7 Enjoyable Food Factory Tours Throughout the U.S.

Ever see artwork fabricated from jelly beans? You can if you take a tour of the Jelly Belly Bean Art Gallery, the place artwork produced from tens of 1000’s of jelly beans is on show in Fairfield, California. Here, artists have fastidiously constructed portraits of Elvis, Batman and even a 4-by-5-foot Bengal tiger, utilizing jelly beans of all colours and flavors. Factory excursions provide enjoyable methods to see these sorts of distinctive points of interest, learn the way a few of your favourite merchandise are made, style samples and take part in actions like pouring your individual chocolate bar.

These excursions are budget-friendly and largely happen indoors, two components AARP survey respondents really feel are necessary to them when planning holidays, based on the 2026 AARP Travel Trends survey. Thirty-nine % of vacationers age 50-plus listed price and 22 % climate amongst their prime obstacles to journey. 

Be conscious that operation schedules fluctuate, so it’s potential to go on a tour and never see lively manufacturing, however the excursions have loads of different points of interest.

Take a self-guided tour by the customer heart at Blue Bell Creameries to study ice cream manufacturing and the corporate’s historical past.

Blue Bell Creameries

Blue Bell Creameries, Brenham, Texas

See the place Blue Bell Creameries produces its scrumptious ice cream on the firm’s production facility in Brenham, Texas. Take a self-guided tour by the customer heart to study manufacturing and greater than 100 years of firm historical past. The spotlight is the commentary deck, the place you’ll be able to watch manufacturing and see ice cream packaged in single-cup containers, 3-gallon tubs for eating places and loads of sizes in between. Stop by the ice cream parlor to buy a tasty scoop (or extra), together with flavors that aren’t available in shops. The Country Store on web site sells T-shirts, mugs and different objects. The firm’s plant in Sylacauga, Alabama, affords an identical expertise, with an commentary window, ice cream parlor and Country Store.

Cost: Free for the self-guided tour of the customer heart and commentary deck.

At the PEZ manufacturing unit in Orange, Connecticut, guests can see merchandise fabricated from PEZ, attempt a trivia recreation and be taught the corporate’s historical past.

Ayannah Brown/Connecticut Public through Getty Images

PEZ, Orange, Connecticut

Roam round 4,000 sq. toes of all issues PEZ on the iconic sweet firm’s Orange, Connecticut, visitor center. Take a self-guided tour to get pleasure from memorabilia, together with a PEZ-themed bike. See the world’s largest PEZ dispenser, check out a trivia recreation and be taught the historical past of the corporate, based in 1927. Peek by the viewing home windows to see how the sweet is produced, and watch movies to be taught concerning the full course of. Preview the self-guided tour with a 360-degree virtual online tour.

Cost: $5; $4 for adults 60-plus. Each admission features a $2 same-day buy credit score and a memento PEZ ticket lanyard.