There’s something satisfying about watching how things get made.
This list is for families who want the fun kind of factory tours…
One minute, you’re watching chips fly by on a conveyor belt, and the next, you’re choosing a name for a custom teddy bear to take home.
These are the factory tours your kids will remember. And, the ones that make the detour feel totally worth it.
Ice Cream Factory Tours That Go Beyond the Pint
Ice cream factory tours are always a win, especially when they include behind-the-scenes access and samples at the end.
These family-friendly ice cream experiences show how your favorite flavors are made, with plenty of tasty moments and local charm along the way.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour
Free samples, cows, and enough puns to keep your kids giggling all day.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour ~ Waterbury, VT
What to Expect on the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour:
It begins with a brief film that does a solid job of explaining how two friends transformed a gas station scoop shop into a global brand.
Then it’s onto the viewing area overlooking the production floor (if it’s running), followed by a full-size sample at the end.
Outside, there’s a small playground, a Scoop Shop, and the famously quirky Flavor Graveyard, where discontinued pints are memorialized with real headstones.
Hours: Daily, 10 am – 6 pm, last tour at 5 pm (Production not guaranteed).
Cost: $6/Adults, $1/Kids (2- 12)
Plan to Spend: 45 – 75 minutes, including time for samples and graveyard strolls.
Website: benjerry.com
TLJ Tip: Even if production’s paused, the tour (and ice cream) still delivers.
If factory tours are your thing, you’ll probably love these offbeat roadside gems too.
Turkey Hill Experience
You won’t see the machines, but you will design your dream ice cream.
Turkey Hill Experience ~ Columbia, PA
What to Expect at the Turkey Hill Experience:
This isn’t quite a factory tour… It’s a full-blown ice cream-and-tea experience.
Kids can create their own ice cream flavor, milk a mechanical cow, and star in a mock commercial.
Samples are unlimited, and if you upgrade to the Taste Lab, you’ll mix your own pint of ice cream from real ingredients.
Add the Tea Discovery and you’ve got yourself a full day of adventure.
Hours: Open daily; hours vary seasonally, but generally 10 am – 3 pm.
(Always check ahead… some experiences fill fast)
Cost:
Experience Only: $13.50 (ages 3+)
Experience + Taste Lab: $23.50
Experience + Taste Lab + Tea Experience: $30.25
Kids under 2, Free
Plan to Spend: 60–90 minutes, (2 to 2.5 hours, including the Taste Lab) (Doing it all…plan for around 3 hours)
Website: turkeyhillexperience.com
TLJ Tip: If you’ve got ice cream lovers (aka, everyone), upgrade to the Taste Lab. It’s just the right level of chaos, and you’ll create your own custom pint.
Factory tours are a solid win…
But, so are these over-the-top summer adventures.
Chocolate Factory Tours That Deliver the Goods (and the Smell)
These chocolate factory tours let you see (and smell) how the good stuff gets made.
You’ll see how chocolate is made, sample the goods along the way, and get a behind-the-scenes look at everything from classic candy brands to small-batch chocolate makers.
If you’re building a trip around chocolate, this is where to start…
Hershey’s Chocolate Tour
A free ride, a singing cow, and chocolate? Go ahead and call it a win.
Hershey’s Chocolate Tour ~ Hershey, PA
What to Expect on the Hershey’s Chocolate Factory Tour:
This isn’t a real factory floor, but it is a ride-through experience that takes you behind the scenes of Hershey’s chocolate-making process.
Expect singing cows, moving machinery, and the smell of chocolate everywhere.
It’s free, kid-friendly, and ends with a sweet sample.
Hours: Open daily, 9 am – 9 pm or later
(Hours vary by season…check before you go)
Cost: Free!
Other experiences (tastings, create-your-own bar): $15–$40+
Plan to Spend: The ride itself is about 30 minutes, but you could easily spend half a day here. Allow time for browsing the gift shop or additional activities.
Website: chocolateworld.com
TLJ Tip: It’s free, air-conditioned, and smells like heaven. If you want to elevate the experience, the Create Your Own Candy Bar experience is worth the splurge… book in advance.
Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Factory Tour
Yes, this building smells as good as it looks.
Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate ~ Freeport, ME
What to Expect on the Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Factory Tour:
This is a quick, low-key self-guided tour that’s heavy on samples and sweet on charm.
You’ll peek into the production space, watch candy being made (if the schedule lines up), and learn a bit about how this family-run chocolate shop became a Maine staple.
Hours: Tours are available on Saturdays only, from 11 am to 2 pm, seasonally (spring to fall). (Please check the website for the most up-to-date schedule.)
