict sanitation procedures and processes.

Free Sample: Ice cream sample; flavor varies

Facility Dedicated Free From: None

26. Taylor Made Chocolate

Location: Chester, Virginia

This factory tour teaches how Taylor Made makes delicious chocolate from cocoa beans. Learn the differences between chocolate grown in different parts of the world and the history of chocolate as well as how farmers harvest, ferment, and dry cacao beans.

Free Sample: Tasting of chocolates produced from cocoa beans grown in different parts of the world and a bar of your choice to take home

Facility Dedicated Free From: Peanut, Tree Nut, Egg, Soy, Fish, Shellfish, Wheat
 

27. Jelly Belly

Location: Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin and Fairfield, California

Learn how jelly beans are made on the free Jelly Belly factory tour, which includes interactive games, exhibits and a train ride to see the factory in action at the WI location. The CA location makes all of the company’s famous beans and has a walkway to give you a bird’s eye view of the plant. Personal guided tours are also available for a cost with reservations.

Free Sample: 1 oz. bag of the 20-flavor variety jelly beans and a box of Bean Boozled jelly beans

Facility Dedicated Free From: WI: Peanut, Tree Nut (except for Coconut and Almond), Dairy, Gluten. CA: Peanut, Tree Nut (except for Coconut), Dairy, Gluten.
 

28. Sprecher Brewing Company

Location: Glendale, Wisconsin

See a real working brewhouse, from the aging cellar to the bottling line and warehouse, guided by a friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. The tour ends in an indoor beer tent for sampling of beers and their caffeine- and gluten-free house-made sodas.

Free Sample: 4 samples of beer (adults 21 and older). Tour participants of all ages can sample all available sodas.

Facility Dedicated Free From: None
 

29. ChocXO

Location: Vancouver, British Columbia

Contact ChocXO to make reservations for a unique tour of the chocolate-making process, including tastes of each step from bean to bar.

Free Sample: The longer tour includes samples of cacao pulp, cacao nibs, cacao liquor, and shots of warm liquid chocolate, all of which are naturally nut-free. At the end of the tour, you can select three tastes from the chocolate case. Many of these products contain nuts and gluten. They can swap these items for chocolate squares, which are nut-free and gluten-free. The dark chocolate does not contain dairy (except the caramel flavor) but is made on shared machinery.

Facility Dedicated Free From: None

This post originally appeared on Spokin.

Spokin is a modern platform and app connecting people managing food allergies to resources including food, restaurants, hotels and more. Users have personalized experiences based on allergies & location. With 55,000+ reviews across 79 countries, Spokin helps the allergy community share and connect. The Spokin iOS app is free on iTunes.

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Behind-The-Scenes: 8 Tours the Whole Family Will Love

by Kristina Moy

If you’ve been searching for ways to entertain the kiddies and possibly out of town guests, look no further. We’ve rounded up eight super cool tours where you can learn fun facts about chocolate, baseball, doughnuts and even airplanes. Click through the gallery to see our favorite local tours where kids are more than welcome to lead the way!

Seattle Chocolates Experience Chocolate Tour -Tukwila

For 25 years, Seattle Chocolates has been making, packaging and shipping more than a million pounds of decadent truffles, chocolate bars and seasonal and special occasion products out of its 60,000-square-foot Tukwila warehouse. And now, for the first time in their 25-year history, they've opened their doors to the public with their Experience Chocolate tour. It took nine months of construction, a team of chocolate-obsessed employees and one skillful architect to carefully design and curate the tour's vision along with the construction of the magenta mezzanine walkway that guides visitors through the factory, giving each a true bird’s-eye view of the candy making process.

Each Experience Chocolate tour begins in the classroom where visitors will start their sweet journey with a cup of melted chocolate along with a video on how cocoa is grown and processed (from farm to working plant) as well as the history of chocolate and how the manufacturing process works. From there, a tour guide will lead you into the factory and along a nine-and-a-half-foot high raised walkway. At your first stop, you will learn about truffles as you sample delicious Frangos (psst... Seattle Chocolates has been making them at their Tukwila factory for 14 years) as well as watch a video on the truffle making process and get a live view on how a truffle flavor is carefully crafted, poured, molded, shaken and then run through a chocolate waterfall before it’s finally cooled and packaged. As you move along the tour, you will learn about the tempering process, how Seattle Chocolates makes their chocolate bars so delicious and the packaging process (which is all done by hand), all while immersing yourself in the busy, choclaty bustle of a working factory. At the end of the tour, everyone will get to experience the Tasting Room where you will explore different chocolate varieties and flavor combinations based on what is being made fresh that day. You will also get the opportunity to suggest new flavor ideas that may become reality for the next Seattle Chocolates collection. It's every Willy Wonka's dream come true!

