Sweet candy and fun dispensers are on display at the PEZ factory tour in CT. PEZ Visitors Center photo by Doug Kerr via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Food Factory Tours in New England: Connecticut

1. PEZ Visitor Center – Orange, Connecticut

Kids (and adults) just love those super-sweet, rainbow-colored candies that come out of whimsical dispensers. Although you aren't able to set foot on the factory floor, you can get a peek at the production through viewing windows on a self-guided tour. It's more like a PEZ museum, really, since you can also gawk at the largest collection of PEZ memorabilia in the world. The company has been making dispensers since 1927, so you get a great dose of vintage pop culture.

2. Fascia's Chocolates - Waterbury, Connecticut

Waterbury's own Fascia's Chocolates offers some of those most interactive, hands-on factory tours in New England. With bus tours for large groups and private events that feature in-depth chocolate experiences, Fascia's tours let participants make their own chocolate! Looking for a food tour outside of a factory? Fascia's also partners with local New England vineyards and breweries for a "Chocolate Decadence Tour" aboard the Naugatuck Railroad. Check Fascia's website for a full calendar of chocolate encounters.

3. Avery's Beverages - New Britain, Connecticut

Avery's has been making soda for over a century. They make creative new flavors using time-tested methods. And a tour of Avery's Beverages comes with the opportunity to make your own soda! Tours require a minimum of 5 people (max of 20), and you get to bring home 3 bottles of your own concoction.

 
Ben and Jerry's factory tour might have be the sweetest part of a trip to Vermont! Ben and Jerry's Factory photo by Josh Grenier via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Vermont Food Factory Tours: Ben & Jerry's Tour

4. Ben and Jerry's – Waterbury, Vermont

Open year-round, this Northern Vermont ice-cream factory is a sweet oasis of cold and creamy delight. Since it's located in Waterbury, it's an easy stop if you're visiting hipster Burlington, or skiing at Stowe. The tour starts with a short film that tells the story of the company and its founders. Next, you get to see the production floor from the glassed-in mezzanine. A guide is on hand to answer any questions. Your last stop is the Flavoroom, where you can taste the flavor of the day. In summer, you can even picnic on the rolling grounds.

Food Factory Tours in New England: Massachusetts

5. Taza Chocolate Factory Tour – Somerville, Massachusetts

Chocolate lovers don't need to venture far from Boston for a food factory tour that satisfies a sweet tooth. With both public and private tours, Somerville's Taza Chocolate factory tours run from Tuesday through Sunday. Chocolate isn't always in production on a given tour, but samples are a guarantee!

6. Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory – Hyannis, Massachusetts

Cape Cod is home to one of the top food factory tours in New England. Come see how these chips are made artisan-style, cooked in small batches in old-world kettles. The factory gets more than 250,000 visitors annually, so it's quite a popular attraction. The self-guided tour is offered Monday through Friday and culminates with plentiful samples. The perfect way to spend a rainy day on the Cape.

Editor's Note: At the time of publication, the Cape Cod Potato Chip Tours were suspended. Consult the website for further information.

New England Food Factory Tours: New Hampshire

7. Anheuser-Busch – Merrimack, New Hampshire

The Budweiser tour in Merrimack New Hampshire might not have samples for the kids, but most tours of this mega-brewery's operations are family-friendly and fun. The brewery also offers fun events featuring kid-friendly entertainment, food trucks, and more.

8. Parker's Maple Barn – Mason, New Hampshire

While tours of this traditional sugar shack are only open during March, it's worth the drive to Mason, NH for the breakfast at this mom-and-pop "food factory." The Maple Barn Restaurant serves breakfast and lunch in a converted 19th century dairy barn from Thursday through Monday.

Photo by Amy Meredith via Flickr