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25 Best Factory Tours in America for Families Who Love to Go Behind the Scenes

Find out what it takes to construct a jellybean, giant plane and everything in between.

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After a prolonged period of being stuck at home, some families are looking to travel again. And while the COVID-19 pandemic means that precautions still have to be taken, and not every destination is up and running at 100% capacity, there's still plenty of unique experiences out there that are once again open to the public.

The following factory tours and appropriate for kids, are well-reviewed by families and are currently open to visitors (or will be opening soon). But you might want to book ahead — some require timed tickets or reservations before you visit. But when you're done, you'll all know a little bit more about how the world around you is made.

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory (Louisville, Kentucky)

Swing by to see how baseball bats are made — this company has been churning them out since 1884. Your family can walk through the factory production line and watch the wood chips fly! Everyone can try out bats from iconic players, like Babe Ruth and Derek Jeter. With plenty of photo ops (including your crew inside a giant baseball mitt) and a free mini bat souvenir for every guest, this tour will be a home run. Open daily; $ 18 for adults, $11 for ages 6 – 12, free for ages 5 and under

Jelly Belly Visitor Center & Factory (Fairfield, California)

From your perch above the production line, you’ll witness all the steps — slurry, steam bath, glossy application — it takes to create the gourmet jellybeans that have been a thing since the late 1800s. Video screens provide close-ups and fun facts (like it takes 1 – 2 weeks to make a jellybean). Feeling hungry? Stop at the café for a jellybean-shaped pizza. Open daily (but factory workers are typically there only on weekdays), $5 for adults, $2 for ages 2 and up, free for younger kids

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The Kazoo Factory Tour Experience (Beaufort, South Carolina)

After learning the ins and outs of kazoo-making during a factory walk-through, everyone gets to create their own instrument to take home. A built-in souvenir is music to our ears! Open Monday to Friday, $9 for adults, $7 for ages 4 – 11, free for younger kids

PEZ Visitor Center (Orange, Connecticut)

The colorful facility dispenses equal parts nostalgia (it maintains well-organized vintage PEZ displays) and tech wizardry (you can see how the famous candy is packed). Be sure to snap your kid’s pic in front of the world’s largest PEZ dispenser, which looks like a person wearing a PEZ-themed baseball cap. Open daily; $5 for adults, $4 for ages 3 – 12, free for younger kids

Polaris Experience Center (Roseau, Minnesota)

School-age kids who love to build things will have their mind blown going behind-the-scenes at this maker of snowmobiles and ATVs. On the guided tour, they’ll see laser cutters, high-speed saws and other cool equipment making parts for the vehicles. They can also watch motors being installed and ATVs being tested. Whoa! Open Monday to Friday; children under age 6 prohibited; free

Hammond’s Candy Factory Tour (Denver, Colorado)

This centuries-old confectioner invites you to see how it makes its lollipops, candy canes and other treats. Looking through large viewing windows, your crew will be gobsmacked at how the colorful candies are shaped and packaged. Open Monday –Saturday; free

Kohler Design Center Factory Tour (Kohler, Wisconsin)

Got a teen whose interested in manufacturing? They’ll be fascinated by this detailed two-hour, 3 ½-mile foray behind the scenes of how the brand’s famous plumbing products are created. Open Monday – Friday, children under 14 not permitted, free

Sweet Pete’s Candy Shop (Jacksonville, Florida)

Willy Wonka vibes are strong at this mansion that takes guests from room to room of candy-making demos. You’ll get to design your own chocolate bar, choosing from more than 16 toppings. Check availability online; $6.45 per person

Henry Ford Rouge Factory Tour (Dearborn, Michigan)

One truck per minute rolls off the assembly line at this famous automotive factory — and your crew gets a birds-eye view of the goings-on from a 1/3-mile observation deck. There’s also a gallery of cool cars, like a 1965 Ford Mustang, to check out. Check dates online; $22 for adults, $16.50 for ages 5 – 11, free for younger kids

Turkey Hill Experience (Columbia, Pennsylvania)

While the dairy producer’s actual factory is closed to the public, this children’s museum-like attraction gives families the inside scoop on ice cream-making, plus unlimited free samples. Your kids can create their own virtual flavor, and then star in a commercial promoting it . Open daily; starts at $10.50 per person

World of Coca-Cola (Atlanta, Georgia)

Since you can’t tour an actual Coke bottling plant, this attraction is the next best thing. Its Bottle Works exhibit, showcasing real equipment, explains the packaging process. And you’ll get a chance to taste different kinds of sodas from around the world. Open daily; $19 for adults, $15 for ages 3 – 12, free for younger kids

Tillamook Creamery Tour (Tillamook, Oregon)

From a viewing gallery above the factory floor, you’ll see how milk becomes cheese. Then hit the dining hall for gooey faves, likes grilled cheese and mac ’n cheese. Your fam can even share a “flight” of ice cream. Open daily; tour is free, you can add tasting experiences for a charge

Warner Bros. Studio Tour (Los Angeles, California)

Your crew will be star-struck hanging out at a working movie studio. During the hour-long guided portion, you’ll see backlots, movie sets and maybe even spy someone famous. Then you’ll have two more hours to explore on your own — plenty of time to snap a pic of your family in front of the fountain from Friends . Open daily: $69 for adults, $59 for ages 5 – 10

The Great Utz Chip Trip Tour (Hanover, Pennsylvania)

Kids will discover how potatoes get turned into chips at this famous maker’s plant near the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. They can watch factory workers from an observation gallery; closed-circuit TV monitors provide close-ups. Everyone receives a free sample of chips at the end. Open Monday – Thursday, free

Ben & Jerry’s Factory Experience (Waterbury, Vermont)

With a tentative re-opening planned for the end of June 2022, this beloved attraction wets appetites with a short movie about how Ben & Jerry got their start. From there, it’s off to the mezzanine where you’ll watch how the ice cream is made. Samples of ice cream (sometimes a flavor that’s exclusive to the factory) is the proverbial cherry on top. On your way out, visit the “ice cream graveyard” of flavors that are no longer made. Check back for ticket info

The Crayola Experience (Easton, Pennsylvania)

There are many activities to take part in at The Crayola experience, including a live show where a "crayonologist" demonstrates how crayons are made. The 65,000-square-foot attraction also includes a toddler and a big-kid playground, interactive games and a studio for art projects, among manny other stations — they recommend blocking out three or four hours for a visit. Open daily. Admission is $25 if you buy tickets in advance; a timed ticket is required for all visitors ages 3 and up. There are also Crayola Experience locations in Chandler, Arizona; Mall of America, Minnesota; Orlando, Florida and Plano, Texas, but offerings may vary

Taza Chocolate Factory Tour (Somerville, Massachusetts)

Specializing in stone-ground chocolate, this candy maker explains the production process and hosts a sampling. On weekends, there’s a scavenger hunt-themed tour for kids under age 10 . Open Wednesday – Sunday; $8-$12 per person

The White House (Washington, DC)

Though not a factory in the traditional sense, White House tours are back, and you can meander around the famous Blue Room, Red Room, State dining room and — best of all — the Rose Garden. But you can’t wait until the last minute to book. Twenty-one to 90 days before you’d like to visit, you need to request one of the free tours by contacting your congress member’s office. Tours are only available on Fridays and Saturdays

Blue Bell Creamery Factory Tour (Brenham, Texas)

Look high above the factory floor to see ice cream being packaged in different types of containers. An employee is on-hand to answer all the kids’ questions about the process, so encourage them to ask away. Open Monday – Friday; free

American Whistle Company (Columbus, Ohio)

A kitschy stop on a Midwest road trip, this factory doles out loads of engaging info about a topic you probably never considered — how whistles are made. Everyone receives a whistle to take home. Open Monday Friday; $6 per person

The former senior editor at Parents who started the brand’s awards programs, Karen Cicero is a seasoned journalist who specializes in travel, book, lifestyle and food coverage.Cicero has visited almost every state with her family (look out Wyoming, she’s coming for you next!) She recently presented at several travel industry conferences, including PRSA and the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Alliance. A mom who goes overboard for all the holidays, Cicero lives in the Christmas city itself: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

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10 Best Factory Tours In the USA

• January 19, 2023
• Rick Farrell

As of 2022, 18% of all the world’s manufacturing is done right here in the U.S., making the country the second-largest maker of all goods worldwide after China. Moreover, according to IBISWorld , the number of factories and manufacturing businesses in the U.S. has been growing annually by an average of 3.8% since 2017. And with over 715,000 plants and factories nationwide and counting — when it comes to factory tours, you have plenty of options. Choosing the best tour to go on, however, can be tricky. If you happen to be looking to make your own factory tour stand out from the rest, consider Plant Tours’ tour guide systems and headsets for factory tours . They’re sure to make any tour experience smooth, enjoyable, and — quite possibly — worthy of being called the best in the country. And, in the meantime, if you happen to be planning a cross-country road trip (especially through Pennsylvania), we suggest you stop and glimpse the unique manufacturing process behind some of the country’s most recognizable, authentically Americana products. And to help you do just that, we’ve compiled a list of ten cool factories to visit below.

Jelly Belly Visitor Center & Factory (Fairfield, California)

Originally invented in the mid-1800s as a snack to send to U.S. soldiers on the frontline, the jelly bean has come a long way over the years. And Jelly Belly has been — and remains — a pioneer in the industry. The original Jelly Belly factory about an hour north of San Francisco in Fairfield offers a fun self-guided tour of why that is. Learn about the company’s origins, history, and the careful process that goes into crafting each unique jelly bean — from classics like Very Cherry and Green Apple to the slightly less common Buttered Popcorn and Cappuccino (and every bean in between). Observe the workings of a uniquely colorful production line, learn some science — including why each jelly bean takes one to two weeks to make — and, of course, treat your belly to some classic or not-so-classic free samples to boot.

The Crayola Experience (Easton, Pennsylvania)

While on the East Coast, for something equally colorful — albeit inedible — check out the original Crayola Experience in Easton, PA. Crayola has been synonymous with crayons ever since its inception by school teacher Alice (Stead) Binney back in 1903. Located just a short drive from Philadelphia and New York City, this fun, modern-day factory tour is described as “a larger-than-life, indoor family attraction” and includes dozens of fun interactive exhibits, activities, and sciency stuff for all ages. Among the many highlights, for example, is “Big Blue” — a single crayon weighing 1,500 lbs created from 123,000 blue crayons donated from around the world.

Hershey’s Chocolate World (Hershey, Pennsylvania)

Then head west to Hershey, PA for some chocolate. Originally a caramel company founded by Milton S. Hershey in the 1880s — in what was then Derry Church, PA — Hershey’s transitioned to chocolate in 1893. Since then, it has grown to become one of the world’s most recognizable brands. So much so that Derry Church was renamed Hershey in 1905 — in honor of Hershey’s very first factory. Today, Hershey’s Chocolate World invites you to take a ‘Chocolate Tour ride’ and glimpse the factory’s and the brand’s history, learn how roasted cocoa beans transition to delicious wrapped candy bars, and receive one of these complimentary bars at the end — all free of charge. You can also create your own candy bar, shop for some customized delicious gifts, and more. The sweetness is available both on weekdays and weekends all year round.

