Connect with us

West

Candy tours of America: 5 delectable destinations for sweet family memories

Published

on

Candy tours of America: 5 delectable destinations for sweet family memories

The Candy Man, in an earlier era in American pop culture, was portrayed as a kindly magician who charmed children with the secret ingredient to turn sunshine into dreamy sweet confections.

“He mixes it with love / And makes the world taste good,” late multimedia performer Sammy Davis Jr. sang in his signature tune.

Candy as a symbol of love is more than just a bubble-gum pop music lyric, according to renowned candy scholar and historian Susan Benjamin of West Virginia.

BANANA-FOCUSED FOOD TRUCK IN NEW JERSEY SERVES UP FRUITY, FROZEN TREATS” ‘CLEAN AND REFRESHING’

“People love candy because it’s food people eat when they’re having fun and going to parties or going to movies, and those kinds of things,” she told Fox News Digital. 

Advertisement

Benjamin is the author of 10 books, including “Sweet as Sin: The Unwrapped Story of How Candy Became America’s Favorite Pleasure.”

Teenagers are shown shopping for sweets at Chutters candy store, Littleton, New Hampshire.  (Imagedoc/Alamy Stock Photo)

She added, “Mostly people love candy because the people we love gave it to us when we were children. We continue as we get older to give or receive candy as a sign of love.”

The American candy industry gives parents and children plenty of chances to make sweet memories by enjoying the nation’s best candy stores, tours and museums.

Here are five. 

Advertisement

B.A. Sweetie Candy Co. of Cleveland, Ohio

Acclaimed as “the world’s largest candy store,” this Cleveland colossus of confections is a 74-year-old local institution.

It proudly proclaims that it can satisfy the sweetest teeth at the biggest candy klatch. 

B.A. Sweetie of Cleveland, Ohio claims it has more than 1,000 pounds of Tootsie Rolls available to sell at any time. (imac/Alamy Stock Photo)

“Whether you need 1,000 pounds of Tootsie Rolls for a parade, or a half of a pound for your belly, we have it and we have it now,” B.A. Sweetie Candy Co. says on its website. 

It also touts its status as one of Cleveland’s most popular tourist attractions.

Advertisement

Chutters of Littleton, New Hampshire

Wedged into the White Mountains of New Hampshire is this idyllic New England Main Street general store that features the world’s longest candy counter.

CRACKER JACK, IMMORTALIZED IN BASEBALL ANTHEM, IS A GRAND-SLAM RECIPE AT HOME, TOO

The claim is confirmed by Guinness World Records. 

It measures Chutters’ single continuous tabletop of sweetness at 111 feet, 11 inches long.

On its website, Chutters says it offers “yesterday’s favorites and hard-to-find-flavors, to the best of today’s most sought-after treats.” 

Advertisement

Chutters candy store of Littleton, New Hampshire, has the world’s longest candy counter, according to Guinness World Records. (Kumar Sriskandan/Alamy Stock Photo)

It also offers a “vast array of sours and Gummies, gourmet and traditional jellybeans, chocolates, licorice, caramels, and nostalgic pieces.”

Jelly Belly Candy Co. of Fairfield, California

The famous jelly-bean maker offers both self-guided and guided tours of its California confections factory seven days a week. 

SHOOFLY PIE WAS BORN IN THE USA: ENTHUSIASTS BAKE PI DAY CLAIM OF ‘MORE AMERICAN’ THAN APPLE PRODUCTS

Self-guided tours can be done on a walk-in basis. 

Advertisement

Guided tours require a reservation. 

Close-up shot of an assortment of multi-colored Jelly Belly jelly beans in California, April 18, 2021.  (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

Tours follow a quarter-mile route above the factory, looking down on where love and sugar are whipped into jellybeans. 

There’s a Jelly Belly Jelly Bean art gallery and — for mom, dad and other grownups — chocolate tastings paired with local wines. 

Pez Visitor Center of Orange, Connecticut

Pez candies, those crunchy blocks of sugar, are recognized globally for their plastic toy dispensers topped by a myriad of human, animal or other forms. 

Advertisement

Originating in Austria in the 1920s, Pez has been made in Connecticut since 1973.

The company opened its visitor center in 2011. 

