A picky eater with lots of allergies and her foodie husband visit The Chocolate Avenue Grill
Caverns & Chocolate
I have never had so much fun on the drive home from bringing our daughter back to school in the Carolinas. Despite a bout of bad food in Virginia, we got some sleep and continued our journey north. Our first stop found us at Luray Caverns, the largest caverns in the eastern United States.
Wow! I have no other words. Just, wow! I’ve been to other caverns, but this one was deeper, wider, larger, higher, and steeper with more stalagmites, stalactites, columns, mud flows, and mirrored pools which offered unbelievable optical illusions. We definitely needed this excursion to take our minds off the bathroom battle the night before. Strolling through the caverns, taking our time to refer to the guide book at each marked post, we oohed and aahed at every turn. Our car worn legs appreciated the hour and a half stretch. We extended our visit with a quick tour of Toy Town Junction annexed to the Cavern Visitor Center and enjoyed the vast display of toys from our childhood and older.
After a quick bite at the Stalactite Cafe, we bent ourselves back into the car and continued our drive toward home. I don’t remember if it was part of our plan, but suddenly we were driving down a street lined with Hershey Kiss topped lamp posts and decided to stop at the Hershey Story Museum.
Unfortunately, because it was late in the day by the time we arrived, the Chocolate Lab and Chocolate Tasting rooms were closed, so we headed upstairs to the interactive exhibits featuring the life of Milton Hershey and his chocolatey creations. However, a quick trip to the gift shop satisfied my chocolate cravings.
The Chocolate Avenue Grill
Stepping out of the museum into the pouring rain, we ran across the street and took shelter inside The Chocolate Avenue Grill for dinner. Since we were in Hershey, we were expecting a very kid friendly, very chocolate themed venue, but were pleasantly surprised when we walked in to find a sleek, clean, contemporary dining space. The white walls, adorned with black and gold artwork, offset the navy blue and gray padded booths and dark wood tables. The menu boasted a variety of options including kids’ meals. We settled in and enjoyed the quiet that dining out on a Monday evening often provides. However, within an hour the place was hopping – every table was full, but thankfully the noise level remained low.
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