Harley-Davidson Vehicle Operations (York, Pennsylvania)

After you’ve had your fill of the most recognizable cocoa goodness in the world, head an hour south — to York, PA — and check out what goes into making perhaps the most iconic motorcycles in the world. Back in 1903 — coincidentally, the same year Hershey opened his first factory and Alice (Stead) Binney patented Crayola crayons — William S. Harley and Arthur and Walter Davidson finished their very first model of a “motor-bicycle” in their 10×15-foot shed in Milwaukee. And the rest is, well, not only history — but the stuff of legend. Today, Harley-Davidson Factory Tours offers you a free behind-the-scenes look at how “the legend comes to life.” Witness hydraulic presses transform sheets of metal into fenders, fuel tanks, and tailpipes. Watch masters of the craft assemble these into classic HD frames and give them in-house road tests at 60 mph. And, finally, see the bikes wrapped in plastic and crated by robots — to surely make any motorcycle enthusiast’s dream come true soon enough. Oh, and you get a chance to sit on one of these bad boys too. The Tour Center also features a gift shop with authentic branded merchandise.

The Great Utz Chip Trip Tour (Hanover, Pennsylvania)

And before you leave the Keystone State, see what goes into making some of the world’s most recognizable potato chips in nearby Hanover. Here, back in 1921, William and Salie Utz were single-handedly cooking about 50 lbs of chips an hour in their summer kitchen. A century later, the 600,000+ square foot Utz manufacturing facility invites you to The Utz Potato Chip Trip Tour . With the aid of a tour guide system and closed-circuit TV monitors, this tasty-smelling free self-guided tour includes some history, some science, and a special glass-enclosed observation gallery. And you get a free bag of chips at the end too.

The Roasterie Factory Tour (Kansas City, Missouri)

In 1978, foreign exchange student Danny O’Neill picked his first coffee cherries in Costa Rica. 15 years later, Danny founded The Roasterie Coffee Company in his basement in Kansas City. Since then, The Roasterie has been committed to sourcing and roasting the finest coffees from around the world and delivering them to their customers “as fast as humanly possible.” And their aromatic guided tour invites you to learn, sip, and “take a piece of Kansas City with you.”

Ben & Jerry’s Factory Experience (Waterbury, Vermont)

The same year that Danny O’Neill was picking coffee in Costa Rica, friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield were converting a former gas station in Burlington, Vermont into their very first ice cream scoop shop. 45 years later, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream is a household name, available in 33 countries and counting. But their very first factory — built in Waterbury, Vermont in 1985 — continues to manufacture over 350,000 pints of goodness daily. Meanwhile, its Factory Experience tour offers you a detailed sneak peek into the company’s humble beginnings, history, growth, and how each pint of goodness is made. Sample said goodness in their Flavor Room, and finish the walking tour in their “flavor graveyard.” Overlooking the factory, the graveyard is complete with headstones and epitaphs for each flavor that didn’t make the cut (yet).

PEZ Visitor Center (Orange, Connecticut)

Originally invented in 1927 in Vienna by Eduard Haas III, the now world-famous PEZ candy dispenser was meant to be a handy peppermint alternative to smoking. The candy company has since evolved, coming to the U.S. in 1952 and building its first candy factory in Orange, CT in 1973. Then, the PEZ Visitor Center opened its doors to the public in 2011. Its self-guided tours offer 4,000+ square feet “dedicated to all things PEZ.” Among these is the largest collection of PEZ memorabilia in the world, a PEZ motorcycle, the world’s largest PEZ dispenser, an interactive historical timeline, and more. Oh — and there is, of course, no smoking during any portion of the tour.

Tabasco Factory (Avery Island, Louisiana)

Since its inception by Edmund McIlhenny in the Bayou State in 1868, Tabasco has become synonymous with hot sauce the world over. Meanwhile, the Avery Island Fan Experience is a self-guided taste of where this spicy wonder got its start. It features a museum, a greenhouse, a barrel warehouse, a salt mine diorama, a centuries-old restaurant, a Tabasco shop, and “170 acres of natural beauty” known as Jungle Beauty. And it’s all designed to take you through the history and process of making and bottling the “Original Red Pepper Sauce passed down from generation to generation.”

Celestial Seasonings Factory Tour (Boulder, Colorado)

In 1969, hiker Mo Siegel handpicked some wild herbs from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and made some tea. In the coming years, inspired by this experience, Mo and his hippy friends would find Celestial Seasonings — supposedly naming the brand after one of its founder’s “flowernames.” Since then, the company would grow to become one of the most recognizable tea brands in the country — due in part to their unique visual branding, but also thanks to their commitment to using the finest herbs, teas, spices, and botanicals available in nature. The free tour of their Factory is, unfortunately, currently on hold due to the pandemic. But keep an eye out for this one. This aromatic herbal experience promises to “make every moment celestial,” and is not to be missed.

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Step inside the world's largest factory for a behind-the-scenes look at the Boeing Everett Factory and 777 assembly line. Each tour is an 80-minute guided experience with a front row view of current airplane production, the Everett site’s history and the central role it plays in the future of commercial aviation.

Pro-Tip: Tickets sell out quickly. We recommend booking tickets in advance, either online or through the Call Center: +1 (800) 464-1476

Tour Schedule: Offered Thursday – Monday. Select 'Buy Tickets' to check availability.

Know Before You Go

Safety requirements.

• Children/Youth must be at least 4 feet (48in/122cm) tall to go on the tour.
• Carrying children on the tour is not allowed for safety reasons.
• Children/Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Restricted Items

This is a hands-free tour. Complimentary lockers are available to use in the lobby. Please store all belongings before your tour time begins. Items NOT allowed on the Boeing Everett Factory Tour:

• No purses, handbags, waist pouches or backpacks
• No binoculars and electronics including cameras, video equipment or drones
• No phones or tablets
• No food or drinks
• No smoking or vaping

Refunds and Restrictions

• If guests do not arrive promptly for their scheduled tour the reservation will be forfeited*. We strongly recommend guests arrive at least 30 minutes before their tour start time.
• Refunds will be provided with at least 2-hour notice of cancellation. No refunds will be made within 2 hours of your scheduled tour.
• In order to request a reservation modification of any kind, please call Boeing Future of Flight Customer Service at +1 (800)-464-1476 .

* If an emergency arises, we will attempt to reschedule your tour if you call at least one hour in advance of your scheduled tour time (depending on availability).

Boeing Future of Flight reserves the right to cancel the tour at any time for any reason.

Accessibility

• Boeing Future of Flight is an accessible facility. Please contact Boeing Future of Flight Customer Service in advance at [email protected] or call +1 (800) 464-1476 for special accommodations requests, including booking our wheelchair-accessible bus tour. For more information regarding our accessibility accommodations, please visit our Accessibility page.
• Participation on the Boeing Everett Factory Tour requires traveling approximately .3 miles (.5km) round trip. There are flights of stairs to navigate; however, elevators are accessible on all floors at Boeing Future of Flight and the Boeing Everett Factory Tour.

Restrooms are not available during the tour. Please plan ahead by using the restrooms at Boeing Future of Flight before your tour start time.

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• Featured Tours

Welcome to your guide to factory tours!

Ever wonder how the fortune gets into the fortune cookie? How toothpaste gets into the tube? Or how sheet metal is welded into a shiny new car or motorcycle? Having traveled thousands of miles and personally visited hundreds of factory tours since 1992, we invite you to explore some manufacturing mysteries of the world. Since most of the tours are free, and many give free samples, factory tours and company museums remain the best vacation value in America. Come along for the ride!

The Toronto Star featured an article on me and some of the factory tours I have written about. I am quoted in a CNN Travel feature about nine great factory tours. We also wrote an article for the magazine Leisure Group Travel and was mentioned in Travel & Leisure .

Your guide to factory tours, Karen Axelrod Author and Factory Tour Consultant

From planes to crayons, these fun factory tours go behind the scenes

Feb 14, 2020 • 7 min read

What’s more fun than breaking open a bright new box of crayons or digging a spoon into a melty pint of ice cream? Getting a behind-the-scenes look at how they’re made, of course.

Whether you’re a super fan or are just generally curious, companies around the US – some that have been in business for decades, and in some cases, for over a century – are offering a fresh new way to experience their goods. Visiting the factory offers insight on how a product comes to life, usually in a hands-on, interactive and fun way. From Cape Cod potato chips to PEZ candies, these 11 factory tours are worth a visit.

PEZ Factory – Orange, Connecticut

The world’s largest PEZ dispenser, vintage Star Wars PEZ and a PEZ motorcycle can all be found in the 4000 sq ft visitor’s center of the company’s candy-making factory . From floor-to-ceiling windows, see the tiny tabs being packaged. (Along with its sister candy-making factory in Traun, Austria, the company produces 5 billion candies each year).

Take time to explore the decades of memorabilia packed into the two-story center, and go on a scavenger hunt for a chance to win a sweet prize at the end.

Ben & Jerry’s – Waterbury, Vermont 

Every ice cream lover should add a Waterbury, Vermont , pilgrimage to their bucket list. The Ben & Jerry’s factory tour gives guests a front-row peek into the ice cream-making process, an overview of the company’s colorful history, and – the best part – a sample of the flavors. Finish the visit with a stroll around the company’s outdoor Flavor Graveyard, an ode to discontinued pints.

If a 30-minute tour isn’t enough, opt for the Flavor Fanatic Experience; the $225, two-hour package includes a private guided factory tour, a tie-dyed lab coat, and a hands-on mixing and tasting session in the Flavor Lab, led by one of the company’s Flavor Gurus.

Cape Cod Chips – Hyannis, Massachusetts

In Hyannis, Massachusetts, find the Kennedy compound, the fast ferries to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and the Cape Cod Potato Chip factory. More than 250,000 visitors each year take the free, self-guided tour, which includes a walk through the facility to see potato chips made in custom kettles, plus relics from the first factory dating back to the 1980s.

At the end of the tour, break open your complimentary chips at an umbrella-shaded table on the sunny patio. (The tour is available Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm.)

US Mint – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If you have coins in your pocket, there’s a good chance they were minted in Philadelphia . (You can tell by the tiny “P” stamped on one side.) In the city of brotherly love, the US Mint has been producing coins for over 225 years, and visitors can see the process during the self-guided, 45-minute tours available to the public most days.

See the coining operation from 40ft above the factory floor, check out the historic artifacts, like the press used to make the nation’s first coins in 1792, and see the series of seven, 5ft-tall Tiffany glass mosaics created to commemorate the opening of the third US Mint building in 1901. While the Mint sadly doesn’t offer free samples, you can buy commemorative coins and other collectibles in the gift shop.

You might also like: Philadelphia will be known as 'The City of Sisterly Love' for the remainder of 2020

Jelly Belly Factory – Fairfield, California

The sixth-generation family-run candy company has been in business since 1898, and making the beloved Jelly Beans since 1976. At the Jelly Belly Factory , self-guided tours lead visitors through a quarter mile-long elevated path, with interactive exhibits and a view of the factory floor. For a flat fee of $39 for groups of up to six, private tour guides will take you through. In the end, everyone gets free samples of the rainbow-hued treat.

Louisville Slugger Factory  – Louisville, Kentucky

You can’t miss the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory , located in downtown Louisville , Kentucky. The 120ft, 68,000 pound, world’s largest baseball bat leans against the side of the building, marking the entrance. Louisville Slugger has been making its iconic bats since 1884, and the factory and museum give visitors an up-close look at how they’re produced. Walk through the line to see the step-by-step process, explore the Bat Vault, with a copy of nearly every bat the company has ever made, and leave with a souvenir mini bat, free for tour-goers.

You might also like: A spirited trip through Kentucky bourbon country

Tillamook Creamery Factory – Tillamook, Oregon

Inside the strikingly modern facade of Oregon’s Tillamook Creamery Factory , the milk produced by the cows on the company’s fourth generation farm is transformed into award-winning cheeses. Get a bird’s-eye view from the observation windows, down onto the factory floor, as the process goes from fresh milk to cheese curds to aged cheddars.

The sprawling, state-of-the-art aging warehouse on site houses upwards of 37 million pounds of cheese, which age from 60 days to 6 years before being sent back out to the warehouse to be cut into bricks and packed up for the grocery store. Don’t leave before sampling all the cheese.

