factory in tour

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

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

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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

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Let's Tour Together

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 24-hour notice of cancellation. No refunds will be made within 24 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).

The Boeing Company 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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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.

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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.

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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
• 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. It also will be closed for a private event the morning of Wednesday, April 24, 2024.

Discover ways to save when you purchase tickets online.

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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

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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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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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Factory Tours

Get a good look at american manufacturing.

Factories are one of the many reminders of our state’s prized industrial heritage. From coins and motorcycles to potato chips and chocolate, many Pennsylvania factories offer tours and are the perfect places to find Made-in-PA keepsakes.

Get trip ideas

City Life 21 Best Things to Do in Philadelphia Planning a visit to Pennsylvania's largest city? If you're wondering what to do in Philadelphia, your options are truly endless! Explore America's constitutional history, reenact an iconic movie scene ... Read More

City Life 30 Best Things to Do in Lancaster, PA History, culture, art, city life, and delicious food all come together in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Whether you're a longtime fan who visits often or are crossing state lines to explore the area for th ... Read More

Foodie Fun 17 Famous Products Made in PA What do crayons, guitars, chocolate, violins, chips, brews, and baseball bats all have in common? You guessed it! They’re all made right here in Pennsylvania. So, stop by, take a tour, and perhaps eve ... Read More

Factory Tour Destinations

Results are limited to a 25-mile radius

  Hanover, PA Snyder's Of Hanover Factory Outlet

  Nazareth, PA C.F. Martin & Co.

  Hanover, PA Utz Quality Foods

  Altoona, PA Benzel's Pretzel Bakery

  Geigertown, PA Joanna Furnace Historic Site

  Saint Marys, PA Straub Brewery

  Scranton, PA Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour

  Souderton, PA Asher's Chocolates Factory

  York, PA Harley-Davidson Vehicle Operations Factory Tour

  Mercer, PA Wendell August Forge

  Pottsville, PA Yuengling Museum & Gift Shop

  Thomasville, PA Martin's Potato Chips Inc.

  Lakeville, PA Sculpted Ice Works Factory Tour & Natural Ice Harvest Museum

  Mount Joy, PA Wilton Armtale Factory Store

  York, PA Wolfgang Confectioners

  Tyrone, PA Gardner's Candy Museum

  Brookville, PA BWP Bats, LLC

  Lewistown, PA Asher's Chocolates Factory - Lewistown

  Mountainhome, PA Callie's Candy Kitchen

  Columbia, PA Turkey Hill Experience

  Hershey, PA Hershey

  Hershey, PA Hershey's Chocolate World

  Cresco, PA Callie's Pretzel Factory

  Hershey, PA Hersheypark

  Easton, PA Crayola Experience

  Nottingham, PA Herr's Snack Factory Tour

  Lititz, PA The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery

  Lebanon, PA Weavers-Kutztown Bologna Inc

  Philadelphia, PA U.S. Mint

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electric scooter

Yadea factory tour: the surprises i found at the world’s largest electric vehicle maker.

I recently took a trip to China, where I had the opportunity to visit one of Yadea’s several global factories used to produce a wide range of light electric vehicle models and styles. As the world’s largest electric vehicle manufacturer, it was a chance to see how the most popular forms of EVs – namely e-bikes, e-scooters, and electric three-wheelers, are built in sophisticated factories featuring high-level quality control processes. The experience was thoroughly eye-opening, and blew my expectations away!

In fact, one of the biggest surprises of my time at the factory was just how much effort is put into quality control along the way. It was a magnitude that, frankly, I was surprised to see.

I don’t mean that as a slight. It’s just that, like most people, I was probably a bit misinformed before this trip. The term “Chinese manufacturing” makes most of us in the West think of cost reductions and competitive pricing – not heavily automated manufacturing and multi-tier quality assurances. But with Yadea’s massive size has come the opportunity to deeply invest in the hallmarks we previously associated with a bygone era of Western manufacturing.

And I’m not exaggerating when I refer to Yadea as “massive.” This was just one of eight global factories, and this one spanned over 1,000 acres (that’s around 750 American football fields). And this is just Phase I of the factory, which was only built a few years ago. Phases II and III are going to be even bigger, adding much more manufacturing capacity.

Yadea is already a household name all over Asia, where it dominates the markets for scooters, bikes, and other micromobility devices. Last year, over 16 million two-wheeled EVs rolled off the company’s production lines. Yadea refers to itself as the world’s largest electric motorbike manufacturer, but it is also the second-largest motorbike maker, period. With 16M annual production volume, that puts the company within striking distance of overtaking Honda’s 18M annual units. And that’s even more impressive considering Yadea exclusively produces electric vehicles, unlike Honda which nearly exclusively produces combustion engine motorbikes.

Yadea now has a growing presence in Europe and has recently set its sights on a major expansion into North America. That means that Americans are set soon to get access to some of Yadea’s impressively designed and built light electric vehicles (though mostly starting with lighter electric bicycles and scooters).

Check out my video below to see inside Yadea’s factory yourself and to join me for my test drives on several of Yadea’s e-bikes, e-scooters, e-mopeds, and e-trikes. You’re not going to want to miss it!

My tour started in just one corner of the sprawling Jinzhai factory, where I watched as rows of plastic injection molding machines worked in rhythm to pump out various scooter-shaped bits and pieces. This is where many of the body panels, shrouds, and other molded components of Yadea’s electric scooters and e-mopeds are produced. Many smaller companies outsource the production of these types of components, but Yadea does it all in-house to maintain better control over the processes and thus the quality of the parts.

The machines run largely autonomously, though a few workers monitor the machines and can respond to any area, if necessary. I poked my head into a few of the lines and saw some machines churning out recognizable parts like shrouds around the handlebar displays and cargo areas under moped seats, with each completed component moseying down a conveyor belt towards a finished parts pile.