Don't Miss: Creating your own gift box in the gift shop. Mix your choice of more than 20 different truffle flavors, or try a jcoco chocolate flight exploring different cacao percentages of dark chocolate and origins of chocolate. If you were a fan of purchasing chocolate "rejects" at the factory's former store, you'll be happy to know that you can still purchase them on the second Saturday of the month (while supplies last).

We Suggest: Leaving your personal belongings behind. Glass is not allowed inside the factory which means no cameras or cell phones will be permitted during the factory portion of the tour. Guests who choose to bring items along, will be given a locker to stow them.

Cost: Admission is $10/person. Each tour can accommodate up to 15 people.

Details: Tours last approximately one hour and there is a fair amount of walking involved. Stairs up to the viewing platform and walkway may pose a difficulty to persons with mobility restrictions. Because of the height of the platform and format of the tour, children under the age of 6 are not permitted. The factory typically operates Mon.-Fri. from 6 a.m.-3 p.m., however this may vary during holiday seasons. Tours take place Mon.-Sat. from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Make your reservation online or call 206-637-2127. If you don't have a reservation, each tour does allow for up to six drop-ins.

1180 Andover Park W.
Seattle, Wa 98188
206-637-2127
Online: seattlechocolates.com/tours

photo: Kristina Moy

What’s your family’s favorite Seattle-area tour? Tell us in the Comments below!

— Kristina Moy & Erin Cranston

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Visit the Sweetest Place on Earth: Hershey, Pennsylvania

by mikaela walker

Summer is supposed to be a time of relaxing and spending time with your family, but too often it turns into running from one activity to another while wilting in the 95 degree heat. Well, stop, its Hammer Time, er, we mean Hershey Time. Take a 3-hour trip to our neighbors a little to the south and visit the Sweetest Place on Earth, Hershey, Pennsylvania.

What to Do in Hershey

Hershey Park

Hershey Park (100 W Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, Pa) is by far the largest attraction in Hershey. Compared to other theme parks, it’s not too big, it is not too small, it is just right. Hershey Park seems to have the most rides per square mile of any park that we have been to, which means you won’t have to walk miles and miles pushing a stroller uphill. Here, all the villages are very close together and each of them have multiple rides, sometimes right on top of one another.

Not only does Hershey Park have dry rides, but it also has a water park called the Boardwalk. For the younger set, the Boardwalk has three play areas with slides, splashers and dumping buckets. For the older crowd, there’s a lazy river, bigger water slides, and a splashdown ride. The Boardwalk is only open for the summer season and will close on Labor Day.

We recommend heading straight to the Boardwalk when the park opens. You’ll be able to experience the majority of attractions within this section in a couple of hours. Once it hits midday, it gets very crowded and the lines increase exponentially. Bathing suits are only allowed in the Boardwalk area of the park. So even if you are heading straight to the water park, you must wear a cover-up or clothing over you swimsuit on the way.

If you like shows, then Hershey Park has a pretty good selection of them, including a dueling piano show, a wild west show and an oldies show starring Patty and the Peppermints, an all girl band. Don’t you feel like throwing up your fist and yelling, Girl Power? Well, maybe it is just us. There is also roaming entertainment in the park, if you don’t feel like sitting down in a theater.

Good to Know About Hershey Park

There are a lot of food options in the park, from pizza and chicken strips to barbecue ribs and turkey legs, to please those discerning kiddie palates. We recommend buying a Hershey Park Meal Ticket for $13.75. It allows you to choose set menu items from 20 different eateries in the park and comes with a souvenir cup; refills of the souvenir cup are only 99₵ in the park or at the Hershey Lodge or The Hershey Hotel.

One day definitely wasn’t enough to experience everything there was to do at Hershey Park. We recommend getting at least a 2-day flex ticket. Single day admission costs $57.95 for adults and $36.95 for kids 3-8 and a 2-day flex ticket costs $76 for adults and $58 for kids.