Cost: $6/per person
Includes samples and a treat to take home.
Kids under 2 are free
Plan to Spend: 15–25 minutes on the tour, depending on how quickly you move between samples.
Website: wilburs.com
TLJ Tip: Tour days are limited; it is a self-guided experience, so no reservations are needed! If you miss the tour times, the shop is still worth a stop. (Trust us on the chocolate-covered blueberries.)
Taza Chocolate Factory Tour
Stone-ground, organic, and surprisingly kid-approved.
Taza Chocolate Factory Tour ~ Somerville, MA
What to Expect on the Taza Chocolate Factory Tour:
Experience small-batch, stone-ground chocolate made the old-school way… loud, gritty, and full of flavor.
The one-hour tour is geared toward ages 10+, with big windows into the production floor and more than enough samples to keep it interesting.
If you’ve got younger kids, there’s a shorter, scavenger-hunt style tour on weekends just for them.
Hours:
Tours for ages 10+: Tuesday to Sunday, tour times vary
Family scavenger hunt tours (all ages): Saturday & Sunday, 10:30 am
Check online for seasonal updates and hours.
Cost: $13/per person (ages 10+)
Family tour (all ages): $8/per person
Includes chocolate tastings and shop discounts
Plan to Spend: A total of 60 – 90 minutes.
Website: tazachocolate.com
TLJ Tip: The chocolate factory tour has a lot of talking and industrial noise… not ideal for little ones.
But… the family tour is a great workaround, with a scavenger hunt, chocolate, and just enough structure to keep everyone on board.
Snack Factory Tours, You Didn’t Know You Needed
Looking for snack factory tours that are actually fun?
These Northeast spots serve up behind-the-scenes action with salty snacks, sweet treats, and plenty to see.
Most hand out samples. Some hand out seconds.
Herr’s Snack Factory Tour
Watch the chips fly. Smell the real-time snack magic.
Herr’s Snack Factory Tour ~ Nottingham, PA
What to Expect on the Herr’s Snack Factory Tour:
This is a real working factory, complete with giant fryers, moving conveyor belts, and the scent of fresh chips in the air.
The factory tour starts with a short movie, then takes you through guided views of the production floor where you can watch snacks being made.
If the line is running, you’ll get warm samples straight from the source.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 am – 5 pm. Tours run from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Closed weekends.
Cost: $8/Adults, $4/Kids (4-17)
Advance tickets required—no walk-ins.
Plan to Spend: 60-90 minutes, depending on how many times you need to stop for a snack.
Website: herrs.com/tour
TLJ Tip: Warm chips right off the line are worth the drive alone, but check the website or call ahead to ensure production is running during your visit.
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
Twist your own, learn some history, and call it lunch.
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery ~ Lititz, PA
What to Expect on the Julius Sturgis Factory Tour:
America’s first commercial pretzel bakery (est. 1861!) where you can tour the original baking ovens, learn the history of the pretzel, and try your hand at twisting your own.
It’s equal parts quirky, historic, and snacky… aka, very TLJ.
Hours: Tours run Monday to Saturday, 11 am – 4 pm (hours vary seasonally)
Closed Sundays.
Cost: $13/ Adults, $5/ Kids (5-12)
Plan to Spend: 45–60 minutes for the full tour and pretzel twisting experience.
Website: juliussturgis.com
TLJ Tip: Kids love the hands-on pretzel twisting at Julius Sturgis (and adults weirdly do too).
It’s quick, yummy, and pairs perfectly with a stroll through downtown Lititz…one of the cutest towns in PA.
PEZ Visitor Center
Candy, nostalgia, and factory windows? This one’s a crowd-pleaser.
PEZ Visitor Center ~ Orange, CT
What to expect at the PEZ Visitor’s Center Candy Factory:
Part candy museum, part nostalgia trip, and part peek into real PEZ production.
You’ll see rare dispensers, vintage ads, and watch the packing floor through large observation windows.
You can even build your own custom PEZ dispenser if you want a souvenir that doubles as a snack.
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm, Sunday: 12 – 5 pm
Closed major holidays
Cost: $5/Adults, $4/Kids (4-12)
Your admission includes a lanyard and a $2 credit for the gift shop.
Plan to Spend: 30–40 minutes, depending on how much you geek out over the displays.
Website: pez.com
TLJ Tip: The giant PEZ wall and rare dispenser displays are surprisingly fun, and the gift shop is one of the better ones out there.
Don’t skip the scavenger hunt… It’s free, kid-friendly, and earns you a free PEZ dispenser.
