The Turkey Hill Experience is the answer to the question about what to do with the children on a rainy Saturday afternoon that does not include the word "museum". Before hearing this stipulation I had been considering places that included words like "Smithsonian" and "Civil War", but after a short drive to Columbia, PA and a fun afternoon I'm glad the Turkey Hill Experience won out.
Technically, this is not a factory tour. They don't make anything here. Even so, what a clever, well-thought-out space. A series of multi-media games, exhibits, and quizzes await you in the compact single-floor hall. Pick up information in each section from the video or the display or by sliding down a chute and then answer questions by shooting balls at the answers or clicking icons.
For example, learn your ideal Turkey Hill Iced Tea flavor for your personality by answering a series of questions. How old are you, what type of music do you enjoy, etc? I took this quiz a couple of times answering different ways and both times was told to drink unsweetened iced tea. Perhaps because my personality requires no additional sweetening? Or maybe just because I'm an old guy?
Need a break from the hard work of quizzes, ball pits, videos and history? Step up to the sample bar for a selection of complimentary Turkey Hill ice cream and iced tea. Cappuccino? Red Velvet? Yum. Wash it down with an orange-flavored iced tea. And maybe a Lactaid.
Easily the best part of the Turkey Hill Experience is the Create Your Own Flavor section. Step one: Select white mix or dark, add flavorings and toppings, and name your new flavor. Step two: Using clip art, graphics, fonts, and a bunch of other words that did not exist when I was a kid, design the presentation of your flavor on a Turkey Hill Ice Cream box. Step Three: Create a promotional advertising video for your new flavor. Select from multiple backgrounds (the field of cows close up is a good one) and theme music, read the prepared script or just wing it. This part of the tour is ridiculously fun, not only for the preteens and teenager in my party, but also for me. My flavor? Pom Pistachio Mint Swirl.
You can see my flavor's ingredients, my customized Turkey Hill Box and my video here.
The Turkey Hill Experience is one hour north of the Baltimore Beltway at the Rt 441 exit on Route 30 in Columbia Pennsylvania. See a Google Map here.
It's worth a visit for an enjoyable afternoon.
Comments