Fun Factory Tours for Families

Factory tours are quickly gaining popularity among families across the United States. They are typically very affordable and allow a fun, behind the scenes look at how favorite products are made. Here are four tours that kids and adults will love:

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream - Waterbury, VT

If you love ice cream, this is the perfect stop for you. The tour begins with a seven minute movie in the "Cow over the Moon Theater" which provides you with some background information about the company. After the movie, you move to a viewing area where you can watch the ice cream production process. The tour ends on a sweet note with samples of flavors that were produced at the factory that day. There is also a scoop shop and gift shop on the premises which features 40 different flavors of ice cream as well as a variety of gift items. In addition, adults will enjoy the Flavor Graveyard which includes fake tombstones and a short message in honor of flavors that didn't last for very long.

Hours vary based on the season and are available on the company website. Ice cream production does not take place on weekends or holidays, and on those days, the tour includes a video of the ice cream production line instead. The tours last approximately 30 minutes and are available on a first come, first served basis. Tours fill up quickly and reservations are available for groups. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, and children under 12 are free. Cameras are not allowed on the factory tour.

Hershey's Chocolate World - Hershey, PA

If you have a sweet tooth, you will love Hershey's Chocolate World. This facility is not an actual factory but includes a fun simulated tour about how chocolate is made that begins with the harvesting of the cocoa beans and ends with a sample of one of their latest products. Children can participate in the interactive Factory Works Experience where they can package their own Hershey's kisses on a real production line. At the Hershey's Chocolate Works machine, they can produce their own unique creation using a blend of their favorite Hershey's products. The trolley tour includes singing conductors in period costumes and takes you on a tour of Chocolate Town, USA. Children will get a kick out of the street lights that look like Hershey's kisses while they learn about the history of the town and company. The Really Big 3-D Show includes a variety of 3-D animated characters. There are also several cafes and a gift shop where you can purchase almost any Hershey-related product that you can think of.

Hours vary and are available on the website. Admission to the Chocolate World tour is free. The Factory Works Experience is free, but you can purchase a souvenir factory worker ID card for $9.95 if you choose. The cost for the trolley tour is $12.95 for adults, $11.95 for seniors, and $5.95 for children 12 and under. The cost for the 3D show is $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children ages three through 12. If you have the time and money, you may also want to visit Hersheypark which is adjacent to the Chocolate World. The amusement park has over 60 rides and attractions including ten roller coasters and a boardwalk and also includes admission to ZooAmerica. Admission is $45.95 for adults, $26.95 for seniors and children ages three through eight.

Jelly Belly Candy Factory - Fairfield, CA

If you love Jelly Belly jellybeans, you can't pass up this tour. While you are waiting for your tour to begin, you can browse the various historical exhibits in the Visitor's Center. This is a working factory, and on the 40 minute walking tour, you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about what goes into making the perfect jellybean. For example, did you know that it can take up to a week to make some flavors? In addition to learning how their signature item is created, you can also watch them make other popular treats such as gummy bears, taffy, and chocolates. Children will enjoy the "robot room" where several robots participate in the packing process. The Sampling Bar at the end is the highlight of the tour. You can try any of their Jelly Belly flavors as well as some of their other candies. If you choose to eat in the café, you can order Jelly Belly-shaped burgers and pizzas. There is a gift shop on the premises where you can purchase "Belly Flops" which were essentially rejected due to their shape.

Tours are conducted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily (with the exception of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and Easter Sunday) and there is no charge for admission. The factory is not in operation on the weekends, so visitors learn about the candy making process via video monitors.

Tillamook Cheese Factory - Tillamook, OR

If you're visiting the Oregon Coast, your family won't be disappointed if you stop off at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. You can view a short video about the history of the company and then move to the observation area where you can watch cheese being made and packaged. You can also learn about how they make their ice cream. There are interactive kiosks throughout and a Kidz Zone that your children will enjoy. At the end of the tour, there are trays of different cheeses that you can sample. Kids will enjoy the "squeaky cheese" (cheese curds). They have a fudge counter with a variety of flavors that are made fresh daily. You can eat lunch at the Farmhouse Café. The prices are reasonable and their cheeseburgers are delicious. They have a gift shop on the premises where you will be able to find something unique to take back to friends and family. Before you leave, be sure to stop off at the ice cream counter where you can chose from forty different flavors of Tillamook ice cream which are served in a freshly baked waffle cone.

The tour is free and nearly one million people visit each year. They are open daily (excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas). Their hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Labor Day through mid June and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. mid June through Labor Day.