Hershey’s Chocolate Factory – Hershey Pennsylvania

In the central Pennsylvania town of Hershey, the lamp posts are shaped like Hershey’s Kisses and there’s usually a faint whiff of chocolate in the air. To find the source, head straight for the Hershey’s Chocolate Factory . During the free, 30-minute tour, visitors can take an immersive journey through the facility to see how chocolate is made, from cocoa bean to foil-wrapped bar, and finish with a Hershey’s treat.

For $26.95, the create-your-own candy bar tour lets visitors make their own confection, and design a personalized wrapper for a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

Crayola Experience – Easton, Pennsylvania

Crayola has been in business for over a century, making iconic crayons and coloring accoutrements for kids and adults alike. (Color Escapes, ie adult coloring books, were introduced in 2015.) The colorful company has a manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania ’s Lehigh Valley, about halfway between Philadelphia and New York City, and about ten minutes away, visitors can check out the Crayola Experience . Guests can see how crayons are made in a live show, pose for a personalized coloring page, mold a critter or character out of crayon wax, and name a color, taking home a keepsake crayon.

Taylor Guitars – San Diego, California

Seasoned musicians and anyone who appreciates a good Spotify playlist will love the thoroughly educational look into how Taylor Guitars are made. Every weekday at 1pm, free, guided tours are offered at the legendary manufacturer of premium acoustic guitars, used by artists like Taylor Swift, Dave Matthews, and Zac Brown.

The 75-minute tour takes place right on the factory floor, so visitors can soak up each step of the process, from choosing the wood and assembling the pieces to finished product. Don’t miss the guitar room, where myriad models are available to test out. (Tours aren’t offered on weekday holidays, so check the schedule before visiting.)

Boeing – Everett, Washington 

The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour is located just north of Seattle , at the company’s Everett factory. Inside the building – which is the largest in the world, by volume – the aircraft design and manufacturing company assembles the 747, 767, 777 and 787 planes. The 90-minute tour is the only one of its kind in North America, offering a look inside a working commercial jet engine assembly plant, and highlights include the factory tour, plus the Boeing gallery that showcases over 150 products the company makes and is developing, including satellites, submarines, and alternative fuels.

On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, the facility offers hands-on robotics workshops, introducing visitors to the basics of coding robots for use in the manufacturing process. Tours are so popular, travelers can book day trips from downtown Seattle that include transportation, hotel pickup and dropoff. (Visitors must be 4, or 122 cm tall, to go on the tour.)

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Ford Rouge Factory Tour

Tour the rouge, today at ford rouge factory tour, discover your drive..

Pop open the hood on game-changing technology, sustainable design and sheer American grit at America’s greatest manufacturing experience. Get an inside look at the most iconic moments of American manufacturing history, and immerse yourself in modern manufacturing’s most progressive concepts. This is where big ideas gain momentum.

Rev up your inner engineer in a five-part experience at a legendary factory — Ford Motor Company’s Dearborn Truck Plant.

Walk through the Legacy Gallery and Electric Vehicle Display, and look back at the iconic vehicles manufactured at the Rouge complex, all while looking ahead to automaking’s electric future. Take a seat in our Legacy Theater to learn more about the history of Ford Motor Company. Feel the force of modern engineering in the multisensory Manufacturing Innovation Theater. Travel up to the observation deck for sweeping views of the historic Rouge Complex and one of the world’s largest living roofs. Step into the elevated plant walkway for a look at where the legendary Ford F-150 is assembled.

A true model of 21st-century sustainable design, Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant showcases how community, business and the environment can thrive together in a single environment. Start to finish, Ford Rouge Factory Tour offers awe-inspiring encounters with America’s celebrated manufacturing past, present and future, plus a look into the sheer scale of a working auto factory.

5-Part Experience View Map

Legacy theater.

Learn about the history of the challenges and triumphs of the Ford Motor Company, including the storied partnership between management and labor at the historic Rouge Complex.   Details 

Manufacturing Innovation Theater

A multisensory representation of the manufacturing experience, from concept to highway, filled with jaw-dropping special effects.   Details 

Observation Deck Overlooking the Living Roof

View the massive network of production facilities that make up the Rouge, including a bird’s-eye view of Ford Motor Company’s innovative living roof. Planted with a drought-resistant groundcover, the living roof spans 454,000 square feet.   Details 

Plant Walkway

Walk the elevated walkway over the Dearborn Truck Plant’s lean and flexible final assembly line, where the aluminum-body F-150 is made. (Please note that the schedule for active vehicle assembly varies and is not guaranteed.)   Details 

Legacy and Electric Vehicle Gallery

View historic vehicles manufactured at the Rouge during the 20th century, Look to the future and hop in the new Ford F-150 Lighting, the world’s first electric pickup truck.   Details 

Seasonal Living Lab Environmental Area

See sustainable design in action. Discover how natural processes deal with water, soil and air challenges at the Rouge. (Please note that this experience is seasonal.)   Details 

Featured: Manufacturing Innovation Theater

Celebrating the engineering ingenuity behind the production of the all-new aluminum-body Ford F-150 truck, the multisensory Manufacturing Innovation Theater comes complete with vibrating seats, gusts of wind, 3D projection mapping, winking robots and much more.

Active Assembly Information

Ford Rouge Factory Tour is an experience housed within Ford Motor Company's Dearborn Truck Plant in partnership with The Henry Ford and the United Auto Workers union.

The Dearborn Truck Plant is a real working factory. As a result, there are many factors that can cause inconsistent active assembly hours. This includes vehicle demand, supply shortages, factory floor renovations and construction, and staffing considerations. The Dearborn Truck Plant does not build vehicles during daily breaks, shift changes, holidays and weekends.

Please note that The Henry Ford cannot control Ford Motor Company’s production schedule and cannot guarantee that guests will see the assembly line in full operation during their visit. The Henry Ford is also not able to refund tickets in the event that vehicles are not being actively assembled.

Regardless of whether vehicles are being actively assembled, guests will be able to view the Dearborn Truck Plant’s final assembly area via a fully accessible suspended walkway at all times. The final assembly area is only one part of the Ford Rouge Factory Tour’s five-part experience. All other parts of the tour remain unaffected.

The Dearborn Truck Plant will not be in active assembly during these dates in 2024 and 2025, following the plant’s holiday and maintenance schedule. The dates include but aren’t limited to:

• January 1-2, 2024
• January 15, 2024
• March 29-April 1, 2024
• May 25-27, 2024
• June 19, 2024
• June 29-July 14, 2024
• August 31-September 2, 2024
• November 5, 2024
• November 11, 2024
• November 28-December 1, 2024
• December 24, 2024-January 5, 2025

Active assembly is not available on Saturdays, and the tour is closed on Sundays.

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Best US Factory Tours and Museums

Related to:, celestial seasonings.

celestial seasonings, factory, tour, boulder, colorado

Photo by: Courtesy of Celestial Seasonings

Courtesy of Celestial Seasonings

We’ve all had a cup of Sleepytime tea, but have you ever wondered what goes into making that little pouch of goodness? At the Celestial Seasonings factory, visitors can watch as herbal tea ingredients are blended, packaged and shipped to your local grocery store. The tours are free, and include free samples of all the different Celestial Seasonings tea varieties.

Harley-Davidson

harley davidson, motorcycle, factory, york, pennsylvania

Photo by: Klaus Nahr , Flickr CC-BY-SA-2.0

Klaus Nahr , Flickr CC-BY-SA-2.0

Get in touch with your inner biker at the Harley-Davidson factory in York, PA, where the Touring, Softail and Trike models are all made. Catch a glimpse of the manufacturing and assembly process, and sit on a Harley before it’s shipped from the factory.

Jelly Belly

jelly belly, factory, tour, fairfield, california

Photo by: Jelly Belly Candy Company

Jelly Belly Candy Company

Did you know that a jelly bean takes at least a week to make? Find out why on a Jelly Belly factory tour in Fairfield, CA, where 150 different jelly bean flavors are constantly being cooked up. Tours are free, but make sure to check out the candy store and chocolate shop before you leave.

Louisville Slugger

louisville slugger, museum, factory, kentucky

Photo by: Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory to see how the iconic bats are made. The factory museum also has a collection of retired Louisville Sluggers that have been swung by some of baseball’s greats. Tours are $10, and you’ll get your very own miniature bat!

The Crayola Factory

crayola crayons, factory, easton, pennsylvania

Photo by: William Thomas Cain/Getty Images

William Thomas Cain/Getty Images

While there is not an actual manufacturing plant onsite, the Crayola Factory serves as a museum and visitor center where you can become an expert on how the famous crayons are made. Learn about Crayola’s history, color on the walls, play with sidewalk chalk, and watch as your own souvenir box of crayons is made.

Intel Museum

intel, museum, santa clara, california

Photo by: Bloomberg/Getty Images

Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Intel Museum is a 10,000-square-foot learning experience. Watch as employees demonstrate how silicon chips are made, and even try on one of the “bunny suits,” which workers must wear while manufacturing the chips.

Maker's Mark Distillery

makers mark, distillery, loretto, kentucky

Visit this National Historic Landmark to learn about the distillery’s history, watch the fermentation process, and get a look at the barrels that the whiskey ages in. The tour also includes a look at the bottling area, where workers hand-dip the top of each bottle in Maker’s Mark’s signature red wax.

Hershey's Chocolate World

hersheys chocolate world, factory, hershey, pennsylvania

Photo by: Gary Burke/Moment/Getty Images

Gary Burke/Moment/Getty Images

Feel like you stepped into a scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Hershey’s Chocolate World . Walk through a tropical jungle where cocoa beans are harvested, take a simulated factor tour, create your own candy bar, and don’t forget to pick up your free sample!

mack truck, museum, allentown, pennsylvania

Photo by: Lehigh Valley, PA

Lehigh Valley, PA

Head to Macungie, PA, to see how Mack trucks are made. Be prepared, because the factory tour includes 1.5 miles of walking! Stop by the Mack Museum in Allentown, PA, to see truck models from 1907 to 1973.

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream

ben and jerrys, ice cream, factory, waterbury, vermont

Photo by: Raffi Asdourian , via Flickr

Raffi Asdourian , via Flickr

Located in Vermont’s Green Mountains, the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory is a must-see for satisfying any sweet tooth. Get a glimpse of the ice cream production line, watch a “moo-vie” on the company’s history, and stop at the Flavoroom for a taste of the flavor of the day. Don’t forget to visit the flavor graveyard, the final resting place for retired ice cream varieties.

Gibson Guitar Factory

gibson, guitars, factory, nashville, tennessee

The Gibson luthiers (string-instrument makers) bind, paint, neck-fit, buff and tune the famous guitars right at the Memphis factory. Watch as they make some of the same guitars that have been played by Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix.

Tabasco Factory

tabasco factory, avery island, louisiana

Photo by: Omar Torres/AFP/Getty Images

Omar Torres/AFP/Getty Images

Visit tiny Avery Island on the Bayou to learn how the famous hot-pepper sauce is made, aged, bottled and shipped. Make sure to stop at the Tabasco Country Store at the tour’s end for a taste of Tabasco-flavored ice cream and to pick up Tabasco-inspired souvenirs.

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The 15 Best Factory Tours in America

By Katelin Hill

Updated on Aug 1, 2018 4:14 PM EDT

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John Deere in East Moline, Illinois

In 1837, Illinois blacksmith John Deere set out to address the concerns of local farmers whose plows weren’t holding up against the thick Midwest soil, and the John Deere empire was born. Today, the company’s East Moline factory offers tours that guide visitors through the process of manufacturing the company’s various machines—the American-made equipment that helps feed the world.