Need even more to do in the area?
These I-95 detours make the perfect day-trip combo.
Factory Tours That Scratch the
“How Is This Made?” Itch
These hands-on, behind-the-scenes factory tours are perfect for curious kids and grown-ups alike.
Whether it’s teddy bears, wooden toys, snowboards, or kazoos, these family-friendly factory tours show exactly how things are made… and make learning feel like part of the fun.
Craig’s Prototype Facility (Burton Snowboards HQ)
Where the boards are built and tested by people who actually ride.
Craig’s Prototype Facility (Burton Snowboards HQ) ~ Burlington, VT
What to Expect on the Burton Factory Tour:
This isn’t your average behind-the-scenes stop. Craig’s is where Burton prototypes and tests its next-gen snowboards, from raw materials to ride-ready design.
The guided tour takes you through R&D labs, shaping stations, and build rooms where boards are engineered with serious attention to detail.
It feels more like an innovation lab than a traditional factory. Best for older kids, teens, or anyone into design, gear, or snowboarding culture.
Hours: Monday to Thursday at 2 pm (only tour of the day)
You must book ahead, walk-ins not accepted
Cost: Free!
Plan to Spend: 60–90 minutes
Best for families with kids 10+ who can stay engaged.
Website: burton.com
TLJ Tip: This is one of the coolest factory tours no one’s really talking about. If you’ve got a teen obsessed with design, snowboarding, or how things are built, it’s a must.
Maple Landmark Woodcraft
Everything smells like pine and nostalgia.
Maple Landmark Woodcraft ~ Middlebury, VT
What to Expect on the Maple Landmark Factory Tour:
Maple Landmark is a working woodshop where toys, puzzles, trains, and other classic wooden gifts are made.
You’ll see the machines in action, walk through each step of the process, and probably leave wishing more things were made like this.
Hours: Tours are Monday to Friday at 10 am and 1 pm
Closed weekends and holidays
No advance booking required for individuals or small families
Cost: $6/ per person, Kids under 7 are Free
Plan to Spend: 45–60 minutes
+ extra time for the toy shop!
Website: maplelandmark.com
TLJ Tip: This is the rare factory tour that’s calm, educational, and not trying to upsell you at every turn.
Great for younger kids who are into trains, older ones who like to see how things work, and parents who want a breather from overstimulation.
Vermont Teddy Bear Factory
Because your kids deserve a behind-the-scenes teddy bear moment.
Vermont Teddy Bear Factory ~ Shelburne, VT
What to Expect on the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory Tour:
This is a full peek behind the scenes of how those iconic Vermont Teddy Bears get stitched, stuffed, and boxed up for delivery.
You’ll walk the production floor (enclosed for easy viewing), hear fun facts from a guide, and see bears come to life from start to finish.
The vibe is playful, the pace is easy, and the gift shop is practically a second stop in its own right.
Hours: Daily, 10 am – 4 pm, Tours run every half hour
Cost: $5/per person, Kids 12 and under are Free
Tour fees can be applied to purchases in the gift shop
Plan to Spend: 60 – 90 minutes, extra time if your kids want to build a bear or explore the shop.
Website: vermontteddybear.com
TLJ Tip: Even if your kids are past the teddy bear phase, this tour still delivers. It’s quick, cute, and easy to pair with a few other local stops.
American Kazoo Company
Tiny museum, quirky tour, and yes, you’ll leave with a kazoo.
American Kazoo Company ~ Eden, NY
What to Expect at the American Kazoo Company Factory:
You’ll walk through a tiny museum filled with vintage kazoos, peek into the original production space, and, if the line is running, watch metal kazoos being hand-assembled on antique machinery.
With roots going back to 1916, this charming factory tour is still one of the most delightfully different stops you can make.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 am – 5 pm (factory generally runs Tuesday-Thursday)
Closed Sundays
Call ahead to confirm production is happening if that’s your reason for visiting.
Cost: Free!
Plan to Spend: 30-40 minutes
It’s a small space… but that’s kind of the point
Website: edenkazoo.com
TLJ Tip: Don’t go expecting a polished experience… It’s more of a “beloved roadside oddity” than a corporate HQ.
But it’s quick, free, and kids will love walking out with an instrument they made themselves.
Turns Out, Factory Tours Are Kinda Great
The best part of these factory tours isn’t just the samples or souvenirs—it’s that quick, curious moment where everyone actually stops to watch how something works.
Whether you build a whole trip around one or just slip one into your day, stops like these are always worth it.
Happy travels…