The Pez Visitors Center opened in Orange, Connecticut in 2011. (Alamy)

Here’s a little-known Pez dispenser of knowledge: The name is an abbreviation of “Pfefferminz,” the German word for peppermint. 

Advertisement

True Treats of Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia

Calling itself “the nation’s only research-based candy store,” True Treats was founded by author and candy historian Susan Benjamin.

An interior shot of the IT’SUGAR store on Broadway in Greenwich Village. A display of Mary Janes candy is shown for sale by the ounce. (Ira Berger/Alamy Stock Photo)

It’s located in historic Harper’s Ferry, little more than an hour’s drive northwest of Washington, D.C., and has been lauded nationally. 

“This isn’t so much a candy store as it is a museum that sells its Confectionery displays.”

“This isn’t so much a candy store as it is a museum that sells its Confectionery displays,” Washington Magazine wrote in an homage to the candy collection. 

Advertisement

“True Treats traces the history of old-school sweets — and we mean old, old school, like hickory bark, enjoyed by the Iroquois — to 19th-century Buttermints and retro faves such as Goo Goo Clusters, Mary Janes, and Squirrel Nut Zippers.”

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

Read the full article from Here

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco Bay Ferry fleet brings back live music after 25 years

Published

on

San Francisco Bay Ferry fleet brings back live music after 25 years


East Bay ferry commuters on Friday got some very special surprises during their evening commutes on one San Francisco Bay Ferry line. Soon, other commuters on other lines may get the same treatment.          

Advertisement

Sweet, soothing music

Beyond the beautiful views and cocktails, folks who took the ferry between San Francisco and Richmond on Friday evening got an extra treat; something they haven’t done in more than two decades: live music.

Lolah, a San Jose solo artist and band member, sang songs for fans and Friday commuters to their surprise and delight. “I think it’s very entertaining after a long day at work, and it makes the ferry really enjoyable compared to BART,” said commuter John Schmidt.

Jess Jenkins read about it online. “It’s a little bit out of my way. Yeah, but I was excited to try and check out the live music on the ferry. I think making public transit attractive to use is like, yeah, great for everybody,” said Jenkins. “Fantastic. I mean this is the most beautiful city in the world, sunset, a little music. What more could you want in the world?” said passenger Josh Bamberger.

Advertisement

Commuter and artist Marco Sorenson sketched Lolah. “It’s great. This was a real surprise tonight, fascinating; on the boat anyway, so this adds a little extra,” said Sorenson.

The singer loves her art and audiences. It’s an opportunity for musicians like me because we want to go out there and share your work, your art. So you feed on the energy from the audience and the audience feeds from the energy from you,” said Lolah who books her gigs through Lolahentertainment.com.

Advertisement

Bay ferries had music before

Twenty-five years ago, before the dot-com crash, it was a spontaneous twice-a-month Friday event. “It was just a group of enthusiastic ferry riders from Oakland that put it all together. So, it gathered a following. People would come, get on the boat and just never get off the boat, just continuously two round trips, and we were grateful for it,” said three-year SF Bay Ferry Captain Tim Patrick.

Ultimately, it interfered with the evening commute. “And then we kind of put a stop to it because it became too successful,” said Caprain Patrick.

Advertisement

This time, SF Bay Ferry itself is sponsoring even to bolster ridership at commute time as well as on weekends. “We’re definitely kind of testing the waters, experimenting with what we’re able to do in a venue such as the ferries; beautiful and scenic,” said SF Bay Ferry spokesperson Teo Saragi.

What’s next:

On Friday, January 16, entertainment will be provided by a DJ between the city and Vallejo. 

Advertisement

The Friday after, Lolah returns. “We’re also in the process of brainstorming potential trivia nights or comedy nights,” said spokesperson Saragi.

What was successful 25 years ago, could become successful again on a much bigger ferry system with a lot more lines, because people love live music, they love the ferries; throw in a cocktail and call it a party.

Advertisement
TransportationSan FranciscoRichmondNews



Source link

Continue Reading

Denver, CO

Broncos offensive line is the engine that drives offense

Published

on

Broncos offensive line is the engine that drives offense


I’ve been covering the Denver Broncos for his entire career and I remember writing up some pretty harsh criticism of his play early on — especially in regards to holding penalties. I recall at one point he was committing holding penalties at a record-breaking rate. He was so far above the rest of the field that he’d break charts if anyone tried to chart it. The best part of that saga is that he never let the outside noise (from me and many others) get to him. He worked on his craft and he got better. And then got even better to the point where it is pretty clear that he is one of the best left tackles in all of football. He is going to go down as one of the best tackles in franchise history too when its all said and done. It’s a great comeback story.