Related: 10 American-Made Buys for Your Outdoor Living Area

Jelly Belly in Fairfield, California

Wikimedia Commons

Why does it take up to 14 days to create a single jelly bean? Find out on the Jelly Belly Candy Company’s free factory tour. Learn how the 50 Jelly Belly flavors and other sweet treats are made, sample some of your favorites, and stop off at the café or fudge shop afterwards to enjoy some sweet (and savory) snacks, or take them to go. Jelly bean-shaped burgers, anyone?

Related: Yes, These 20 Weird and Wacky Museums Actually Exist

Harley-Davidson Vehicle Operations in York, Pennsylvania

flickr.com via Klaus Nahr

The Harley-Davidson Vehicle Operations center, established in 1973, is where the Touring, Trike and CVO families of motorcycles are assembled. Visitors to the Vaughn L. Beals Tour Center will be able to explore exhibits, walk the factory floor from manufacturing to assembly to the end of the line, and sit on a current production model.

Related: 15 Classic Roadside Motels You Can Visit Along America’s Highways

The United States Mint in Philadelphia and Denver

istockphoto.com

See where the money gets made at two of the four active United States Mint facilities. The Philadelphia and Denver locations offer free self-guided walking tours that showcase the past and present of the Mint and describe all stages of the coining process, from the craftsmanship that goes into the original designs to the final production process.

Related: 20 Weird and Wacky Destinations for a Family Road Trip

Future of Flight Aviation Center and Boeing Tour in Mukilteo, Washington

To visit the only North American commercial jet factory open to the public, direct your car to Mukilteo, about 30 miles north of Seattle. There, you can view 747, 777, and 787 Dreamliner models while they’re being assembled in the Everett production line and meet some of the thousands of employees who support the design and development of Boeing’s aircraft. The Everett production facility, the largest building in the world by volume, has welcomed millions of visitors since 1968.

Related: 7 Companies That Want to Help Their Employees Buy a House

Celestial Seasonings Factory Tour in Boulder, Colorado

flickr.com via Wally Gobetz

The Celestial Seasonings Factory offers what may be one of the country’s most aromatic tours: a behind-the-scenes look at how tea is made. See for yourself the manufacturing magic, from blending to shipping, that goes into every cup of tea, including the company’s ever-popular Sleepytime blend.

Related:  15 Places Every American Should Visit at Least Once

Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania

flickr.com via Rain0975

Hershey’s Chocolate World’s big attraction isn’t technically a factory tour—it’s more like an educational ride, the likes of which you might find at Disneyland. Guests board a moving chain of cars, “It’s a Small World” style, to travel through the story of chocolate, where animatronic characters explain how Hershey makes the company’s iconic milk chocolate . After the tour, try other attractions, including a create-your-own-candy-bar activity or the 4D Chocolate Mystery show.

Related:  12 Destinations You Should Actually Visit During the Off-Season

Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory in Louisville, Kentucky

flickr.com via Alves Family

An apprentice in his father’s woodworking shop , John Andrew “Bud” Hillerich began crafting baseball bats for himself and his teammates in the 1880s. Although the company was originally known for its wood butter churn, the baseball bats eventually became the company’s signature item. Fast-forward more than a century, and guests on the factory tour can watch the bats made right before their eyes—and even receive a free miniature Louisville Slugger bat to take home as a souvenir.

Related: 12 Unusual Ways to Reinvent Old Sports Gear

Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour and Ice Cream Shop in Waterbury, Vermont

Learn how one of America’s favorite ice creams is made, from farm to freezer. View the production room from a glassed-in mezzanine, and enjoy the sample of the day. After the tour, wander through the Flavor Graveyard to pay your respects to beloved flavors of years past.

Related:  17 Brands Born and Loved in the U.S.A.

Gibson Guitars in Memphis, Tennessee

Music lovers won’t want to miss the Gibson Beale Street Showcase in Memphis, where highly skilled luthiers (makers of stringed instruments) craft world-class guitars. On the tour, you’ll learn how Gibson became a leader in the musical instrument industry and trace the many steps involved in making a guitar, including binding, neck-fitting, painting, buffing, and tuning.

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Toyota Tour in Georgetown, Kentucky

At the world’s largest Toyota manufacturing facility, more than 2,000 cars are made each day. The Georgetown, Kentucky, factory  welcomes visitors on weekdays for a tour that includes a tram ride around the plant, a discussion of the acclaimed car company’s future, and a peek at the very first Camry ever made in the United States—a pristine example of late-1980s auto design. 

Related:  Pedestrians Only: 20 Car-Free Cities in America

Airstream Factory Tour in Jackson Center, Ohio

flickr.com via Matthew Simoneau

For many, an Airstream isn’t just a convenient, comfortable way to get from point A to point B— it’s a way of life . These touring coaches and travel trailers are handcrafted in Jackson Center, Ohio, where the company welcomes visitors for a two-hour walking tour through the state-of-the-art factory.

Related:  The 18 Best Tiny Houses on Wheels

Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee

Make a trip to Lynchburg, Tennessee, for a behind-the-scenes tour of the whiskey-making process at the Jack Daniel Distillery. As  no distillery tour would be complete without a taste , upgrade to the Flight of Jack Distillery Tour, which includes a stop at historic Barrelhouse 1-14, where visitors over 21 years of age will savor a flight of five Jack Daniel’s whiskeys and liqueurs.

Related:  10 “Sober” Alternative Uses for Alcohol at Home

Tabasco Factory in Avery Island, Louisiana

flickr.com via Kent Kanouse

The McIlhenny Company has turned their hometown of Avery Island into a destination for lovers of their famous Tabasco® brand Pepper Sauce. A factory tour of their facility provides background on the McIlhenny Company and the McIlhenny family, and answers all your burning hot-sauce questions. While you’re there, take the Tabasco Culinary Tour, sample delicious Cajun cuisine, or take a Tabasco-centric cooking class with Hospitality Chef Lionel Robin.

Related: 17 New Essentials for Your Best-Ever BBQ

Pendleton Woolen Mills in Washougal, Washington, and Pendleton, Oregon

flickr.com via Association of Washington Business

Learn how Pendleton turns raw wool into fabric, and fabric into beautiful, intricate clothing and blankets . The Pendleton Blanket Mill and Washougal Weaving Mill offer weekday tours where they educate visitors about the weaving process and demonstrate how one weaver’s dream and the hard work of six generations turned Pendleton into a household name.

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Made in the USA: 23 Must-See Factory Tours

©TripAdvisor

Many tourists have gone on a brewery or distillery tour  or been through the chocolate  wonderland that is the Hershey's Chocolate Tour in Pennsylvania. But guitar factories, cigar makers, motorcycle plants, and other fascinating sites are also open to visitors. This survey of more than 30 tours — all free or less than $10 a person, unless otherwise noted — can add an educational element to your next vacation and may also offer free samples, along with fun memories. The COVID-19 pandemic changed many companies’ policies regarding tours. Check official websites for the most recent information before planning a visit.

Related: 74 Brands That Are Still Made in America

Moose Munch and More at Harry & David's

Medford, Oregon Folks who have wondered how that addictive sweet-salty Moose Munch snack is made can take a Harry & David tour . It offers a look at the mail-order company (dating back to the 1930s) and its treats, including baklava and truffles. The tours include a bakery treat and a chocolate.

Related:   American Candymakers With Treats Almost Too Pretty to Eat

In Tune with Martin Guitars

Nazareth, Pennsylvania Martin guitars have been played by Johnny Cash, Joan Baez, Paul Simon, and Beck, among many others. Though Martin, which dates back to the 1830s, has a production plant in Mexico for its less-expensive models, its headquarters in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, is where it makes its top-of-the-line guitars and ukuleles. Fans of its legendary guitars can actually see them made there on factory tours five days a week .

Chips, No Dip at Utz Potato Chips and Snacks

Hanover, Pennsylvania Visitors can experience the sights and smells of snack-making during a free tour of the Utz Potato Chips and Snacks factory. A self-guided tour of the 600,000-square-foot facility — the Utz Potato Chip Trip — takes an average of 30 to 45 minutes. A glass-enclosed observation gallery looks down on the entire production process, while an audio program and closed-circuit TV monitors help guide visitors through.

Some Special Beer at Summit Brewing Co.

St. Paul, Minnesota Summit Brewing Co. , bills itself as the maker of "A More Meaningful Brew." Visitors can find out what that means when they "witness the miracle of brewing" and have a few samples from these Midwest pioneers who made their name with copper kettles instead of covered wagons. The tour includes a flight of four 7-ounce beers.

Related:   19 of the Oldest Breweries in America

Say 'Cheese' at Beecher's Handmade Cheese

New York City It might be crass to call this a factory tour, but Beecher's Handmade Cheese  in New York City's Flatiron District (a sister to the famed flagship in Seattle's Pike Place Market) features a glass-walled cheese-making kitchen where visitors can watch centuries-old craftsmanship. Guests can also grab a sandwich in the café or have a glass of wine downstairs in the Cellar, where rows of Beecher's cheeses ripen to perfection.

For the Science-Minded at Experimental Breeder Reactor-I

Arco, Idaho For those with an interest in science, nuclear energy, or electricity, a free tour of Idaho's pioneering Experimental Breeder Reactor-I  explains how electricity is generated from nuclear energy. Located between Idaho Falls and Arco, the (EBR-I) Atomic Museum is a National Historic Landmark where usable electricity was first generated from nuclear energy in 1951.

Snuggle Up at Vermont Teddy Bear

Shelburne, Vermont Those with a soft spot for stuffed animals can tour the Vermont Teddy Bear factory  and see how those well-dressed cuties are made. During the guided tour, which lasts about 30 minutes, visitors watch bears be crafted by hand and see the Bear Hospital, where "Dr. Nancy" does repairs.

Got Milk at Knigge Farm

Omro, Wisconsin There's no shortage of milk at Knigge Farm , the first dairy farm in the country with robotic milkers. They also have 600 acres of alfalfa, corn, soybeans, oats, and wheat, along with 130 milk cows and 170 heifers, calves, and steers. A half-hour guided tour features a free-stall dairy barn where cows are milked robotically 24 hours a day. Guests can also feed the calves if it's mealtime.

Frosty Goodness at Ben & Jerry's

Waterbury, Vermont Who hasn't turned to a pint of Ben & Jerry's for comfort at some point? Fans can see where that sweet solace is made at the Ben & Jerry's factory tour and ice cream shop . The 30-minute tour takes visitors through the process — the production area is viewed from a glassed-in mezzanine — and ends on a decidedly sweet note, offering everyone the sample of the day. 

Note: Tours of Ben & Jerry's remain suspended and the gift shop is closed until mid-July 2022, according to the company's website. 

Knock on Wood at Wisconsin Wagon Co.

Janesville, Wisconsin The Wisconsin Wagon Co.  produces more than a dozen handmade wooden products such as the signature Janesville Coaster Wagon, along with serving trays and more. An hourlong tour takes visitors through the manufacturing process, which includes metalworking, woodworking, finishing, and assembly operations. Tours are for groups of 15 or more and require reservations.

Go Nuts at Bates Nut Farm

Valley Center, California Bates Nut Farm is a family farm established in 1921. Today the fourth- and fifth-generation families offer a glimpse into the business and a "Nuts For You" Tour  for groups of 15 or more by reservation. It touches on the history of nut-growing in California and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the roasting, packaging, and storage facilities on site, along with seasonal snacks.

A Sweet Deal at Jelly Belly

Fairfield, California Videos at  Jelly Belly factory tours  provide visitors a peek into the jelly-bean-making process, while a self-guided walk along an elevated, quarter-mile-long tour lane provides a bird's-eye view of the operation. There are also interactive exhibits and free samples.

