Factory Tours Across the Nation:
Make a few stops and make some memories

by Krista Wilkie Samson

Have you ever noticed the small-industry signs on the outskirts of a town or small city, "Glass Factory, next exit"? Next time you are on the annual family cross-country driving trip, take a risk and take that exit. You just might spice up your summer travel.

Every summer, twice a summer, we embark on a 1080 mile journey from Fredericksburg to Grandma's house. Last summer, we broke the arduous journey by visiting the local factories along the way. Armed with a whim and a good Global Positioning System we discovered three fun and educational tours of small local factories.

Dating back to 1891, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, Schimpff's Confectionary is the longest running family-owned confectionary in the nation. It also touts a large collection of copper molds, which are still used. Handmade, the hard candy we witnessed being created was remarkable. Schimpff's has survived floods and wars, while maintaining its soda fountain, old-fashioned candy counter, and charm. Just across the river from Kentucky, it is a friendly piece of history, and "home of The Turtle" candy!

We quickly took the exit marked by a small blue city sign and found the Blenko Glass Company in Milton, West Virginia, right off Six. Blenko was founded in 1893 by a native of England, at a time when blown glass was produced only in Europe. Today, the museum in West Virginia holds Country Music Awards, Presidential gifts, White House globes, and antique stained glass, all hand-blown by Blenko. The factory is just past a glass garden and piles of colored-glass shards. An observation deck allows visitors to watch the glass heating, blowing, and globbing, until finally glass-ware is produced. The skilled workers work in a beautiful rhythm, and it's fun to see what color the glass turns into as it cools.

We have found the "Home of the Gummy Bears" in Illinois, the "Most Covered Bridges in One County" in Pennsylvania and a candle factory in Wisconsin which allows visitors to "hand wick" (dip) their own candles.

This summer we will be spending the majority of our time in Pennsylvania, on a food factory trip. Cheese curls (forced air blows corn meal and cheddar cheese into shape), Peeps (sugar and air), and Hershey await. Samples are not always provided after factory tours but they are available for purchase.

These factory stops can be surprisingly successful. Between the anticipation during the drive and the sanctioned junk food at the factory, the trips can deliver a delicious education and a more interesting family road trip.