All that said, he wasn’t the only one of the Broncos players on that offensive line to make an impact with guard Quinn Meinerz also being named a PFF All-Pro player. The whole offensive line has been dominant in nearly every category and is the main engine that has driven the offenses successes this season.

4) Denver Broncos
Team OLi Grade: 83.0
Best-Ranked OL: Garett Bolles, 89.0 (7th overall, 3rd position)
Worst-Ranked OL: Alex Palczewski, 63.5 (159th overall, 61st position)

And one more to complete the picture comes from Sharp Football Analysis who has the Broncos ranked fifth-overall in their NFL Offensive Line Stats:

There is so much evidence that shows the trenches on both side of the ball is what has brought the success of the 2025 Broncos. It’s an area that Sean Payton has said in the past is always an area of focus. He knows you don’t win consistently if your team is being dominated in the trenches.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Seattle, WA

Here’s why the Blue Angels in Seattle on Monday

Published

on

Here’s why the Blue Angels in Seattle on Monday


Known for their high-flying skills above the skies during air shows, the Blue Angels will be in Seattle once again on Monday.

But with Seafair not until the summer, many are wondering why the Navy pilots are in the Emerald City ahead of schedule. 

Advertisement

Blue Angels F/A-18 Hornets are flying The Diamond Roll (four planes in formation), doing a 360-degree roll as one unit, flying at 400 mph over Lake Washington for the Seafair weekend in Seattle. (Photo by Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Keep reading to find out why the U.S. Navy Blue Angels are in Seattle on Jan. 12.

Why are the Blue Angels in Seattle now?

Advertisement

The Blue Angels returned to Seattle on Monday to begin preseason planning for the 2026 Boeing Seafair Air Show.

Pilots will assess airshow locations, scouting the skies and getting familiar with the landscape ahead of the Seafair Weekend Festival, when they perform in three separate air shows. Their visit brings the iconic Blue Angels F/A-18 Super Hornets to the city, the aircraft pilots use during the air show.

Blue Angels pilots plan to stay in Seattle until Tuesday, coordinating with Seafair event organizers. Last year, only two Blue Angels pilots were in Seattle for preseason planning, instead of the entire squadron.

Advertisement

When are the Blue Angels coming back to Seattle?

The Blue Angels will fly back to western Washington for the 2026 Boeing Seafair Air Show, on Friday, July 31 – Sunday, August 2, 2026.

They’ll also be in town for two practice runs on Thursday, July 30.

Advertisement

When is the 2026 Seafair Air Show?

The U.S. Navy Blue Angels will perform in three air shows throughout Seafair weekend. They’re happening each afternoon on July 31 through Aug. 2 on Lake Washington and at Genesee Park.

The multi-day Seafair Weekend Festival also includes the Apollo Mechanical Cup Hydroplane Races, along with live entertainment, food and drinks, and family-friendly activities. Tickets for the festival go on sale in February.

Advertisement

Who are the Blue Angels?

The Blue Angels is a team of elite Navy flight demonstrators, showcasing their aviation skills in high-speed, precision aerobatic performances.

They perform in air shows across the U.S. each year, with the goal of inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country, displaying the teamwork and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps.

Advertisement

Formed in 1946, this year marks the 80th year of the Blue Angels. They take pride in performing for audiences both at home and abroad, showcasing the excitement, precision, and power of Naval aviation.

MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE

New Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson talks homelessness, police tensions and World Cup countdown

Advertisement

Seattle leaders combat ‘misinformation’, say open-air drug use still means arrests

Here’s everything to know about the 2026 Super Bowl

Advertisement

Seattle ranks as the best US city for keeping New Year’s resolutions in 2026, data shows

WA trooper struck, injured in multi-car crash on SR 512

To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

Advertisement

Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

The Source: Information in this story came from U.S. Navy Blue Angels, Seafair, and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.

Advertisement
SeattleSeafairNews



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending