Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
The Chicago area is home to some of the sweetest confectioneries in the country, and by taking one of the guided tours available, Chicago tourists can learn many of the behind-the-scenes secrets that go into making some of America's most beloved sweets. From stealing a few "Kisses" at the Hershey's Factory to sampling designer chocolates at the Long Grove Confectionery, no candy lover will be left wanting after their next trip to the Windy City.
Potato chip factory tours are a fun and educational family activity. Central Pennsylvania has several potato chip factories offering free tours of their facilities. Whether your interest is in science and technology or you just love snack foods, there's something for everyone in these tours.
Fun food factories are great for school field trips, tourist activities and family events. They are indicative of American culture.
Seeing how your favorite foods are made and then getting to sample the result can be a fun experience for the whole family. The Washington, D.C. area offers a veritable feast of snack-food factory tours, where visitors can observe first-hand the labor that goes into the products, from pretzels twisted into shape by robotics to handmade potato chips and delicately molded chocolates.
The Mediterranean climate of Italy is ideal for growing olives. Italy has many olive oil factories, and most will offer guided tours to guests wishing to learn more about manufacturing the oil. Almost all tours offer tastings of bruschetta--or toasted bread--dipped in olive oil. Used in cooking throughout the world, olive oil has many health benefits linked to cardiovascular disease prevention.
Chocolate came to America in the 18th century. Milton Hershey introduced mass production of chocolate bars in 1900, and Americans have been enjoying the luscious treat in large quantities ever since. The U.S. Department of Commerce reported that Americans consumed roughly six billion pounds of chocolate in 2006. From a bean to a candy bar, you can see the chocolate-making process in several chocolate factories across Michigan.
Factory tours provide a behind-the-scenes look at how many of the products we use today are made. Portland, Hood River and Tillamook, Oregon, contain thriving factories including Franz Family Bakery, Tillamook and Full Sail Brewing Company, all of which offer factory tours. Visitors will learn how beer, dairy products and bread items begin as raw ingredients and result in common foods and beverages.
Take a tour of the Jelly Belly Factory to learn more about these delicious beans. The vibrant, colorful atmosphere filled with lively music is fun for kids and adults alike. Take the tour, then meander throughout the rest of the building filled with games that dispense Jelly Belly's when you win, food in the shape of Jelly Beans, and free samples. You may even run into Mr. Jelly Belly himself. Have your picture taken with the life-sized jellybean.
For car lovers, one of the best kept secrets in Las Vegas is the Caroll Shelby Museum and Factory tour. Colorful, mean-looking Mustangs are everywhere. You can see older historic Mustang's in the museum and then tour the outside of the building for an unofficial museum of new Mustang's waiting to have Caroll Shelby's special touches put on them. Although the attraction is small, it's worth seeing. Located just across from the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the factory tour is only about 12 miles from The Strip. Plus it's free--you can't beat that.
Belgian and Swiss chocolates are famous the world over, and Hershey has the rep in the United States, but Mexican chocolate offers something different altogether. In the southern state of Oaxaca, there is a burgeoning chocolate industry, churning out concoctions that spurn the triple cream in favor of chili, nut, cinnamon, vanilla, coffee and citrus flavors. The result is a stronger-tasting chocolate with a dryer consistency. For some people, it's an acquired taste, while others immediately appreciate the stronger flavors and the higher ratio of pure cacao in the recipes. This article offers a quick primer on making the most…
If you have ever wondered how mass quantities of ice cream are produced, now is your chance. Take a tour of the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory in one of the three locations. Go hungry, because you get a free ice cream sample at the end of the tour.
