One of the most overlooked form of family fun is the factory tour. From watching a chip flip to witnessing marshmallow peeps being born, kids and adults will be fascinated during this great family activity.
My family and I have visited many factory tour programs, and we have always had a great time. The tours are usually very kid-friendly and family oriented. Tour guides have always been super nice, and the factories are eager to show off their stuff. Free samples are almost always given. Ever eat a potato chip hot from the fryer? Yummy!
Most of the tours are absolutely free, making the factory tour one of the best-kept frugal secrets around. While some tours do charge a fee, these tours are the exception, not the rule.
You can find many different factory tours around the country, as there is usually something being made, assembled or engineered near you. Of course some industrial areas, such as Pittsburgh, Pa, can boast more tours than average.
A good way to find tours is through regional parenting and family magazines or by searching online. Very often, you can find a spontaneous or unadvertised tour by simply calling the factory and asking. Most are happy to oblige you with a tour. Last year, we toured a piano works not too far from us this way.
Some factories have regular scheduled dates and times for tours, while other factories are more spontaneous. Some require that you make an appointment, while others don’t mind if you just show up at the door.
Don’t expect to see every bit of the operation when you visit a tour. After all, the companies must retain some of their secrets. And, some areas may just not be safe enough to tour.
In a typical tour, you will have a guide that will walk you through the various areas of the factory, explaining things and answering questions. You may walk through to different buildings, so it pays to ask about that if the weather is bad. Many tours are handicap accessible, but not all.
I’ll be starting a series of blogs on the various free and low cost factory tours available to you across the country. I’ll list all of the important basics, but I’ll need your help. Have you been to a factory tour? I’d love to know what you thought of it and if you have any insider tips.
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