The building was massive and already housed 24 injection molding machines, each the size of my college dorm room. However the area of the building that was currently storing stacks of just-produced parts was already taped off with sections where more injection molding machines would soon be installed. They told me that there are plans to operate 60 of these massive machines here. Yadea continues to roll out new EV models and increase its sales around the world, and that means it is always ramping up its own internal component production capacity to match.

From there we hopped aboard a cute little electric shuttle bus and moved to another building in the complex where welding takes place.

This particular welding building was set up for Yadea’s three-wheelers, which are basically the lightweight farm trucks of China. In the same way you see a bunch of clapped-out F-150 pickup trucks all over rural America, you see these electric three-wheelers all over rural China. That’s why, despite Yadea’s scooters and mopeds being built largely for both the domestic and international markets, their three-wheelers are pretty much only sold in China.

I think they could be incredibly powerful utility vehicles in the US, but that’s another issue for another article. For now, I got the chance to see how these local versions of a pickup truck are made. And I was surprised by just how automated the production is.

Robotic welding seems to take care of most of the fabrication, with the vehicles going from steel tubes and sheet metal to mostly formed trikes without ever touching the ground. Laser cutting ensures each raw sub-component is cut to the exact right size and has smooth finished edges. The pieces are passed from machine to machine, sometimes by robots and sometimes by human hands, until full frames come out the other side.

When the frames are finished being welded, multiple steps of electrophoresis for corrosion resistance and then robotic painting await the finished pieces.

I wasn’t able to go through the actual painting area because it’s closed off to ensure a clean environment for the robotic painting machines, but I did get to see the massive environmental protection equipment that filters the air leaving the painting section of the factory, ensuring that any harmful emissions from the aerosolized paint and treatment chemicals are scrubbed and don’t just get pumped out into the atmosphere.

Again, I definitely went into this tour with some preconceptions that turned out to be false. That doesn’t mean there isn’t polluting heavy industry in some areas, but modern factories like Yadea’s take great pains to reduce emissions. The air around the factory was perfectly clean, the grass was greener than my grass back home, and the courtyards around the building were so nice I would have sat and had a picnic in them if there was time. The effort made to create a clean and comfortable work environment pays dividends now and into the future.

Next, we moved on to yet another massive building in the factory complex, this time where assembly of several different electric scooter and e-moped models takes place. It’s a bit hard to gauge scale inside these huge buildings, but I’m told the building was around 450,000 square feet, or roughly 10 acres. It had a legit football field inside of it, but more on that in a moment.

There were 18 assembly lines in the building, each producing a different model of e-bike, e-scooter, or e-moped. Racks of frames that have been welded in another part of the factory roll in at one end of each production line, where they are scanned and loaded onto the line. The bare frames move along the line as workers install all of the components.

In a matter of minutes, the empty frames receive their motors, controllers, batteries, wiring, lights, body panels, seats, and more. A ballet of suspended racks of components automatically lower themselves from the ceiling at precisely the right location for workers to pluck the parts from the air and install them on the scooters. Everything is designed to be as efficient and comfortable as possible, with very little need to bend over or strain.

From what I could tell, a new electric bike rolled off the line around once every 25-30 seconds or so, while an electric moped rolled off the line every 40 seconds.

It looked like it took around 20 minutes for a bare moped frame to work its way down the assembly line and roll off the ramp at the end as a fully functional electric scooter.

The three-wheelers seem to take longer, with one e-trike rolling off the line around every five minutes.

From there, still, more workers receive the scooters and begin going through a several dozen-point inspection to ensure that everything has been assembled correctly and all of the scooter’s functions are working properly. Things like wheel alignment, torque spec, electrical connections, lighting/sound levels, and many other important areas are all examined as part of the end-of-line quality inspections.

Once the vehicles get the seal of approval, they’re walked over to yet another aerial lift that slowly plucks them from the ground and soars them through the air to another part of the factory.

Each of the buildings is connected by a series of catwalk-style sky bridges. There, the tracks suspending the finished vehicles can pass from building to building without actually going outside. In this way, parts and vehicles can move between different areas of the sprawling complex even while it is raining or snowing.

I mentioned a football field in the middle of this factory building, and I wasn’t kidding. There’s an entire turf field in there. In fact, it used to be real grass, but that required opening the skylights for good sun exposure, which the workers said made the building quite hot in the summer. So instead, they turned it into a turf field.

It gets used for a number of different events, from playing sports on breaks to hosting company events and unveiling. When I passed through, there were several models of electric scooters still set up on the field from a recent event. You can see the field in my video at the top of this article.

There’s also a library at the end of the field, featuring around a dozen shelves of books set up in a rectangle to create a little reading room complete with tables and chairs. Workers can read the books there or they can take any books they like (there’s no charge and the books are regularly replaced by the company).

The last area I had the chance to see in the factory was a staging zone for finished three-wheelers that were ready to be trucked away to local stores (Yadea counts over 40,000 brand stores around the world). There was also a display set up showing raw materials from various stages of production, from bare steel tubes to coated frame members and painted panels. They highlighted the quality of each step, such as how the bare frame tubes are laser cut so precisely that the edges are smooth and feel like a factory edge.

Despite wearing my journalist/YouTuber hat most of the time these days, I do in fact have a mechanical engineering degree on my desk that I occasionally get a chance to dust off. As a younger man, I also spent years working as a machinist in a machine shop and I previously ran my own manufacturing operations, so I have at least a cursory knowledge of what I was looking at for each production step around the factory.

I can tell you that of all the light electric vehicle factories I’ve visited in several countries around the world, I’ve never seen an operation run more professionally than what I saw at Yadea. The attention to detail, the level of automation, and even the consideration of workers’ needs, it was all simply above and beyond anything I’ve seen before.

And that was all before lunch!