Hershey’s Chocolate World

Right next door to Hershey Park, you’ll find Hershey’s Chocolate World (251 Park Boulevard, Hershey, Pa), which, go figure, is all about chocolate. You can learn about it, try it, create it and even package it here.

Insider Tip: A lot of the attractions at Hershey’s Chocolate World are not stroller friendly, so we recommend bringing the baby carrier.

To start, take the Great American Chocolate Tour, which is a free ride showing how chocolate is made. The ride is informational, but at a level that kids can understand and singing cows are thrown in to keep them entertained. After the ride, take in the Hershey’s Great Chocolate Factory Mystery in 4D. Kids can help solve the mystery and save chocolate. Was there ever a more worthwhile challenge?

Next, get creative at the Create Your Own Candy Bar ($14.95 per person). Enter an assembly line area where you’ll done a hair net and apron to create your own Hershey’s Bar from the kind of chocolate and fillings to the label. At the end of the process, your chocolate bar is given to you in a keepsake tin.

At the Dessert Creation Studio, choose a cupcake, cookie or ice cream to decorate with items from the toppings bar. Every Hershey’s product imaginable is available including Symphony Bars, Reese’s Pieces and Rainbow Twizzlers, plus different flavors of icing to put on your cupcake or cookie. While waiting for the canvases for their future masterpieces to come out, kids can paint with edible paint, or eat it if they so desire. The prices at the Dessert Creation Studio vary depending on what item is chosen.

Other Attractions in Hershey, Pa

The Hershey Story: The Museum on Chocolate Avenue – At the Hershey Story (63 West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, Pa) learn about Milton S Hershey and how he created Hershey the business and the town. Take a class in the Chocolate Lab and learn about different kinds of chocolate or how to make a chocolate bar or s’mores. Do the Countries of Origin Chocolate Tasting and taste drinking chocolate from 6 different countries. Museum entrance fee and chocolate lab class is $10 for adults and $7.50 for children up to age 12; kids must be a minimum of 4 years old to take a Chocolate Lab class. If staying at Hershey Hotel or Hershey Lodge, you’ll receive a complimentary entrance ticket. Chocolate Tasting is $9.95 per person.

ZooAmerica – ZooAmerica (201 Park Avenue, Hershey, Pa) is a walk through zoo that showcases animals from five regions in North America, including the southern swamplands and Big Sky Country. See alligators, mountain lions, prairie dogs and owls, among other animals. Entrance to ZooAmerica is included free in your Hershey Park ticket. On other days, the cost to enter is $10.50 for adults and $8.50 for kids ages 3 to 8.

Where to Stay

We recommend staying at Hershey Lodge (325 University Drive, Hershey, Pa) because it’s an amazing hotel for kids, with special amenities from check-in to departure. Some of the amenities for kids included: a separate check-in desk for kids where they can sign the log-book and get their own “key” on a lanyard, a mini-golf course and a wii room. Hershey Lodge also has three pools, two indoor and one outdoor, where kids can go swimming. We recommend the one in the back of the lodge by the mini-golf course. It’s less crowded and has a small splash park. In the rooms, kids will love the sheets decorated with Hershey Kisses as well as the Hershey Kisses wallpaper in the bathroom. Chocolate shampoo and conditioner will elevate hair washing from a chore to a fun experience. Kids will also enjoy dining at the Bear’s Den named after the Hershey hockey team. Eat on the “ice” and watch different sports games while dining.

Good to Know About Hershey Lodge

Transportation to and from Hershey Park and Chocolate World is available free of charge from the Lodge. They will ask to see your room key. If you are going to the Spa at The Hotel Hershey or The Hershey Story, transfer buses at the park. Buses run very frequently; there was never a wait longer than 15 minutes between buses.

Complimentary admission to The Hershey Story and to Hershey Gardens is included with your stay. Ask for the tickets when you check-in.

Getting There

To get to Hershey, Pa, you can drive, which takes 3 hours from New York City or take the train, which takes 3.5 hours; Amtrak stops at the Harrisburg Train Station which is only 15 minutes from Hershey. If you’re staying at either Hershey Lodge there’s a shuttle that will pick you up at the train station for a minimal charge by calling 717 533-3311.

Have you taken your family to Hershey, Pa? Tell us about your visit in the comments below.

–Mikaela Walker

Photos courtesy of Hershey PR.

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