16 Best Food Factory Tours in the USA
Updated: May 12, 2022
Whether it's Ben & Jerry's in Vermont or the Pez Visitor Center in Connecticut, food factory tours are the most delicious reason to hit the road.
Planning a road trip this summer? Food factory tours are a fun way to try out the classic foods you love, plus a few new ones as well! Learn about the history behind the brand and about the origins of your favorite snacks on these tours worth taking a trip for.
Love knowing behind-the-scenes facts? You’ll be surprised to see what these famous food characters look like in real life.
Ben & Jerry’s: Waterbury, Vermont
For the price of a scoop of ice cream ($4 for adults, $3 for seniors 60+, free for kids under 12), you can take a 30-minute guided tour of the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Vermont where they’re scooping up all the ice cream flavors you know and love.
For the flavors that weren’t as beloved, you can visit them at the Flavor Graveyard, and vote for which one you’d like to resurrect.
Hershey’s Chocolate World: Hershey, Pennsylvania
Visit Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania, a town that has Hershey Kisses for lamppost toppers and actually smells like chocolate. You might want to stay a night or two, because not only is there a theme park for the kids and young at heart, there’re hotels, a chocolate spa and so much more. Plus, there’s lots of chocolate, of course.
Next, try our most decadent chocolate desserts.
Cape Cod Chips: Hyannis, Massachusetts
Heading to the Massachusetts cape this summer? Don’t forget to stop and try your favorite crunchy chips in Hyannis at the Cape Cod Chips factory! These free, self-guided tours will show you how chips go from spuds to what you crave, but only on weekdays, so make sure to get in Monday-Friday this summer. Here are 12 creative ways to cook with potato chips.
Blue Bell: Brenham, Texas
Feeling the Texas heat? Cool off with a trip to the Blue Bell creamery in Brenham, Texas. They’ve been scooping up creamy bowls of ice cream since 1907, and you can see how it all started. Stop in the parlor for a scoop of ice cream, and see how they churn up their flavors from the observation deck.
Jelly Belly: Fairfield, California
A free tour and free jelly beans? Count us in! Visit the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield, California, just northwest of San Francisco. Get an exclusive bird’s-eye view of the factory while enjoying interactive exhibits, videos and of course, free jelly beans on these daily tours.
Psst… We took the tour! Here’s what we learned.
Greenwell Farms: Kealakekua, Hawaii
Who doesn’t love the aroma of freshly brewed coffee? See how coffee is made on the Kona Coffee Tour at Greenwell Farms, from planting the seeds to roasting the beans before they’re made into a cup of joe. You’ll go from farm to cup on this tour in beautiful Hawaii!
Tillamook Creamery: Tillamook, Oregon
Take a trip up the Oregon coast to the Tillamook Creamery in Tillamook, Oregon. This tour is a dairy lovers dream, where you’ll enjoy all of the tasty dairy products they have to offer, including a wide selection of cheeses on a sample bar, DIY yogurt bar and of course, ice cream flavors, too. What more could we ask for?
Utz: Hannover, Pennsylvania
Munch your way through the Utz Factory Tour in Hannover, Pennsylvania with a self-guided tour. Watch the full process of how their chips are made, from arriving potatoes to the finished product you know and love. Pose as the Utz girl, see 90+ years of chip memorabilia, and of course, enjoy some chips along the way.
Hammond’s Candies: Denver, Colorado
Perfect for curious kids and adults with a sweet tooth, enjoy tasty taffy, lollipops and more during a trip to the Hammond’s Candies Factory in Denver, Colorado. During this complimentary 30-minute tour, you’ll learn all about how their tasty candies are made and get to see the process, too! Of course, you’ll leave with a sweet treat when you go.
Tabasco Sauce: Avery Island, Louisiana
Take a trip to Avery Island in southern Louisiana to see how Tabasco sauce is made. Not only will you learn about how the Tabasco peppers have been sustainably grown for five generations, you’ll get see local wildlife and botanical plants, which is unlike any other tour on our list.
To learn more about Tabasco, grab our guide to hot sauces.
Cabot Cheese: Cabot, Vermont
You can’t actually tour the Cabot Cheese factory, but the Visitor Center is a good time. Take a look at the history of the co-op, enjoy local goods and watch an up-close video tour of the cheesemaking area. You’ll also walk away with some tasty cheese samples!
Boudin Bakery @ Disney California Adventure: Anaheim, California
Taking a trip to Disney? Stop by the Boudin Bakery Tour at Disney California Adventure and learn the history behind San Francisco’s oldest continuously running company, in business since 1849. Watch bakers create tasty bread along your tour, narrated by Rosie O’Donnell and Colin Mochrie. How could you not love bread this cute?
For anyone who loves Disney, these copycat recipes are magic.
PEZ: Orange, Connecticut
Experience all that the PEZ brand has to offer at the PEZ Visitor Center in Orange, Connecticut. Not only will you see the world’s largest PEZ dispenser, the world’s largest public PEZ memorabilia collection and even a motorcycle made out of PEZ, you can take a peek into their production area!
Herr’s Snacks: Nottingham, Pennsylvania
Since 1946, Herr’s has been whipping up tasty chips and snacks, and you can see how they’re made on the Herr’s Snack Factory Tour in Nottingham, Pennsylvania. On this one-hour walking tour, you’ll go between three buildings, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
Celestial Seasonings: Boulder, Colorado
Nestled in the mountains of Boulder, Colorado is the Celestial Seasonings Center, located on Sleepytime Drive. (Of course!) Take a 30-minute walking tour through the tea factory after watching a short video on the history of these tasty brews. Shop around in the Tea Shop or grab a bite at the Celestial Café while you’re there.
Taza Chocolate: Somerville, Massachusetts
Take a tour at the Taza Chocolate Factory in Somerville, Massachusetts, near Boston, and see how they go from grinding the bean, to creating the satisfying grit of a stone ground chocolate. You can book the usual Taza tour, plus a few other things to do, including story time and bingo for the kids.
Originally Published: July 31, 2018