Sparkle On at Mount Rushmore Gold Factory

Rapid City, South Dakota At the Mount Rushmore Gold Factory , free factory tours put the spotlight on skilled artisans who demonstrate the ancient process of lost-wax casting and show how diamonds are cast in molten gold. Diamond cutting is also demonstrated on the free tour. At the factory store, visitors can take advantage of factory-direct prices.

Olive Love at Queen Creek Olive Mill

Queen Creek, Arizona Queen Creek Olive Mill is a thriving agri-tourism destination with 7,000 trees, a market, and an eatery. During the 45-minute Olive Oil 101 Tour , guests get to taste the oil created on site. They also learn about the qualities, standards, and health benefits of olive oil, as well as the 10-year history of the farm.

A Cup of Joe at Stone Creek Coffee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin Stone Creek Coffee  features a free weekly tour of its 1880s factory on Sundays. The Milwaukee craft coffee roaster, founded in 1993, gives visitors an inside look at the craft, from the coffee-growing seasons to the art of specialized roasting, in its green storage area, roasting facility, cupping lab, and training center — along with free coffee.

Plastic Fantastic at the Pez Visitor Center

Orange, Connecticut Tours of the Pez Visitor Center  are self-guided and viewing windows offer a look at the production floor. Video monitors explain the process that produces the more than 3 billion Pez candies sold annually. That's just in the United States, and not to mention the quirky dispensers.

Carry a Tune at the Kazoo Factory, Museum & Gift Shop

Eden, New York Kazoos and road trips go together — at least, kids used to think that was so. Take a nostalgic trip into the history of the musical instrument that seemingly everyone can play with a tour of the Kazoo Factory, Museum & Gift Shop of Eden . History, trivia, and manufacturing are explored in self-guided and hosted tours.

Plumb Amazing at Kohler

Kohler, Wisconsin Home handymen, plumbers, and interior designers alike will find something of interest at the Kohler factory tours  at the plumbing supplier’s home. The tours last about three hours and are available weekdays. Visitors get a look at the production of china lavatories, bathtubs, and more. 

Furniture, By Hand at George's Furniture

Marietta, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania's Lancaster County has a strong craft tradition that continues today with companies like George's Furniture , headquartered on a small farm outside the village of Maytown. In the woodshop, skilled artisans make solid hardwood furniture by hand to custom specifications. Items such as chairs, beds, tables, and cupboards are crafted out of walnut, cherry, oak, or hard maple.

Bath Time at All Natural Soap Handmade by Herbaria

St. Louis All Natural Soap Handmade by Herbaria  is a company marking its 20th anniversary this year. Visitors are invited to take the free, brief tour of the factory/store and hear all about both the botanical ingredients and the chemistry that go into soap-making. This destination is said to be "worth a trip for the smell alone!" Groups of 10 or more require advance notice.

Let There Be Light at Yankee Candle Village

South Deerfield, Massachusetts The Yankee Candle Village , the company's flagship location in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, is a bit more theme park/shopping center than factory. But amid special events, visitors can see 400,000 candles in more than 200 different scents and view candle-making in a recreated 1830s shop.

Hallmark Moments at the Hallmark Visitors Center

Kansas City, Missouri The Hallmark Visitors Center  offers a free look at the company's history, which spans more than 100 years, and a display featuring 40 years of ornaments. Visitors can also take a selfie with one of the Emmy Awards presented to the company for its "Hallmark Hall of Fame" productions. Reservations required.

Color On at the Crayola Experience

Multiple locations The Crayola Experience  in Easton, Pennsylvania (there are also locations in Chandler, Arizona; Minneapolis; Orlando, Florida; and Plano, Texas) is a 65,000-square-foot destination designed to spark imagination and creativity by touching on color, chemistry, and technology. Admission is $28 for guests ages 3 and older, but families can expect to spend three to four hours exploring more than 25 attractions, which include the Crayon Factory, a live theater show that explains how crayons are made. Visitors can save $3 by booking online.

Discover more fun and affordable vacation destinations   right here .

21 Great American Factory Tours You Can Take Right Now

Many historic American factories are open to the public. Here are the ones worth the trip.

There's probably no escaping taking the kids to an amusement park this summer—sweltering in long lines and paying for overpriced junk food. But when that torment is over, take them to a different kind of theme park, one you'll both enjoy: an American factory. You'll see how baseball gloves are made. Or how they print the posters for your favorite concert. Or how a guy at Harley-Davidson takes every bike up to 77 mph on what looks a lot like an automotive treadmill. Sometimes you'll even get candy. And unlike at Six Flags, admission is often free.

1. Hatch Show Print

Nashville, Tennessee:  75 minutes; $15 (adults), $10 (ages 6 to 12)

Nashville's recent "it city" status has our skyline so dotted with cranes that longtime residents have started calling it Little Dubai. I worry that the town where my ten-year-old daughter, Margot, was born is becoming unrecognizable to her. So I decided a tour of the Hatch Show Print letterpress was in order.

"What's a letterpress?" Margot asked.

"They make music posters," I said. She got excited.

"Think they have any of Taylor Swift?" she asked.

"Maybe," I said, explaining that they've been in business since 1879, and have worked with just about every musician you can think of—from Elvis Presley to Elvis Costello.

"Who's Elvis Costello?" Margot asked.

The production process hasn't changed much in over a century. Some of the letter blocks—exactly 0.918 inches high, a standard established in 1886 by the United States Type Founders' Association—are the original end-cut maple versions. This isn't Photoshop. There is no erasing. If even the smallest amount of grit builds up beneath an individual block, it must be sanded by hand so that it prints evenly. The rollers have to be reinked every four prints—each one slightly more faded than the last. These subtle inconsistencies are what make Hatch Show Print posters so special: No two look exactly alike.

The craftsmanship wowed my daughter—just like it had wowed me on my first visit, not long after I moved to Nashville two decades ago. But her favorite part was the end, when we got to browse through an inventory of photo plates and posters dating back to the shop's very first print run. I marveled at the photo plate for Led Zeppelin's first Nashville appearance in 1970. Then I glanced over and spotted Margot. She had the very same grin on her face. She was looking at a poster from Taylor Swift's "Speak Now" tour. —Adam Ross

2. The U.S. Mint

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Also Denver, Colorado): 45 minutes; free

From a 40-foot observation deck you'll see coins—tens of millions each day—sliced from metal coils that weigh 6,000 pounds and stretch five football fields. Inspectors use magnifying glasses to check the quality. Just one flaw in one coin and the entire batch is destroyed and recycled.

3. John Deere

Waterloo, Iowa (Also East Moline, Illinois, and Ankeny, Iowa): 90 minutes; free

Tours take place on a tram pulled by—what else?—a John Deere tractor. Huge robotic arms spray each vehicle in signature green and yellow. But the logo is still applied by hand.

4. Airstream

Jackson Center, Ohio: One to two hours; free

Each of the iconic travel trailers has thousands of rivets holding together huge sheets of aircraft-grade aluminum. And every one of those rivets is drilled in by hand. Once finished, the campers go into the rain-test booth, where they're pounded by hurricane-strength rain for 20-minute cycles.

5. Bourbon Barrel Foods

Louisville, Kentucky: 25 minutes; free

The nation's only soy sauce microbrewer—yes, soy sauce microbrewer—uses repurposed bourbon barrels and limestone-filtered Kentucky spring water to create a uniquely smoky-sweet condiment. FDA restrictions keep you from the factory floor, but you can still watch through glass as workers cook soybeans, roast grain, and press mash with six tons of force.

6. Woolrich

Woolrich, Pennsylvania: One hour; free

Woolrich has been churning out fabric since 1830, including blankets for Civil War soldiers. And for the factory's 60-odd employees, working with raw wool—a single blanket takes roughly four pounds—is its own kind of battle. A variety of heirloom machines dye, comb, spin, wind, warp, weave, wash, and roll the material before it can be turned into something you'd cozy up with on the couch.

7. Coors Brewing Company

Golden, Colorado: 30 minutes; free

What kind of dad takes his five-year-old son on a brewery tour? A cool one, I thought, boarding the shuttle bus to the Coors plant in Golden, Colorado—the largest single-site brewery in the world, capable of turning out 13 million barrels of beer annually. To me, it was just another father–son outing—a chance to see something new and learn something interesting. Like the zoo, but with the freshest free beer imaginable. Little did I suspect my boy would end up scarred for life.

In and of itself, the self-guided tour is utterly wholesome, an experience as pure as the vaunted Rocky Mountain spring water that prompted Adolph Coors to set up shop in Golden back in 1873. Exhibits explain ingredients, malting, mashing, etc., while affording a look at impressive mechanized assembly lines that channel endless rivers of freshly filled cans and packed cardboard cases in perfect perpetual motion. It wasn't easy to detach my son's nose from the observation window, but over the clack of the machinery, Daddy discerned the siren song of the samples that await responsible drinkers of legal age at the end of the tour.

As I sipped a cold glass of Coors and my son a soda, we surveyed our surroundings: an ersatz pub, decorated with old advertisements—including one featuring E.T. (left), that lovable extraterrestrial, imploring imbibers to "phone home" for a ride should they overindulge. This seemingly harmless poster, unfortunately, made by far the largest impression of the day on my son. What is that thing? Is it coming to get me? What part of me do you think it would eat first? Years later, the poor lad is still uncommonly concerned with the perceived dangers posed by aliens, even smiling ones in bartenders' aprons.

Then again, if that keeps him out of the taverns for a few extra years, maybe it's not all bad. —Kendall Hamilton

8. Golden Flake

Birmingham, Alabama: 45 minutes; free

When my wife and I moved from New York City to Birmingham, Alabama, five years ago, I'd braced myself for culture shock. I knew as much about college football and black-eyed peas as I do thermonuclear fusion. But while I'm still rusty on the vagaries of the wishbone formation, we definitely came out ahead. We've got a yard now, and a dog, and some savings. And we live ten minutes from a snack-food factory.

Since 1923, Golden Flake, "The South's Original Potato Chip," has been supplying chips and puffs and curls and popcorn and pork skins from Florida up through Virginia, in flavors as unlikely as Tangy Pickle BBQ and just plain Hot. It is tiny next to the Utzes and Pringles of the world, and touring its 700-employee Birmingham facility can feel like visiting a friend's home-brewing shed, if instead of beer he churned out Chili Lime Pork Cracklin Super Strips.

"This is our cheese puff, corn puff, and popcorn department," said both our guide and, I hope, whoever greets me in the afterlife. There are 14-foot drums of vegetable oil and giant rotating seasoning cylinders and kind-looking ladies slicing potatoes in half (by hand, for quality control). The highlight comes at the halfway point: a basket brimming with potato chips plucked fresh off the conveyor belt, intercepted between fryer and bagging station, and offered to you for sampling. It is the perfect bite of a perfect chip. Thin but still crunchy, with just-too-much salt. Whatever's in your pantry seems like wafer-shaped Styrofoam in comparison.

It's just one of several snack breaks on the tour. If your taste buds still want more—and they will—you get a few complimentary bags to take home. Lucky for me, I was already there. —Brian Barrett

Everett, Washington: 90 minutes; $20 (adults), $14 (age 15 and under)

When you're stuck in the middle seat and the baby behind you is wailing, it's easy to forget what a miracle an airplane is. You won't after visiting Boeing—the largest building in the world, big enough to fit Disneyland with 13 acres to spare—and witnessing 30,000 employees assemble millions of parts and miles of wiring into 747s and other jumbo jets.