With the first part of the tour finished, we headed to the employee cafeteria where I got to choose whatever I wanted from a wide a la carte menu. This also surprised me.

While I didn’t expect the workers to be eating gruel, I was caught off-guard at just how good the food was! And this wasn’t some visiting guest cafeteria (many factories have VIP cafeterias off to the side, and I’ve eaten in those before). I was eating where all the factory workers eat, the people’s cafeteria, the great equalizer. And I know that because my entire lunch was spent with hundreds of people staring at me as the only white guy in the room. I definitely caught a few folks taking pictures of me. It’s cool though, I just told them I’m Keanu Reeves.

After lunch, and having already seen how and where Yadea’s vehicles are produced, I had a blast spending the rest of the afternoon test-driving most of them!

The factory tour was impressive, but it’s on the company’s vehicle testing area and proving grounds that I had the most fun! To hear how that went, you’ll have to stay tuned in for Part Two of this story, coming in another couple days (or you can just watch the video at the top of this article, which includes both parts together for a major sneak peak!).

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Micah Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery nerd, and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling books DIY Lithium Batteries , DIY Solar Power,   The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide  and The Electric Bike Manifesto .

The e-bikes that make up Micah’s current daily drivers are the $999 Lectric XP 2.0 , the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2 , the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission , and the $3,299 Priority Current . But it’s a pretty evolving list these days.

You can send Micah tips at [email protected], or find him on Twitter , Instagram , or TikTok .

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• Chocolate Candy

Chocolate and Candy Factory Tours in the U.S.

If You're Lucky, Try Some Treats Fresh off the Line

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Jelly Belly

Theo chocolate.

• Boehm's Candies

Hammond’s Candy Company

Sweet’s candy company, cerreta candy company, the candy factory, rebecca ruth chocolates, anthony-thomas chocolates, sanders and morley candy makers, webb’s candy shop.

If you have ever watched "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory," you have probably dreamed of setting foot inside a candy factory one day. Well, there are many working candy factories today in the U.S. that offer free or low-cost tours. They might not include Willy Wonka’s chocolate rivers or edible vegetation, but these factory tours can be a lot of fun.

Candy factory tours offer an exciting look at how beloved sweets are made behind the scenes, and in addition to seeing the assembly methods, visitors often learn about candy making and the history of the specific candy and candy company.

Touring a candy factory can be a great family activity since it appeals to all ages and is affordable—almost all of the tours listed below are free. (If you are a large group, it is always a good idea to call ahead to schedule a tour that can accommodate you). Best of all, candy tours often end with free samples of the merchandise, fresh off the assembly line.

Note that most of these candy factories use nuts in the process, so a tour would require special precautions for anyone with a nut allergy. Browse this listing of candy factory tours, see if there is one near you, and enjoy.

The main  Jelly Belly factory is located (appropriately enough) at One Jelly Belly Lane in Fairfield, California. The company was founded by Gustav Goelitz in 1869. As you may have guessed, jelly beans , in more than 50 flavors (including pomegranate and chili-mango) rank as its primary product. The self-guided tour is free, and it takes about 45 minutes to cover the quarter-mile area that includes interactive exhibits, films depicting the intricacies of candy making, and examples of Jelly Belly art. You can skip the line with a personal guided tour for one to six people included for a single fee, but you must make a reservation.

In Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, you can visit the Jelly Belly warehouse and distribution center. Learn how these jelly beans are made on a free, 30-minute train ride through the facility complete with whimsical decorations and jelly bean characters fun for children and all kids at heart.

Theo Chocolate is considered one of the first organic, fair-trade certified chocolate makers in North America. Around since 2006, the factory is located in a former brewery building and trolley car depot in the Fremont neighborhood of North Seattle, Washington. About 60,000 visitors tour the factory per year. Tours have an admission fee except for free tours on Fremont Third Thursday. The guided tour is about one hour long, includes chocolate samples, but children under age 5 are not permitted on the tour. For those under age 5, a weekly children's storytime tour is offered. You can also book a private tour for groups of up to 24 people, which can include young children and babies.

Boehm's Candies

Boehm's Candies has been around since 1942 when Austrian Olympian runner Julius Boehms opened his first candy shop in the Ravenna area of Seattle, Washington. He later designed, built, and relocated his shop to an authentic Swiss-style Alpine chalet in the Issaquah foothills, which reminded him of home. Tours of the Issaquah production facility and shop are available during the summer months only for a small fee per person (under age 1, free). On a 40-minute tour, you can see how their famous truffles , caramels, and nut candies are made. Outside of the summer months, if you have a group of 10 or more, you can inquire about scheduling a tour.

Carl T. Hammond, Sr., founded Hammond's Candy Company in Denver, Colorado, in 1920. You can visit the factory and watch as treats like lollipops, candy canes, and other popular Hammond's treats are pulled, twisted, shaped, and packaged by hand. The 30-minute tour is free. No reservations are required, but you can call ahead. The tour is offered every 30 minutes on the hour and on the half. Children are welcome. Wheelchairs and strollers can access the facility.

The Sweet Candy Company first opened its doors in 1892 in Portland, Oregon. In the 1900s, the company moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where it has been ever since. Sweet Candy Company remains family-owned and operated by the third, fourth, and fifth generations of the family. Their specialty is taffy , gummies, chocolate sticks, and the company produces 250 other candies. The tour is free, by appointment only, Monday through Friday. The guided tour includes fresh factory samples and educational and interactive stations.

The Cerreta Candy Company is a family-owned business founded in 1968 by Jim Cerreta, Sr., in Glendale, Arizona. He had learned the art of candy production in his father-in-law’s factory in Canton, Ohio. He then passed the skill on to his children and grandchildren. Four generations later, the business is going strong. Their signature candy is French mint chocolates followed closely by chocolate caramels and creams. The free, 30-minute guided tour is offered Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and at 1 p.m. A VIP tour package is available for a small fee.

