Hershey , Pa : Mmmmmm! Chocolate. Eat it as a fine confection. Drink it as a warm, frothy beverage. Or perhaps a piece of chocolate cake or a scoop of chocolate ice cream? There are so many ways to enjoy this tempting sweet made from cocoa beans. Wouldn’t it be great to just be covered in chocolate from head to toe?

At the chocolate spa in Hershey , Pennsylvania , not only can you be wrapped up in a skin cleansing mixture of cocoa, you can take a bath in whipped chocolate milk or partake of one of over 50other chocolate-related spa treatments.

The Spa is located within the stately Hotel Hershey. This grand hotel from a bygone era was built in the 1930s, high atop a hill overlooking the town of Hershey and the Hershey Park Amusement Park . The Mediterranean-style hotel has received both the AAA Four Diamond and Mobil Four Star distinctions. It has 232 guest rooms and 29 suites, several ballrooms and meeting rooms, an indoor pool, fitness center, bar, café, and the opulent circular dining room that overlooks gardens and reflecting pools.

My wife, Karen and I checked in and received Hershey bars and both of us selected the Special Dark over the Milk Chocolate bars. After a long drive, we retired to our room, one with rich upholstered furnishings. Hershey Kisses and other chocolates had been left for us, including a chocolate model of the hotel. The spacious bathroom included a two person Jacuzzi. I started the water in the tub and Karen and I slipped into the thick terry cloth robes provided by the hotel. After opening a bottle of Merlot, we sipped our wine and sampled the chocolates as the bath filled. While the hot water and powerful jets of the Jacuzzi relaxed our tired muscles, the experience filled us with anticipation for the following day of being pampered.

In the morning we enjoyed a filling breakfast in the sunny Circular Dining Room. They offered a buffet, however, we didn’t want to eat too much and ordered a la carte. My French toast and Karen’s omelet, however, each included sides of potatoes, fresh fruit and toast. Our treatments began at 9:30 a.m. with massages. I had also booked a chocolate wrap, while Karen selected the whipped chocolate milk bath.

Upon entering the spa, we were each greeted by a guide and individually given a tour of the complex. After receiving instructions on how to use the electronic lockers, my guide then showed me the steam room, showers, fitness center, indoor pool, saunas, aromatherapy room and two lounge areas - one called the Quiet Room where talking wasn’t allowed and another that resembled a wood paneled library. The lounges were stocked with tea, cookies, chocolate muffins and, of course, Hershey Kisses. All of the facilities are open to guest using any spa service or a hotel guest can just book the use of the spa for the day.

After changing into robe and slippers, I adjourned to the non-quiet lounge and found Karen sitting in a chair reading a magazine. I only had time to say hello to her before an attendant arrived and led me to one of the massage rooms for my chocolate wrap. A masseur first provided a mild exfoliation using a soft bristle brush to both sides of my body. He followed by painting a special chocolate infused mud onto my back and then my front. The masseur said it was a nice break to have a male client for the wrap. He mostly provided massages to male clients and performing the wrap gave him a chance to rest his hands.

Once fully covered, I was wrapped in plastic sheets and then blankets. The masseur dimmed the lights and told me to relax for about 20 minutes as the mud heated up and cleansed my skin. I felt like a giant chocolate burrito. I must have dozed off as the 20 minutes passed quickly and my masseur returned. After removing the blankets and sheets, I remained lying on the massage table and was blasted in warm water using the Vichy shower. The Vichy shower has a half dozen shower heads positioned along a long arm that extends over the length of prone body.

With the mud washed away, I still had another hour until my massage, so I spent about 10 minutes in the aromatherapy room and then made two rounds between the sauna and steam room. I could have bounced between the three areas for the rest of the day. As the hour approached I rinsed off and returned to the lounge for a cup of coffee and a muffin. A masseuse then arrived shortly after and showed me to another treatment room. The place is a bit of a maze with 53 treatment rooms, including 15 massage rooms. Fortunately attendants lead patrons back and forth to the lounges after each treatment. The masseuse worked mostly on my back and shoulders. She used chocolate-scented massage oil that smelled good enough to eat. I wondered where the chocolate ended and I began.

Karen and I had agreed to meet up about a half hour after our final treatments. I steamed, still covered in the chocolate oil, and allowed the aroma to envelope me. I showered again (you spend a lot of time taking showers when visiting a spa), changed back into street clothes and met Karen in the reception area. She was browsing the array of moisturizers and skin care products on display. She also smelled of chocolate from her frothy milk bath and massage… smelled good enough to eat. I mentioned this to her and she punched me on the arm. Ouch!

We considered signing up for facials after lunch. The next treatments were not available until later that evening, but unfortunately we needed to get home at a reasonable hour. After checking out, we stopped for a bite at The Fountain Café before the long drive home. The reasonably priced bistro is light and airy and features an outdoor patio. They serve a variety of healthy and vegetarian options. We really needed some greens after all of the sweets and ordered salads and a spicy artichoke penne. The waitress returned as we finished lunch and asked if we wished desert. I declined, leering at Karen, and said that I already had a tasty chocolate dish I was saving for later.

And Karen punched me again. Women!!!