10. Chevrolet Corvette

Bowling Green, Kentucky: One hour; $10 (adults), $5 (ages 10 to 16)

So you're buying a Corvette Z06. First off, congratulations. A supercar. You're a lucky man. But why stop there? For an extra five grand you can hop on the assembly line at the Bowling Green factory and help build your 650-hp engine, which gets emblazoned with a plaque commemorating the experience. For those on a budget, $10 gets you the standard factory tour—still thrilling, just no keys at the end.

11. Harley-Davidson

York, Pennsylvania: Two hours; free or $35

There's a free tour, but it keeps you on the periphery of the shop. Pay the $35 for the Steel Toe Tour and you get to walk up and down the aisles, right next to the workers as bike parts are delivered to them, on-demand, by a trolley that follows magnetic tracks in the floor. At the end, the guys put each finished Harley on a dyno machine and steadily bring it up to 77 mph, running the bike through all the gears.

12. Fender Guitars

Corona, California: One hour; $10 (adults), $8 (seniors), $6 (ages 13 to 17), free (ages 12 and under)

The first time I saw a Fender Telecaster up close was in 1979 on the stage of the Hollywood Palladium. I was 14, and Joe Strummer was next to me pounding out the chords to The Clash's "White Riot"—the two of us shouting the lyrics along with a few other teenage punks who had also scrambled onstage during the encore.

Strummer was thousands of miles from his London home that night. But his battered axe? That wondrous machine had been born less than an hour south, in Fullerton, California, where in the early 1950s self-described tinkerer Leo Fender revolutionized the electric guitar. Since that encounter with Strummer, I've seen hundreds of other Fenders—as a music journalist as well as in my short time as a drummer, which included a stint with punk legends Bad Religion. But I didn't fully appreciate their magic until I strapped on a pair of Devo-like safety goggles and took my first tour of the Fender Factory.

It all starts with unremarkable blocks of alder and ash. From this wood, about 400 employees—more than a few aging longhairs among them—shape, sand, seal, and paint the classic Telecaster and more angular Stratocaster bodies. They then fit the necks, attach the wound pickups, and connect the knobs. Finally, each instrument is plugged in to a row of new Fender amps to check the sound quality.

In the summer, crowds for the twice-daily tour average 50 people. On the April morning I visited, there were only six of us, including two middle-aged Swedes. Afterward, browsing a showroom filled with memorabilia of Fender-playing guitar gods, I asked the guys what made them travel all this way. One clearly didn't understand En glish. The other only a little. He smiled, pointed to a poster of Jimi Hendrix, and simply said, "Him." Returning the gesture, I pointed across the room, to a display about punk. The centerpiece: a replica of Strummer's banged-up Telecaster. —John Albert

13. Lodge Cast Iron Manufacturing

South Pittsburg, Tennessee: Last weekend in April, 45 minutes; free

You can't get in while the factory is running—it's way too dangerous—but once a year (during April's National Cornbread Festival, naturally) Lodge opens its doors to tourists. Hard to say what's more amazing: the electromagnet that can lift five tons, the furnace that burns at 2,800 degrees Fahrenheit, or the pouring machine that uses ancient sand-molding techniques to create as many as 8,000 skillets an hour.

14. Wood -Mizer

Batesville, Indiana: 30 minutes; free

I live in rural Indiana, in the north part of a farm county. Out here, the sight of a Wood-Mizer, the industrious portable saw mill, passing by behind a pickup or being towed up onto someone's acreage for a few days of transformative deep-woods lumber milling, is a moment of awe, rare and powerful, like catching sight of a panther or something. In the right conditions, three men and a Wood-Mizer can mill enough lumber to build an entire pole barn or a fishing cabin in just a day. It is a tool of thrift, profit, and creativity. I don't own one—I'm just another fanboy—but I do have a hat. And the logo alone gets me silent nods of respect from farmers who otherwise want nothing to do with me.

I bought the hat after going on the Wood-Mizer factory tour in Batesville, Indiana. (It was cheaper than the sawmill.) The six-month-old plant churns calmly forward, the assembly line formed in the shape of a U. There's no shouting. No rushing. No alarm registered along any of the snug, worker-designed assembly. There's notable focus in the workforce—risen from pride, taken from ownership (the 34-year-old company is entirely worker owned)—that permeates the movement and pace from loading dock to shipping dock. For me, the moment I recognized the familiar machine occurred right in the turn of that U, after the powdered orange paint was kiln-dried onto the steel frame. Then the wheels were attached and the custom motor mounted.

And then I couldn't help myself. "There's the big cat," I exclaimed, like some kid seeing a ballplayer parking his car. The guy on the line heard me. "You gonna build something?" he asked, assuming I was a buyer. I smiled and pointed to my factory-supplied earplugs. "I'm just on a tour," I said, but he couldn't hear me. "Build something great," he said. He was standing over a new Wood-Mizer, so it sounded like a promise. —Tom Chiarella

Nocona, Texas: One hour; $5

When Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan was seven, his father took him to a hardware store in downtown Alvin, Texas, to buy his first baseball mitt. It was a Nokona. Since 1934, the family-owned company has made gloves the same way: hand-lacing and stitching American rawhide, then beating it to hell with a mallet until the pocket is ready to snag a one-hop grounder.

16. Jelly Belly

Fairfield, California: 40 to 60 minutes; free for the self-guided tour, $47 for a guided tour that takes you on the factory floor

The thousands of jelly beans tumbling in hoppers may sound like bingo balls, only here every one drawn out is a guaranteed winner—except maybe the buttered popcorn. You can taste them at every stage of the tour, but save your appetite. The factory store at the end offers unlimited samples. If you paid for the guided tour, called Jelly Belly University, this is where you make up for your tuition.

17. Tabasco Pepper Sauce

Avery Island, Louisiana: One hour; $5.50

When I was growing up in the Cajun Triangle, any time a relative or college friend came to town, my family trotted out one of three old chestnuts: tours of swamps, plantations, or the Tabasco factory. I always hoped for the peppers—because I am afraid of alligators and ghost stories but mainly because, like all good Louisianans, I am obsessed with hot sauce.

Avery Island is only three miles wide, so most of the growing happens in South America. But this is where the rust-colored mash is packed into old bourbon barrels—about 50,000 are stacked in the warehouse—and left to ferment for three years. When ready, it is mixed with vinegar and aged for another month. Finally, the sauce gets bottled and shipped off to 180 countries.

The smells of the tour are as good as the sights—all that spice mixing with nearby forests of azalea trees. But the best part comes afterward, at the free tasting, when someone inevitably volunteers to try the inferno-level habanero sauce. That someone will always be me. —Katie Macdonald

18. Kenyon's Grist Mill

West Kingston, Rhode Island: July 23 to 24 and October 22 to 23; free

Two giant slabs of granite—each more than 150 years old and weighing more than 2,000 pounds apiece—pulverize whole grain and corn into meal and flour. That's it. A simple, centuries-old process that retains all the nutrients of the original grains and corn. Make sure to bring home some Johnny Cake mix.

Kohler, Wisconsin: Three hours; free

Lowell Kappers, the 80-year-old former Kohler employee who led our tour, worked at the Wisconsin factory, north of Milwaukee, for 44 years—31 of them as a cast-iron grinder. Three decades machining crankshafts and rail-track components. Three decades wearing a respirator helmet to keep pulverized iron dust out of his lungs. He retired in 1999 but still shows up two or three mornings a week to give tours. The factory has been offering them since 1926, a couple of decades before Kappers's dad started working there.

The tour is epic: four buildings, three hours, two and a half miles. You sidestep moving forklifts. You cross beneath conveyors shuttling tubs. You watch molten iron flow. In a cavernous brick loft called the pottery, liquid clay pumped from basement tanks filled plaster-of-paris molds before getting glazed and fired in 2,450-degree industrial kilns. In the enameling shop, an employee in a silver heat shield coated a cast-iron shower floor in enamel powder, then slid it into the orange maw of another kiln.

There are so many kilns. But Kappers didn't break a sweat, despite the heat and constant walking. The only time he really lingered was when we got to the aisle where he had worked, the spot where he jockeyed that heavy grinding wheel all those years.

"Noisiest place in the factory," he said. He wasn't complaining. He was proud. And then he was off again. —Phil Hanrahan

20. R.L. Winston Rod Company

Twin Bridges, Montana: 45 minutes; free

I learned to fly-fish on a fiberglass five-weight that my dad bought at Abercrombie & Fitch in the '60s. With his tongue sticking out in a pose of concentration, he showed me the basic ten and two. Wait for the glass to finish its slow backward flex, wait for the line to unfurl, then launch your forearm forward. Be patient, son.

This was the early '90s. By then, Dad's A&F beauty was a relic. Space-age graphite had made fiberglass obsolete. Trouble was, graphite is much stiffer than glass. Graphite rods cast like rocket launchers, and spooky trout require a delicate approach. Based in Twin Bridges, Montana, at the confluence of three legendary trout rivers, 87-year-old R.L. Winston Rod Company has figured out an alchemy that transforms graphite into velvet. The key ingredient is its staff of 40—roughly 10 percent of the population of Twin Bridges. They secure line guides with hand-wrapped thread. They balance rods by feel and sight alone. They hand-fit the ferrules connecting the rod sections to within one thirty-second of an inch. When customers send in broken rods for repair, Winston rebuilds the damaged segments from scratch.

"We've got a machine for attaching guides that's sitting upstairs collecting dust," said my tour guide, production manager Joe Begin. "We find that our employees are more efficient and make fewer mistakes."

This tireless, meticulous labor accounts for the cost of the rods: ranging from $500 to $3,000. That might sound pricey, especially when a perfectly serviceable rod will run you about $200. But near the end of the tour, I was frantically crunching numbers in my head, trying to figure out how many meals I could skip in the coming month. Fortunately, the gift shop sells only hats and sweatshirts. —Elliott Woods

Seattle, Washington: 30 to 40 minutes; free

One look at the sewing floor and it's easy to see how the garment and bag company that C.C. Filson started in 1897 to outfit Gold Rush prospectors has continued to thrive. Veteran employees, some who've been there 30 years, operate antique treadle machines customized to work with the brand's hallmark rugged twill.

*This article origionally appeared in the July/August 2016 issue of  Popular Mechanics. 

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8 Fantastic Factory Tours In Pennsylvania

Beth Price-Williams

A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.

More by this Author

Indulge your curiosity and do something out-of-the-ordinary this year. Join one of these eight fantastic factory tours in Pennsylvania that will give you a glimpse into how some of the state’s favorite snacks, baseball bats, and even currency are made. Here are eight factory tours in Pennsylvania you’ll definitely want to experience.

Note: Remember to check with the website for each destination to ensure the destination is open, to confirm hours, and to reserve a spot on a tour, if required.

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Get a firsthand look at how some of PA’s most popular products are made when you join these factory tours in Pennsylvania. What other factory tours would you recommend for fellow Pennsylvanians or those visiting PA? Let us know in the comments!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Factory tours in pennsylvania.

What are the most unique things to do in Pennsylvania?

We can find a ton of unique things to do in Pennsylvania , making it easy to start exploring. If you ever wondered how the old woman who lived in the shoe must have felt, head over to the Haines Shoe House in York to see for yourself. Tour the quirky house (it’s shaped like a shoe), and have an ice cream treat. Everyone loves a toy store, no matter how old we are, and you’ll find the most unique one in Butler. Playthings, Etc. is shaped like a stealth bomber (and it’s awesome!) and sells all kinds of modern and nostalgic toys. Bring your hammer with you to Ringing Rocks Park, where the rocks make music when you tap them.

What food trails can I take in Pennsylvania?