Visit The Candy Factory in Columbia, Missouri, and observe some of the traditional candy-making processes in use since they opened their doors in 1974. The Candy Factory creates chocolate assortments of truffles and, for free, you can take a sneak peek at the process through their viewing room.

When you think Kentucky, there are likely two things that come to mind: the Kentucky Derby and bourbon whiskey. It stands without question that Rebecca Ruth Chocolates in Frankfort, Kentucky, has tipped a nod to both in its lines of chocolate samplers and liquor-filled chocolates. From its famous bourbon balls to its Triple Crown Assortment, the selections are something you can only find in Kentucky. A 20-minute tour is available for a small fee. Children under 5 are free.

Walk the glass-enclosed, suspended "catwalk" and observe nine assembly lines producing 30,000 pounds of chocolates at the Anthony-Thomas factory in Columbus, Ohio. A tour guide explains each process step-by-step from the kitchens to the final packaging on a one-hour tour. View huge copper kettles where the gooey centers of some of the candies are created and take a look at the network of silver-wrapped pipes that carry liquid chocolate throughout the factory. The tour is available for a very small fee and is free for children under age 3. The admission fee can be applied to a candy purchase. No reservations are required.

Since 1875, Sanders fine chocolates have been woven into the fabric of Michigan culture. With chains throughout the Great Lakes region, it was the regional chocolate. With its own rich history since 1919, Morley Candy Makers bought Sanders in 2002. The Sanders and Morely Candy Makers chocolate factory tour in Clinton Township, Michigan, is great for all ages and it is free. Guided tours are available by appointment only. But you can stop by any day for a free self-guided kitchen tour.

Somebody at the helm was paying attention to marketing when developing the product lines at Webb's Candy in Davenport, Florida—each product is unique. From goat's milk fudge bars to citrus jelly candies made with real citrus juices, Webb's is the real deal. To learn more about them, take a free, self-guided tour

• American Desserts

Factory Tours

Celebrating american imagination and industry, 11 tours in arizona.

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Northeast Ohio Family Fun

Make Memories, One Cool Family Outing at a Time!

25 Factory Tours in Ohio: Unique Behind-the-Scenes Experiences

Last Updated: 11/9/2023

Are you ready to discover the process of making your favorite products? One of the factory tours in Ohio is a great, behind-the-scenes activity! From foods you enjoy, to products you love, to operations that help a city run, you have a variety of factories to choose from. We’ve put together a list of fun factory tours throughout the area.

American Whistle Corp Tour

“Whoo,” calling all whistle lovers! The American Whistle Corp is the only manufacturer of metal whistles in the United States. Ever wonder how the little ball gets inside the whistle? You can find that out, and so much more on a tour of The American Whistle Corp.

The tour is welcome and tailored to all ages, so bring the entire family! The 45 minute tour is scheduled in advance online Monday through Thursday. Learn more under the “what to expect” section for additional details.

The American Whistle Corporation 6540 Huntley Rd., Columbus, OH 43229 Website

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Columbus Washboard Company Factory Tours

Come take a tour of a washboard factory and take a step back in history! Columbus Washboard Company Factory is the only washboard factory remaining in the United States. You will see the plant, as well as the process of making the washboards. Interestingly, the company still uses many of the original tools today in their manufacturing process.

The washboard tour will take around 35 minutes. It is designed for both children and adults. Please book ahead for your tour. Visit the website for costs, hours and additional information.

Columbus Washboard Company Factory Tours 4 Main Street, Logan, OH Website

Mitchell's Ice Cream Tour

The Mitchell brothers created Mitchell’s Ice Cream with the hope to create memories over ice cream. Today, you can not only enjoy the fresh homemade ice cream, but you can see the process first hand at their Ohio City location. Stop by and peek through their window to watch as they handcraft each batch of ice cream in their kitchen.

Check out the website for a full menu of flavors during your visit, and their seasonal offerings. You can also look at their cakes and pies. You can reserve the Ohio City location for private events as well! This would make a fun location for a child's birthday party!

Mitchell's Ice Cream 1867 W 25th Street, Cleveland, OH 44113 Website

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Original Mattress Factory Tour

At the Original Mattress Factory each mattress is handmade and built to last! That’s why they invite you to come behind-the-scenes to see the process of making a mattress. You’ll be able to see each layer from the springs, to the cotton, to the foam.

Original Mattress Factory 4930 State Road, Cleveland, OH 44134 Website

MVP Dairy Tour

Want to learn about dairy farming? The best way is to come see the entire operation!! MVP Dairy is a non-profit education center that offers tours to the public. With two levels of interactive games and displays you will learn about the process of milk’s journey. You can also get a close up look at their milking carousel with real cows. Appointments are encouraged, so make sure to call and book your tour in advance.

MVP Dairy 7124 US-33, Celina, Ohio 45822 Website

Al’s Delicious Popcorn Tour

At Al’s Delicious Popcorn they consider you one of the neighbors, and they invite their neighbors in! They have had generations of families tour their locations, and enjoy making memories with you. On their tour you will learn the history of popcorn and their business. Then you are invited into their kitchen (hair net and all) to learn first hand from their Popcorn Chefs. They do it all by hand! You end the tour with a popcorn tasting. Yum! 

Plan for 30 minutes to an hour for the tour, the larger the group the longer it will take.  

Al’s Delicious Popcorn Locations in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio Website

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Chocolate Factory Tours

Harry london/fannie may fine chocolates.

Are you ready for a mouthwatering, behind-the-scenes look at chocolate? Harry London/Fannie May Fine Chocolates offers a peek into the process of their gourmet chocolates. You will get a lesson in Fannie May history, as well as a chance to taste test their creations. Tours are free and you need to call to book in advance. Make sure to book early because tours fill up quickly, especially during the summer.

