There are several practical reasons for hosting meetings in central Pennsylvania. The region is easily accessible, with a convenient international airport, and surrounded by New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., which places it within a three-hour drive of 20 percent of the nation’s population.
The region boasts ample (and generally affordable) upscale hotel rooms and meeting and event space, and its rolling green landscape and relaxed pace, at least by East Coast standards, provides a hassle-free setting for capturing and maintaining attendees’ attention.
Yet while convenience and practicality are certainly essential, they are rarely ingredients that cook up memorable meetings. Good thing Hershey, Harrisburg and Lancaster County offer plenty of options outside the meeting room to make any business event stand out.
Harrisburg
Harrisburg has served as the Pennsylvania state capital since 1812. Situated on the Susquehanna River, in the shadow of the rolling Appalachian Mountains, Harrisburg provides planners with a diverse list of group options drawing on the city’s urban, historic and outdoor characteristics.
“Harrisburg has one of the most beautiful state capitol buildings you will see, and downtown we have museums and shops, excellent restaurants and plenty of nightlife,” says Sharon Altland, director of sales for the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau, which is headquartered in Harrisburg. “Plus, we have lots of activities on the Susquahanna River, such as kayaking or a private river cruise aboard the Pride of the Susquahanna, a paddle-wheel riverboat.”
The Appalachian Mountains provide a majestic backdrop for more group activities. Nearby Roundtop Mountain Resort has significant experience hosting group entertainment and team-building activities, with ski and snowboard runs in the winter and zip lines, ropes courses, paint ball, OGO balls (in which riders are suspended inside large inflatable balls that roll down the hillside) and other activities the rest of the year.
Meanwhile, the city’s rich history can be experienced via a free tour of the state capitol or a visit to the National Civil War Museum, which also offers private event space.
After a day full of meetings and team-building activities, planners can set attendees loose in downtown Harrisburg. The city’s revamped 2nd Street Restaurant Row is a three-block stretch of shoulder-to-shoulder food and libation establishments, with entertainment options ranging from dance clubs and live music to sports bars and brewpubs, and restaurant options ranging from fine dining to casual eateries. PageBreak
Hershey
Affectionately known as “the Sweetest Place on Earth,” the town that chocolatier Milton Hershey built is chock full of outside-the-box team-building and entertainment activities.
“Hershey is a picturesque town that offers cultural activities, an amazing amusement park, theater, dining, concerts, interesting historical tours and, of course, chocolate,” says Michael Reynoldson, assistant director of resort sales for Hershey Meetings, a division of Hershey Entertainment and Resorts.
The closest thing to a real-life tour of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, when in Hershey planners can easily fill an entire itinerary with chocolate-based activities.
“Our Hershey Destination Services team offers activities that center on our sweet history, such as martini mixology classes featuring Hershey’s signature chocolate martinis and the Chocolate Challenge team-building event, where teams build structures using only Hershey products, icing and their imaginations,” Reynoldson says. “Unique private dining events are also very popular, such as a barbecue next to Swan Lake at the Hershey Lodge, or Hershey chocolate and wine pairings. Lastly, the best way to conclude a dining event at Hershey is around the fire pit, roasting marshmallows to go with a Hershey’s Chocolate Bar to make s’mores.”
And while chocolate certainly colors all aspects of daily life in Hershey—right down to the smell of chocolate production that wafts through the air—there are plenty of activities for groups to enjoy that do not necessarily involve eating chocolate.
Reynoldson notes that Hersheypark, the town’s iconic century-old amusement park, is a popular excursion for groups. Other top options outside the meeting room include golf at one or more of the Hershey Golf Collection’s four 18-hole courses, and relaxing in the resort’s Chocolate Spa, which features a full range of traditional spa treatments, as well as unique selections, such as the patented Whipped Cocoa Bath, the Chocolate Bean Polish and the Chocolate Fondue Wrap. PageBreak
Lancaster County
Popularly referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch Country, Lancaster County is perhaps best known as home to the nation’s largest and oldest Amish community. Meeting attendees can learn about the Amish and their way of life first-hand through a number of programs that allow attendees to visit and even dine with Amish families. And while visitors are sure to share the road with the horse-drawnbuggies of the Amish community, planners can expect many modern conveniences as well.
“We have a beautiful Amish countryside setting with roadside stands and farmers markets, yet also a bustling downtown city center with trending shops, upscale hotels and great restaurants,” notes Mara Sultan, senior sales manager for the Pennsylvania Dutch CVB. “There is really something for everyone.”
The city of Lancaster features a bustling historic downtown with plenty of dining and nightlife options to keep attendees entertained once they step out of the Lancaster County Convention Center or one of the numerous nearby hotels with meeting space.
“Downtown Lancaster, once a local’s secret, is certainly changing the way meeting planners view Lancaster overall,” Sultan adds. “Our city is a thriving mecca of diversity, arts, fine dining, cafes, boutique shops and hotels.”
Such downtown excitement is easily measured by the success of the city’s First Fridays and Music Fridays events. Occurring on the first Friday of each month, First Fridays draws thousands of locals and visitors alike in a celebration of the arts, with unique gallery exhibits and live performing arts set among the streets and distinctive architecture of downtown Lancaster. Similarly, Music Fridays, held on the third Friday of each month, fills downtown Lancaster with live music and attractions.
And amid all the new excitement of downtown Lancaster, one of the city’s most popular attractions is one of its oldest. The Lancaster City Market is the oldest continually operating farmers market in the nation, featuring locally grown foods, fresh baked desserts and breads, cheeses, meats, flowers, crafts and plenty of other souvenirs from Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
Each year, Washington, D.C.-based freelance writer Adam Jones enjoys visiting Harrisburg to scout the top Senators baseball players before their major-league debuts with the Washington Nationals.