If you’re looking for some of the best tours in Pennsylvania, head out on one of its food trails. Food trails are great, because they’re self-guided. You probably already know PA’s the Snack Food Capital of the World, right? Well, it’s fitting, then, that we have a snack food trail that leads to such destinations as Hershey’s Chocolate World, Utz, and Herr’s. Most of us love a good hoagie, too, and that means a trip along the hoagie trail. The hoagie trail in Pennsylvania takes us to such favorite spots as Antonio’s Deli in Philly, Sonny’s Italian Deli in Limerick, and Primo Hoagies in Lancaster.

Next time your sweet tooth goes crazy, head out on the donut trail in Pennsylvania . Start your delightfully delicious journey at Federal Donuts in Philly. The trail then winds to such popular spots as The Frying Dutchman Donut Shop in Kutztown, Duck Donuts in King of Prussia, and Beiler’s Donuts in Philly. If it’s tacos you’re craving, follow the ultimate Pennsylvania taco trail . Tantalize your taste buds with the tacos at General Zapata in Bethlehem, Taco King in Harrisburg, and Fiesta Habanero in Quakertown.

What unique tours in Pennsylvania can I take?

Exploring in PA is just so much fun. Some of the best tours in Pennsylvania are, in fact, the most unique. Have you ever thought of going on an ATV tour , for example? Mines and Meadows in Wampum is, arguably, the most unique ATV tour in the state, because it takes you underground. That’s right. You’ll go underground in a mine, where the only light will be from the ATVs in your group. Did you know there are no wild wolves in Pennsylvania? The only place you can get a glimpse of these majestic animals, and how they live, is with a visit to Wolf Sanctuary of PA in Lititz . Join a guided tour of the sanctuary.

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Tour Snyder’s of Hanover

Tour snyder’s of hanover.

Our Hanover Pennsylvania Pretzel Bakery offers a free in-house tour that combines our exciting history with our fast paced manufacturing facility.  We welcome pretzel lovers of all ages, and please note that the tour is suited for ages 5 and up. On the guided walking tour you’ll see our raw material warehouse, finished goods warehouse (where you will see robotics at work), and our state of the art packing room. After that you’ll see the oven room where you can almost taste the pretzels.

The tour starts and ends at the Factory Store where you will be treated to a free bag of pretzels at the completion of the tour.

The tour lasts approximately 30 minutes and everyone participating must be able to climb stairs. We’re sorry, but we can’t allow any pictures to be taken on the tour.

Tours are available at the Hanover, PA, facility only.

Snyder’s of Hanover ®  is a proud member of the York County Convention and Visitors Bureau. To get more information about York County,  click here.

Tours are conducted on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am, 11:30am, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, and 2:00pm year round. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance.

To schedule a tour, please call 1-800-233-7125 Ext. 28592 Monday through Friday 9:00am-5:00pm. This extension is for tour scheduling only. All other calls should be directed through our main switchboard at 1-800-233-7125.

Hanover, PA Factory Store Hours:

Mon – Sat: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Sun: 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Visit the Ben & Jerry's Factory

Operating hours: 10:00am-8:00pm every day. Advanced online ticket purchase highly recommended. For group reservation requests of 21 or more people please email at least 2 weeks in advance to inquire.

We are delighted to welcome you! Our Waterbury site is the only Ben & Jerry’s factory open to the public. Our very first factory, built in 1985, continues to manufacture upwards of 350,000 pints per day while offering our fans a sneak peek at our humble beginnings. Our small Scoop shop, retail area and tour route have remained fairly unchanged over the years.

Guided tours, which began in 1986, have allowed us to share with millions of guests the evolution of what started as a small local company from the early days in the gas station to the worldwide reach we’ve expanded to since we opened our first Scoop Shop on May 5, 1978!  

We can’t think of a better way to enjoy time with family and friends than learning how we make our ice cream then indulging in your favorite flavor or trying one of our euphoric new additions all the while taking in the beautiful mountain views!  

*** Production schedules vary and are managed by our manufacturing teams. As a result, we cannot guarantee you will see active production during your tour***

Contact Us & Area Info

Operating hours:.

10:00am-8:00pm every day. Advanced online ticket purchase highly recommended. For group reservation requests of 21 or more people please email at least 2 weeks in advance to inquire.

Physical address:

1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road Waterbury, VT 05676 Information line 802-337-1201 or  Email Us

Visit Vermont

In addition to Ben & Jerry’s, Waterbury is home to The Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Cabot Farmer’s Store, Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea plus a host of restaurants, shopping and lodging for all budgets. For more local information including downtown historic Waterbury visit the Discover Waterbury site.

Other Resources:  

Green Mountain Byway

Stowe Area Association

Vermont Attractions Association

Vermont Brewers

Vermont Cheese Council

Vermont Grape and Wine Council

Vermont Vacation

Immerse yourself in all things Ben & Jerry’s with a guided tour of our humble beginnings.  Browse through our Gift shop then swing by our Scoop shop to indulge in your favorite old flavor or discover a new one.

The 30 minute guided portion of your Factory Experience begins with a quick MOO-vie to learn about our company culture followed by a short walk to our glassed-in mezzanine overlooking the production room floor where your tour guide will explain how we make our pints.  To sweeten the deal you’ll also receive a sample of one of our chunks*. The tour ends in our Flavor Room with a tasting of one of our euphoric flavors* and a cow joke, or two!  *nondairy, vegan options available.

Our outside grounds offer space to enjoy your ice cream, play on the playground, pay your respects to our Dearly De-pinted in our Flavor Graveyard, snap a few memorable photo ops and take in the lovely mountain views.  A great outing for all ages!

***Production schedules vary and are managed by our manufacturing teams. As a result, we cannot guarantee you will see active production during your tour***

Visitor Information

• Factory Experience tickets are released two weeks in advance of any chosen date. 
• Pre-purchasing your tickets online is highly encouraged due to limited capacity.    
• Day of and walk-in ticket availability will vary each day based on staffing with the potential of NO availability.
• Additional ice cream can be purchased before or after your guided tour outside from the Scoop shop window.
• For group reservation requests of 21 or more people please email at least 2 weeks in advance to inquire.
• As we are a food manufacturing facility there is no glass or pets (with the exception of service animals) allowed inside.
• Large bags are not permitted and cannot be left unattended. 
• RV, Coach and Accessible parking located at the top of the entrance driveway hill, with designated drop off at the end of the boardwalk.

What is included in the Factory Experience?

Your ticket includes a 30-minute guided tour where you will learn about our company culture, how we make our ice cream, try a sample of our chunks and a sample of our ice cream.  Additionally there are plenty of photos ops, a retail shop with all things Ben & Jerry’s, a full service Scoop shop, playground, Flavor Graveyard and lovely mountain views.

What is the cost of the Factory Experience?

Ticket prices are: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors 65+, and $1 for Children, age 2-12, plus service fee. Infants do not need a ticket for the Factory Experience. 

What are your hours of operation?

Please visit the home page  for updated hours of operation. 

Can you guarantee I will see active manufacturing?

No. While we do have scheduled downtime the reality of manufacturing is any minute without advanced warning can become downtime thus we do not guarantee you will see active manufacturing.

What does the tour consist of if you are not manufacturing ice cream?

The tour remains the same.  To better explain the manufacturing process your tour guide will narrate a video that was filmed on the production room floor.  In the manufacturing room you may see a shiny, clean, empty room; a portion of our thorough cleaning process that takes place between flavors; or our maintenance crew working on a repair.

How do I buy tickets for the Factory Experience?

Tickets are released 2 weeks in advance and can be purchased online under the BOOK NOW! tab on our website. If available , you may also purchase walk-in tickets onsite at our Ticket Sales and Gift Kiosk.  Due to high demand, we recommend purchasing your tickets online in advance of your visit to guarantee your Factory Experience. 

Does everybody in my group need a ticket?

Yes. Adults, Seniors, and Children, age 2-12, need to purchase a ticket. 

What if I was only able to book 2 tickets, but I have a group of 3 people?

Due to strict capacity limits, unfortunately we are only able to accommodate those two guests that have a ticket. We recommend checking back on the website for potential openings or cancellations with availability for your entire group. 

I have already purchased my Factory Experience tickets online, where do I go?

Enter through the main lobby doors located on the patio area.  Listen for the cowbell to signal the start of your scheduled visit.  Check in with your tour guide as the group proceeds to the first stop on the tour.

What if tickets are sold out online?

We recommend checking back on the website for potential openings. 

Are Walk-In tickets available?

Sometimes. If staffing allows each day, we may add additional bookings day-of for walk-in and online purchases. We recommend visiting us early in the day as these tickets sell out quickly!

Is there a waitlist/cancellation for the Factory Experience?

No. We do not have a waitlist or cancellation list.  We recommend checking back on the website for potential openings. 

What if I have a group of 21 or more people?

For group reservation requests of 21 or more people please email at least 2 weeks in advance to inquire. 

Does the Factory Experience sell out often?

Yes. Since our reopening, we have sold out every day. Please plan accordingly! 

What if I miss my scheduled Factory Experience reservation time?

If you miss your scheduled time, it is unlikely we will be able to reschedule due to advanced ticket sales and capacity limits.  A refund will not be provided. If you are running late, you may reschedule or self-cancel your experience up to 30 minutes before your scheduled time using the link found in your confirmation email.  

Is the Factory ADA accessible?

Yes, the Factory is ADA accessible.  Accessible parking is marked and located in our upper parking lot. You may also drop off at the end of the boardwalk, at the top of the hill.  For planning purposes, the tour is in 3 parts. Your tour guide will direct you. After the intro/check-in in the tour lobby area the first 2 parts take place on the second floor by way of the elevator (we only have one!) located in the tour lobby. The 3rd part of the tour is located in the Flavor Room. You will take the same elevator back to the lobby then go across and down the hallway to meet up with the group in the Flavor Room.

Do you offer loaner wheelchairs?

Yes.  Ask any staff member and they will direct you to where you can pick up a wheelchair for use during your visit.

Lost & Found?

Please call our Gift shop to inquire at 802-337-1201 .

How do I cancel my Factory Experience reservation?

To self-cancel a Factory Experience reservation, click the link found in your confirmation email.

Do you have space to store luggage during my visit?

No, unfortunately we do not have space to store luggage, backpacks, etc.

How long should I plan for my visit?

Between one hour and one hour and fifteen minutes.  We are located on a hill.  It takes a few minutes to park and walk into the facility.

What else is there to do if I cannot take the tour?

You are welcome to visit our Scoop Shop, Flavor Graveyard, playground area, outdoor Gift Kiosk and enjoy the lovely mountain views. 

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, but only outside. Pets are not permitted inside the Factory. Dogs must be leashed and supervised.  Please do not leave your dog in the car during the warmer months.  Service dogs are permitted inside.  

Are there restrooms onsite?

Yes.  Restrooms are located outside on the paved walkway and inside the tour lobby. 

Is there public transportation available?

No, however for travel around Waterbury and the surrounding area, Hometown Tours & Rides offers local transportation and tours of the Central Vermont region . 

Where do I go to purchase an ice cream cake?

Please call or visit our Scoop Shop to purchase a ready-to-go ice cream cake. For custom cake orders, please visit our Scoop shop website.

Where can I buy gift/souvenir items?

Our main retail space is located inside. A second smaller area, stocked full of our bestselling items, is located outside in our Ticket Sales & Gift Kiosk.

Do I need a ticket to go to the inside retail area?

No.  Tickets are only required for the guided tour portion of the Factory Experience.

What is the Flavor Graveyard? Where is it?

The Flavor Graveyard is an actual graveyard onsite where we have laid to rest our Dearly De-pinted flavors with granite headstones and witty epitaphs. It is located at the top of the property in the upper parking lots, passed the playground area. 

What if I have a food allergy?

For the Scoop shop please inform your scooper of the allergy so they can provide the most accurate allergy scooping protocol.  For the Factory Experience please inform your tour guide and they will assist.  