Harry London/Fannie May Fine Chocolates 5353 Lauby Road, North Canton, OH 44720 Website   | Our Review

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Malley’s Chocolates (virtual tour)

Each piece of chocolate is hand-picked off the line to ensure it is the highest quality! If you grew up around Cleveland, you probably took a field trip or two to tour the factory. Unfortunately, Malley’s no longer offers in person tours, but you can take a first hand look at how each piece of chocolate is made in one of their virtual tours. If you are a fan of their melt-in-your-mouth Buckeyes, you'll definitely want to watch the video of how they are made in their 60,000 square foot facility.

Malley’s Chocolates Website

Anthony-Thomas Candy Company

Channel your inner Willy Wonka with a tour of the 152,000 square-foot, Anthony-Thomas Candy Company candy factory! You won’t take a glass elevator, but you will have the chance to walk comfortably along their glass-enclosed suspended “Cat-Walk,” where you will view nine lines of 30,000 pounds of chocolate production per shift. Plus, they make sure you get a free sample.

The tour ends in their 2,500 square foot retail shop, where you can purchase more candy from your visit. You can register on their website, as well as find out hours, admissions and more details about their tours.

Anthony-Thomas Candy Company 1777 Arlingate Lane Columbus, OH 43228 Website

Maverick Chocolate Factory Tour

If you’ve ever wondered about the entire bean to bar process of making chocolate, the Maverick Chocolate Factory Tour is for you. You will literally use all of your senses as you experience the entire process of chocolate making. You will learn about the history of the Picton family, how chocolate is made and then you’ll have a chance to enjoy free samples.

The tour runs from 30 to 45 minutes. You must wear closed toed shoes, and a hat or hair net will be provided for your visit. Babies are allowed, but strollers are not permitted in the factory area. 

Maverick Chocolate Factory Tour 2651 Edmondson Road, Cincinnati, OH 45209 Website

Coblentz Chocolate Company

At Coblentz Chocolate Company you can take a peek behind-the-scenes of chocolate making. Their recently remodeled showroom includes a viewing gallery. You get to watch their delicious creations being made!

Their headquarters is like stepping back into an old-fashioned candy store. You can purchase chocolates in the shop or online via their website. 

Coblentz Chocolate Company 4917 Walnut Street, Walnut Creek, OH 44687 Website

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Young's Jersey Dairy Cheese & Ice Cream Tours

At Young's Jersey Dairy you can spend a day at the farm and experience their cheese and ice cream production firsthand. One of their dairy experts will walk you through the process, while you can watch through the windows at their ice cream and cheese production facility. Each tour ticket also includes your choice of a cheese item and a pint of Young’s Homemade Ice Cream.

Tickets are required for those 5-years-old and up and you can sign up for a tour via their website. 

Young's Jersey Dairy 6880 Springfield-Xenia Rd Yellow Springs, OH 45387 Website

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For more than 140 years Rookwood has been transforming “earthen materials into works of art.” On a Rookwood tour, you’ll have a unique opportunity to step inside the studio for a history on the art. Their historian, George, takes you through their 88,000 square facility. You can also use your $10 ticket as a credit for a $50 or more purchase in their showroom after the tour. 

Rookwood 1920 Race Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202 Website

Airstream Factory Tours

Have you ever wondered how an Airstream is built? On one of the Airstream Factory Tours you’ll get to see how they are made and explore the completed product. You’re invited to take a tour of the travel trailer or touring coach factory, or you can view both. While you’re touring the manufacturers are hard at work around you.

The tour of each factory takes about one hour. Close toe shoes are required and the tours are only offered during weekdays so make sure to plan accordingly. 

Airstream Factory Tours 1001 W. Pike Street, Jackson Center, OH 45334 Website

Rumpke Landfill & Recycling Tour

Do you know what happens to your trash and recycling after you throw it away? A Rumpke Landfill & Recycling Tour allows you to see both the landfill side of the process as well as the recycling side. They offer two separate tours. The landfill tour is done from the safety of one of their buses, and the recycling tour is a walking tour. Tours are free and last approximately one hour.

Rumpke Landfill & Recycling Tour Locations for tours include Columbus, Cincinnati, Colerain Township and Brown County Website

Clifton Mill Tours

One of the “largest water powered grist mills still in existence,” is right here in Ohio at Clifton Mill. Dating back to 1802, there is a deep history and unique story to this mill. Today you can visit and tour the property, including the inner workings of the mill. Tours are available on weekdays during spring and summer.  

Clifton Mill 75 Water St., Clifton, OH 45316 Website

Cheese Factory Tours

Guggisberg cheese factory tour.

Take a trip through the scenic Doughty Valley for a Guggisberg Cheese Factory Tour. The same valley you’ll drive through produces the fresh milk that makes the cheese you will taste. You can watch them make the cheese, as well as enjoy their more than 60 varieties of cheese.

The location also includes a retail store. You can purchase “authentic Cuckoo Clocks, beer steins, local goods, cutlery and so much more.” Take a look at the website for tour details.

Guggisberg Cheese Factory Tour 5060 State Route 557 Millersburg, Ohio 44654 Website

Pearl Valley Cheese Factory Tour

At Pearl Valley Cheese Factory Tour you can not only see your favorite cheeses being made, you can taste the different varieties. Pearl Valley Cheese has more than 30 options to choose from. They also have weekly specials!

Take a look at the website for best times to visit to see the cheese being made. You can also bring your pets to exercise in their pet-friendly field in front of the shop. They are closed holidays.

Pearl Valley Cheese Factory Tour 54760 Township Rd 90, Fresno, OH 43824 Website

Heini's Cheese Chalet Tour

Want to see how cheese is made? Heini's Cheese Chalet Tour provides self-guided tours that allow you to see the process. Call ahead to get each week’s cheese-making schedule so you can plan your trip accordingly. Their website includes an interesting PDF on the history of cheese making. 