Do you have nondairy, gluten free, nut free options?

Yes. Nondairy, gluten free and nut free options are available for purchase in our Scoop shop and for sample on tour.  For all other allergies we will do our best to accommodate.

What else is there to do in the area?

Printed material can be found in our onsite Info Booth, located in our lower parking lot. 

For additional information, we recommend using the links below:

www.discoverwaterbury.com                      Local area around Ben & Jerry’s www.vtattractions.org                                VT attractions all throughout the state www.gostowe.com                                      Stowe located 10 miles north www.vermonttourismnetwork.com              Group visits to VT www.vermontbrewers.com/breweries/         VT beer  www.vtcheese.com/                                     VT cheese www.vermontgrapeandwinecouncil.com/    VT wine  

Do you have EV Chargers?

Yes, we do although please note due to weak cell service in the area you may/may not be able access.

Visit our onsite Scoop Shop to enjoy the Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavors you love.

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Take a Made in America New York Factory Tour

Visit a brewery , tour a winery , or see how a variety of products are made from paint, to pianos, to modular homes on one of the New York factory tours.

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Eden Kazoo | Eden, NY

Established in 1916 as the first metal kazoo factory and the only metal kazoo factory in North America, the Original American Kazoo Company factory & museum highlights history, trivia, and shows step-by-step the way kazoos are made. You can even make your own kazoo while you’re there.

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In-person, on-site factory tours show you the process of building a custom, modular home.

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Ice-Cream Factory Tour

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Today's LNP e-Newspaper

• July 26, 2024

“La Bella Zucca" is on the 2024 Mount Gretna Tour of Homes.

• SUZETTE WENGER | Staff Photographer
• Copy article link

Lisa MacLean, right, relaxes with her mother, Joan Franceschi, of Pittsburgh and Franceschi's 12-year-old dog, Josie on the front porch.

Yellow and rust paint add a Tuscan vibe throughout La Bella Zucca.

The MacLeans called their first home in Mount Gretna “The Charging Station,” partially because they added a vehicle charging port.

A fresh coat of orange paint makes La Bella Zucca even more like a pumpkin.

Lisa MacLean's learned that ferns thrive on her front porch. She's also turned a stained glass window into outdoor art.

In another home on the 2024 tour, renovations included exposing wood floors and removing a drop ceiling to reveal wooden beams.

The porch might be in a no-vehicle area but it sits at the corner of two walking paths, a great excuse for neighbors to stop and chat. 

The home has stained glass windows in several rooms, including this bathroom.

“La Bella Zucca' is one of the homes on the 2024 Mount Gretna Tour of Homes.

This Mount Gretna home tour takes you from front porches to bedrooms in the trees [photos]

• Jul 26, 2024
• 3 min to read

With each girlfriend weekend Lisa MacLean organized, the Mount Gretna rental may have changed but the agenda needed no tweaks: puzzles, wine and Fleetwood Mac.

Eventually, she and her husband Tim bought a home in the Campmeeting neighborhood for even more getaways.

As they spent more and more time in Mount Gretna, they found a larger home just a short walk away. This one has plenty of space for puzzling, plus stained glass windows throughout, a wood-burning fireplace and a front porch big enough for Fleetwood Mac to stop by.

The MacLeans’ son now lives in their first cottage in the woods. Each homeowner’s brought changes to their spaces and both homes are opening their doors for the Mount Gretna Tour of Homes, along with 11 other stops. The Saturday, Aug. 3 tour is a chance to look beyond the porches of Mount Gretna. It’s also a fundraiser for Gretna Music.

READ:  This 1840 stone house has a walk-in fireplace, a mill next door and water running underneath

The MacLeans called their first home in Mount Gretna “The Charging Station,” partially because they added a vehicle charging port. The home they moved to in 2022 has a new name. “La Bella Zucca,” (the beautiful pumpkin in Italian) is a nod to their travels in Italy and Lisa’s love of the color orange.

A few years ago, the couple saw an open house sign but had trouble finding the house on one of the neighborhood’s walking-only streets. Once they found it, they saw the funky porch, the stained glass windows and upstairs bedrooms in the trees.

“Who doesn’t want to wake up to look out at the forest?” Lisa says. “It’s kind of enchanting.”

The MacLeans live in Camp Hill. In semi-retirement, they’re spending more time in Mount Gretna. Renovations on the kitchen and elsewhere in 1,500-square-foot home should be wrapped up in time for the tour. The construction zone does not encroach into two of Lisa’s favorite spots.

READ:  From candy maker to home sweet (accessible) home: Renovating the former Hupper's factory

A favorite indoors is an upstairs bedroom that serves a few roles. For girlfriend weekends, a sofa converts into a bed. Otherwise, it’s a place for putting together puzzles, watching TV or relaxing.

The exposed wooden beams in this room and throughout the house reminded the MacLeans of Lisa’s Italian heritage and their travels. They’ve hung paintings of Italian architecture and landscapes mixed with paintings of Gretna cottages, all found at salvage shops. Yellow and rust paint add a Tuscan vibe.

One thing this room lacks: enough sunlight to keep houseplants happy. Adding faux plants solves that problem. Faux plants are fine when you can sit on the balcony, surrounded by trees or open the windows to be closer to fall foliage.

Outdoors, the porch is another favorite spot. The MacLeans liked the porch’s unique details. For example, the porch rail isn’t straight. It’s angled, giving space for plenty of seats. The rail also has a cutout design, newly painted green with white accents. The same green frames the home’s windows, contrasting with a coat of Copper Mountain, an orange perfect for a home named after a pumpkin.

Hanging ferns frame the front. For flashier decor, a custom stained glass window with Lisa’s beloved butterflies hangs nearby, a special gift from friends. Cumberland Stained Glass in Mechanicsburg gave the OK to hang the piece outdoors, Lisa says. The MacLeans added a third hanging wire just to be safe.

Butterfly figurines decorate the porch ceiling fan pull chain as well.

“When you’re sitting out here, you’re sitting in nature,” says Lisa’s mother, Joan Franceschi, who was visiting from Pittsburgh.

The porch might be in a no-vehicle area but it sits at the corner of two walking paths, a great excuse for neighbors to stop and chat. And on the tour, even more will be able to step inside.

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DIY or hire a professional? Two approaches to building an outdoor cooking space

• By Katina Kauffman

Tiny home open house: Tour 12 tiny homes from this Lancaster County tiny builder [video]

Meet the greenhouse cats of lancaster county [photos], tour 12 gardens in lancaster's southern end, including this spot thriving in a heat wave [photos].

• 4 min to read

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• Dec 31, 1969
• Mount Gretna

Support local journalism. Click here to learn more about the role the Lancaster County Local Journalism Fund plays in Lancaster County and to make a tax-deductible donation.

Cigar Aficionado

Inside Havana’s H. Upmann Factory

The azure facade and white-trimmed arcade make the four-story H. Upmann cigar factory on Calle Padre Varela stand out in an otherwise drab part of Havana. It’s the facility that produces its namesake brand, along with Montecristo, Vegas Robaina and Cohiba. The factory has even rolled some Trinidad this year on account of the brand’s 55th anniversary.

Once the Romeo y Julieta factory, this location was only supposed to be a temporary home for H. Upmann while the previous Upmann location on 23rd Street underwent renovations. That was more than a decade ago and so far, it doesn’t look like Upmann is going back any time soon.  

On the day we visited, the packaging department was closed and the rolling gallery was only partially full. Many rollers were making the H. Upmann No. 2, a torpedo-shaped smoke that was named our Cigar of the Year for 2022 . Management tells Cigar Aficionado that it expects this factory to roll a total of two million cigars by the end of 2024.

Few experiences enhance the appreciation of a handmade cigar like a factory tour. We give you some snapshots of an otherwise insular world.

Read Next: A Walking Tour Of The Fantastic Fuente Factory

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919 W. Sprague Ave - Spokane, WA

Porter Robinson

“Two years ago,” remembers Porter Robinson, “I only had the inkling of the idea that I wanted to do something different. I needed to do something that was honest and real,” Porter explains. So he turned down countless DJ offers in 2013 to spend the entire year devoting himself to a process of introspection and reinvention. “I figured that one way to develop a unique identity as an artist would be to combine all my favorite things in music — it would result in something that is really personal, a collective expression of my taste and experience. Something nobody else has.”

And thus begat worlds (Astralwerks/Virgin EMI), a cinematic excursion that commingles Porter’s technological prowess with his love of evocative melody. His first studio album, it finds an unlikely common ground for Porter’s diverse inspirations: Kanye West’s Graduation, Daft Punk’s Discovery, The Postal Service, and an array of orchestral movie scores.

“Sea of Voices,” for instance, is just that: gauzy, feather-light vocals that float above an ethereal-shoegaze soundscape. That track trickles into the “Years of War,” which transfers those levitating vocals onto radiant synth pop propelled by a fuzzy beat. He prolongs that pop euphoria with the anthemic “Lionhearted,” which pushes-and-pulls between ambient sighs and power chords, further rewarding the listener with the glitched-out “Fellow Feeling,” an avant centerpiece that swells from violin-driven sentiment to industrial static, before settling into palpitating chords.

Not surprisingly, there’s never been anything conventional about Porter’s introduction to music. The artist’s first foray into music came through the arcade-stomping game Dance Dance Revolution. (These days, he’s graduated to StepMania, which, yes, he totally dominates.) “A huge amount of music that I listened to for a long time, like 200 people have probably ever heard these songs,” he says. “And a lot of it was bad, C-grade emulations of dance music being made in Europe. But something about the tempo was super-interesting to me.”

At age 12, the autodidact started futzing around with cuts and beats on his mom’s computer using pirated software. (He’s since paid for and repped everything he nicked, as an act of voluntary reparation.) He came into his own in 2010, when he scored a No.1 Beatport hit with his crunchy, twitchy single “Say My Name,” which lead to his first gig at a tiny club in Santa Cruz, Calif. “It was very much baptism by fire because I had never seen a DJ,” Porter says of the lack of any discernible scene in Chapel Hill. “I had to more or less do it based on what I had learned on the Internet.”

Needless to say, he was a quick study. His grassroots following exploded through the release of a successful EP and series of high profile DJ gigs. Then, in 2012, Porter scored an iTunes No.1 with the shimmering “Language.” Porter found himself touring five days a week, crashing at his parents’ house when he was in town. “It took me to a place where I wasn’t writing music. And I was DJing a lot of other people’s music,” he says. “I think that helped speed up how sick I got of dance music and all of its tropes.”

Making worlds was an intriguing artistic challenge for him. “A huge part of my work has always been this effortful, expedited self-discovery,” Porter says. For worlds, “I would pick three things and say, ‘This song is going to have these three traits.’ And then I would start writing, and halfway through the song it would become something that I’d never heard before,” he says, citing the first track he recorded for worlds, “Divinity Made.”

The voluminous, ethereal hymn was born of his seemingly impossible self-challenge to write a song that was beautiful (“I really like pretty music, almost to the point of sappiness,” he admits), loud, yet vintage-sounding. That, in turn, calibrated the overall aesthetic for worlds, for which he also recruited fresh, unknown vocalists.

Even though his creative pulse no long hinges on BPMs, early incarnations of his newer, more melodic compositions still perked the ears of countless labels. And that led him to Astralwerks/Virgin EMI. “They were really supportive of my weirdness,” he says, laughing. Or his ambitions, as it were: because Porter’s live show will likewise be a unique experience — one that doesn’t involve him DJing.

“I don’t want to be the flag bearer for any genre. I don’t want to change the game,” he says. “I really just want to have my own signature, my own sound. I know it sounds crazy, but I want to start my legacy.”

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