Heini's Cheese Chalet Tour 6005 County Road 77, Millersburg, Ohio 44654 Website

Honda Heritage Center Tour

If you love cars and the history of cars then the Honda Heritage Center Tour is for you! Take a self-guided stroll through the museum at your own pace. You should allow 45-90 minutes for your tour. Walk-ins are welcome and the visit is free of charge. There is plenty of free parking on-site as well. 

Honda Heritage Center 24025 Honda Parkway, Marysville, Ohio 43040 Website

Spangler Candy Company Tour

The Spangler Candy Company tours are currently closed. However, they have a new store coming in 2023. The location will include interactive displays, a retail store and a factory tour up on the big screen. 

Spangler Candy Company Downtown Bryan, Ohio Website

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P. Graham Dunn Production Tour

When you take a trip to the P. Graham Dunn factory store, not only can you enjoy the products of the store, but you can get a peek into the process of their woodworking. The store has windows that overlook the factory. Watch the production process from start to finish!

Visit the website for details on the store hours. You can view the production side of the business anytime the store is open. You can also shop products in the store and on their website.

P. Graham Dunn 630 Henry Street, Dalton, OH 44618 Website

Schwebel’s Bakery (photo tour)

Are you interested in how bread is made? If you visit the Schwebel’s Bakery website, they have a photo tour of their entire bread making process. They invite you to see how “Schwebel’s time-tested, old-world recipes meet state-of-the-art equipment!”

You can almost smell the fresh bread while taking an online photo tour of the bakery. The website also has a  Family Fun  page featuring funny videos and downloadable coloring pages for kids.

Schwebel’s Bakery Website

Great Lakes Brewing Co.

Great Lakes Brewing Co. is Ohio’s original craft brewery. You can take in a little bit of their history, while getting a lesson in the beer making process…all with a beer in hand! You begin the tour with a sample in the Beer Symposium and then you get to experience the production facility for a behind-the-scenes look at the entire process.

The entire tour takes about 60 minutes from start to finish. Your ticket includes the tour as well as four 5 oz. beer samples and a souvenir pint. Be sure to check out the website for tour details and rules.

Great Lakes Brewing Co. 2516 Market Ave. Cleveland Ohio 44113 Website

The Phoenix Bat Company Factory Tours

If you have a baseball fan on your hands, then The Phoenix Bat Company Factory Tours are for you! Unfortunately, the factory tours are currently closed due to minimal staffing. However, they plan to restart them in the future. Check back on the website for details about tours. Their showroom is currently open and they can do bat fittings as well.

The Phoenix Bat Company Factory Tours 7801 Corporate Blvd. Suite E Plain City, Ohio 43064 Website

KitchenAid Tours

A visit to historic Greenville comes with many charms, including the KitchenAid Experience® Retail Center. This location used to offer tours to the public. However, it is currently closed for tours. Greenville is home to the KitchenAid Stand Mixer and well known throughout the area.

KitchenAid Website

More Fun Things to do in Ohio

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Official Factory Tours | Jelly Belly Candy Company

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Jelly Belly Factory Tour

Jelly belly self-guided factory tours.

For a small entrance fee, you can join us for a self guided tour! Reservations are not required.

Factory tours are offered daily, 9:15am to 4:00pm. Featuring:

• HD/4K quality videos to give you an up-close-and-personal look at our candy manufacturing
• Interactive exhibits
• A self-guided walk along the elevated, ¼ mile long tour lane to give you a bird’s-eye view of the entire operation.

Jelly Belly Guided Factory Tour & Museum Experience

Join us for an exciting day at the Jelly Belly Guided Factory Tour & Guided Museum Experience! Located at 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield, CA, USA, this in-person event offers a unique opportunity to explore the fascinating world of Jelly Belly! A personal tour guide will escort your group of up to 6 people exlusively through the Factory tour and Museum experience. Reservations are required. For available dates, click here .

Guided tours are available 3 times per day at 9:15am, 11:30am, and 1:30pm. Limited to 1 group per time slot. All tours must be booked at least 24 hours prior to your tour's start time. Included:

• Personal guided tour of the Factory tour lane and Museum
• Retail store discount
• Discount at Magic Memories photos

See How it's Made!

• 1 Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield, CA
• We are located halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento off I-80 and Highway 12.

What to do while you're here

• Self-guided tours allow you to explore the ¼ mile journey above the factory at your own pace, enjoying the all-new look at our candy making.
• Interactive exhibits and games along the tour lane
• Browse the Jelly Belly Jelly Bean Art Gallery
• Shop the Jelly Belly Candy Store
• Dine at the Jelly Belly Café
• Shop the Jelly Belly Chocolate Shoppe and Fudge Counter
• Sample your way through the Chocolate & Wine Experience

For Information

• Tour Pricing: All ages are welcome to take our factory tour! Prices are $7.00 for adults and $3.00 for children ages 3 - 17. Ages 2 & under are free. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Active military receive 20% off their ticket price by showing military ID.
• ADA Accessibility: All areas of the Visitor Center and public factory tour are fully ADA accessible. (Strollers and wheelchairs are not provided.)
• Allergen Information: Our Retail Store, Café, and Chocolate Shoppe confections and foods contain certain allergy triggers. Please check out our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) to learn more about allergens and to submit a question.
• Buses and RVs: Bus and RV parking is available during business hours. Overnight parking is prohibited.
• Hearing Impaired: Videos along the tour lane have been updated to include subtitles to accommodate our guests who are hearing impaired.Large Groups No advanced ticket sales available.
• Holiday Hours: We are closed on New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. We operate on reduced hours on the 1st Saturday in December, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. The Jelly Belly Factory has limited-to-no candy production for a three-week period, typically occurring in the month of April. During this time, the Visitor Center will observe regular business hours and conduct tours in a non-producing factory similar to weekend tours. Hours and production schedules are subject to change without notice. Please refer to our Event Calendar for these notifications or call ahead for modified hours.
• Parking: Parking is free! Bus and RV parking is also available during business hours. Overnight parking is prohibited.
• Pets: Service animals are allowed on the public tour lane. A dog walk area for traveling pets is located just off the parking lot on the north side of the facility. Please do not leave pets unattended in vehicles, especially on hot days.
• Photography: You may take photos in the Visitor Center and during your factory tour. Please note that flash photography is not allowed inside the factory.
• Smoke-Free Campus: Jelly Belly operates smoke-free campuses. Smoking and vaping is not permitted on the premises, including parking lots, sidewalks and other common areas.
• Wait Times: Our wait times may vary depending on the time of year. Currently our wait times are 0 to 30 minutes.
• Weekends and Holidays: While we strive to keep all manufacturing areas operating at full capacity Monday through Friday, there may be times some or all areas of the factory will not be operating or operating at full production. Although our candy makers are at home with their families on the weekends, we still conduct factory tours! Our updated HD/4K tour videos throughout the tour lane show a close-up view of all the activities that happen inside the factory. Production schedules are subject to change without notice. Please refer to our Event Calendar for these notifications.
• Weekday Tours: Our working factory operates Monday – Friday. If you want to see the full factory in action, we recommend joining us for a tour during the week. If you can’t make it during the week though, don’t worry! Our weekend tours still get to see all the action on the floor thanks to HD/4K video throughout the tour lane to give you a closer look at what happens down on the factory floor. The Jelly Belly Factory has limited to no candy production for a three-week period, typically occurring in the month of April. During this time, the Visitor Center will observe regular business hours and conduct tours in a non-producing factory similar to weekend tours. Production schedules are subject to change without notice. Please refer to our Event Calendar for these notifications.

For additional tour information, call 1-800-9-JELLYBEAN ( 1-800-953-5592 ).

California factory events.

Visit the Ben & Jerry's Factory

Operating hours:.

Open every day, 10:00-6:00. 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

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  

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 California Factory Tour

California is a great place to see guitars being made, visit a winery , or tour a candy factory . You can see a working mill as well as woodworking tools being manufactured, visit a working nut farm, or see where popular tableware is produced.

California Factories That Offer Tours

Alembic | Rohnert Park, CA

Alembic invites you to visit the factory and see how they make their fine hand-crafted, ready-to-play, and custom basses and guitars. Alembic also produces pre-amps and accessories. Tours are available with advance notice on the first Wednesday of the month

When Alembic started back in 1969, our goal was to create the finest quality American made instruments ever known.  Alembic

Bates Nut Farm | Valley Center, CA

Educational tours, weekdays from January through September. Spend time on the farm and learn how nuts are grown and harvested, the history of nut agriculture in California, tour the roasting, packaging, and storage area, enjoy a hayride, and more.

#Bates Nut Farm

Blue Ox Millworks | Eureka, CA

Tour a working mill that has made pieces for made pieces for state parks, historic cathedrals, Russian East Orthodox churches, two governor’s mansions, and even the White House twice. You’ll see all the woodworking trades that have made Blue Ox Millwork famous.

#Blue Ox Millworks

Heath Ceramics | Sausalito, CA

Visit the sweeping semi-circle factory where Heath Ceramics has been making dinnerware , drinkware , and serveware in the USA since 1959. Factory tour sizes are limited so reservations are required.

#Heath Ceramics

Intel | Santa Clara, CA

Intel offers self-guided visits, group tours, student tours, and field trips at the Intel Museum where you’ll learn about Intel’s history, the science behind the semiconductor industry, and much more.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory | Pasadena, CA

Visitor day tours for groups of 10 or less, public group tours, educational tours, and virtual tours. Guests may also visit the von Karman Visitor Center, the Space Flight Operations Facility, and the Spacecraft Assembly Facility.

#Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Lance Camper Mfg. Corp. | Lancaster, CA.

A behind-the-scenes look at Lance Campers for shoppers, owners, RV enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to learn how Lance campers are made. By appointment, tours are scheduled on the first and third Wednesday of each month.

Sherline | Vista, CA

Sherline manufactures lathes and woodworking tools at a 66,000-square-foot facility that hosts production, assembly, and administrative offices. They invite visitors to take a factory tour, Monday-Friday, excluding holidays.

Taylor | El Cajon, CA

Enjoy a showcase of Taylor guitars when you visit the USA headquarters in El Cajon, CA.

#Taylor Guitars

Shop Taylor Guitars on Amazon

U.S. Borax Visitor Center | Boron, CA

One of the biggest and richest deposits of borax on the planet is buried deep in the Mohave Desert. Take a trip to the visitors center where you’ll get free admission to historical and geological exhibits on the rim of the active borax mine.

More Tours in California

California Chocolate & Candy Factory Tours

Made in the USA Matters has a complete directory of United States chocolate and candy factories that offer tours . Check out the chocolate and candy factory tours in California .

California Cheese Factory Tours

Made in the USA Matters has a complete directory of United States cheese factories that offer tours . Check out the cheese factory tours in California .

California Dairy Farm Tours

Made in the USA Matters has a complete directory of United States dairy farm tours . Check out the dairy farm tours in California .

California Distillery and Brewery Tours

Made in the USA Matters has a complete directory of United States distilleries and breweries that offer tours . Check out the distillery and brewery tours in California .

California Vineyard & Winery Tours

Made in the USA Matters has a complete directory of United States vineyards and wineries that offer tours . Check out the vineyard and winery tours in California .

USA Factory Tours

Did we miss a California factory tour? Please share it with our community in the comments below.

American Dairy Farm Tours | See Dairy Products Made in the USA

American Cheese Factory Tours | See Cheese Made in the USA

American Chocolate & Candy Factory Tours | See Chocolate & Candy Made in the USA

American Potato Chip Factory Tours | See Snack Foods Made in the USA

American Distillery & Brewery Tours | See Spirits Made in the USA

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Boeing Renton Factory Tour

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Now is your chance to see the Boeing 737 and P-8 production lines in Renton, WA. You will need to provide your own transportation or carpool. Parking is available on-site. The tour is open to all majors at all campus locations, but registration is limited to 20, first-come, first-served. Sign up now to save your seat!  Time and Location: May 9 at 10:00 AM / Renton, WA Tour Duration: 4 hours  Agenda: 737 Production Line Tour Lunch + Speed Networking with Boeing Employees P-8A Production Line Tour Learn about the planes in advance: Boeing 737 Max: https://www.boeing.com/commercial/737max

Boeing P-8: https://www.boeing.com/defense/p-8-poseidon

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Tour Details

Moscow metro tour: architectural styles of the subway.

Duration: 2 hours

Categories: Culture & History, Sightseeing

This metro tour of Russia’s capital and most populous city, Moscow, is your chance to get a unique insight into the beautiful and impressive architecture of the city's underground stations. Admire their marble walls and high ceilings representing Stalin's desire for glory after World War 2, and see first-hand how the interiors change with the rise of new political eras. Your guide will lead you through the complex network, which is one of the most heavily used rapid transit systems worldwide, with over two billion travelers in 2011.

Opened in 1935, Moscow’s underground system, now 190 miles (305 km) long with 185 stations, is today one the largest and most heavily used rapid transit systems in the world. On this Moscow metro tour, discover the impressive architecture of Moscow’s underground stations and learn how they reflect the Soviet era.

Getting around by metro, your local guide will take you through parts of Moscow’s infamous history. Stop at stations built during the time of the USSR (Soviet Union) that are praised as one of the most extravagant architectural projects from Stalin’s time. After World War 2, he was keen on establishing Stalinist architecture to represent his rising regime and a recognized empire. Learn how when his successor started the de-Stalinization of the former Soviet Union in 1953, the extravagancy of the architecture was toned down.

Discover how the unique character of each station reflected several different eras. While stations like Kievskaya and Slavyansky Bulvar have pompous halls and high stucco ceilings brimming with extravagant decorations, those built later, like Volzhskaya, are lightly adorned with sparse furnishings. Architect Alexey Dushkin and painter Alexander Deyneka were just two of the many artists who made these magnificent landmarks possible.

Revel in Moscow's glory days, as well as the years of scarcity, on this fascinating Moscow metro experience. Conclude your tour at one of the central stations in Moscow. If you're lucky, you may even find the secret entrance to the unconfirmed Metro-2, a parallel underground system used by the government -- a mystery which has neither been denied nor confirmed today.

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Walking Tour of Moscow's Kolomenskoye Estate

On this walking tour through the Kolomenskoye Estate in Moscow, immerse yourself in Russia’s interesting royal history. Walk around the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ascension Church, built in 1532, and enter the Hou...

Moscow Cultural Walking Tour: Red Square, Kitay-Gorod and St Basil's Cathedral

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Kremlin Grounds, Cathedrals and Patriarch's Palace Tour from Moscow

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Culture Shock Rating

We have a wide range of tours designed to give you an insight into the destination you're travelling in and there is something for everybody. The culture shock ratings considers the destination visited, transport used, activities undertaken and that "Wow, I'm really not at home now!" factor. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

This is the least confronting of our tour range. Transport used on the trip is either private or a very comfortable public option, the activities included are usually iconic sites and locations that are not all too confronting.

The tour can include a mix of private and public transport providing a level of comfort that is slightly below what you would experience at home. Sites visited are usually iconic sites, tours can also include market visits, visits to communities etc that provide the traveller with a fantastic insight into destination.

Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether it's a packed public bus where you are forced to stand, a visit to a local market, a local community, you are sure to have an experience that is very different from what you're used to at home.

The comforts of your home town and the environment you are used to are more of a rarity. Expect some challenging transport options, visits to local sites and areas that don't resemble anything at home.

You're out there in the global community! You are likely to be exposed to the elements, travel in whatever means of transport is available and basically take it as it comes, whatever comes! It can be tough.

Physical Rating

Our physical rating gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour. While generalisations are always tricky, a summary of our gradings is as follows…

These tours have very limited physical activity. Usually climbing in and out of the transport provided, walking through sites, markets etc included in the itinerary.

These tours have a bit of physical activity but nothing that should challenge you too much. This could be climbing on and off public transport through to a walk through the destination you're travelling in, they can include walking only tours or a combination of walking and transport.

These tours involve a bit of physical activity from walking up and down hills in the destination you're travelling in or the surrounding areas. Climbing on and off local transport or riding a bike up to 30 kms along predominantly flat terrain or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.

These Tours will provide you with some solid physical activity. Whether its bike riding, walking, trekking, kayaking or riding on public transport you will need to have a good level of fitness to enjoy this tour.

Be prepared for some serious physical activity. These tours are our most challenging and involve some serious walking, hiking or bike riding. Can involve step climbs by foot or pedal and some challenging public transport options in the destination you are travelling.

Luxury Rating

Some trips are like a stroll on the beach, while others have you trekking alpine passes. Some of you thrive on camping out on the savannah, while others may prefer a hot shower and a comfortable bed in a lodge. Follow the grading systems below to find the right trip for you.

To help you choose the trip that's right for you, we've broken all of our trips down into four service levels. Measuring the comfort level of the accommodation and transport. So whether you're travelling on a budget and want to save money by using public transport, or prefer upgraded accommodation and are happy to pay a little more, then we have a level for you.

This is grassroots travel at its most interesting

Authentic experiences with some of the comforts of home

For those who like to travel in comfort

All the unique experiences wrapped up with a gold ribbon