Every year we spend at least one (sometimes two) weekends at Boyne Mountain skiing. We’ve been doing this for over ten years, so it really feels like a second home. One of our annual traditions during this ski trip is to visit the headquarters of Kilwins Chocolates.
To anyone who isn’t familiar with Kilwins, they began their journey in Petoskey, Michigan as a bakery in 1947. Don and Katy started developing candy and chocolate recipes that are still used today. In 1985, they added ice cream to the line-up.
Some of my favorite things about Kilwins is their attention to detail, the fact that they use local ingredients when possible (and when they can’t they are incredibly particular about getting the best ingredients possible) and that they require all franchises to go through extensive training. Another example of their concern with creating the best product experience is that the company decided to buy their own trucks to deliver ice cream so that they could ensure it would arrive at the proper temperature.
The factory tour is available every half-hour Monday through Friday from 10 – 4:30 and it is FREE! It’s fun to watch the candy being made, taste the delicious chocolate and learn more about the history of Kilwins. Even though I’ve done this tour multiple times, I learn something new each year. Much of the equipment being used to create the chocolates has been around since the beginning – and is still going strong.
On this particular tour, we watched truffle filling being mixed, caramel and peanut butter filling being spread out to cool, marshmallows being prepared and sea foam being covered in chocolate. Lots going on and plenty of human interaction.
Since I have a tree nut allergy my family always makes me take a picture by these doors – they think it’s hilarious so I oblige.
All the chocolates sold in Kilwins stores are made right here in Petoskey at THIS location. The individual stores (which are franchises) create the hand dipped items (like chocolate covered strawberries, apples, etc.) and the Mackinaw City fudge themselves.
The store itself is HUGE and you can purchase any kind of chocolate you’d like along with all of the ice cream flavors and a variety of fudge. We always go home with a few caramels and some chocolate. I’ll often purchase my all-time favorite “drinking chocolate” from the ice cream counter. Yum!
Taking an hour out of our ski trip to enjoy Kilwins has always been the perfect way to learn something new, enjoy delicious chocolates and create a fun family tradition that we all look forward to. Next time you see a Kilwins, stop in and know that you’re purchasing a sweet treat that was created with plenty of history and love for good candy!
Do you have any fun traditions like this when you travel? Something that you always make a point to stop and check out? I’d love to hear about it in the comments, so please share.
Looking for some tasty restaurants nearby? Here are three of our favorites!
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How fun that you can watch them make the candy!
Yes, we’ve seen them make just about everything through the years – very cool.
I love factory tours and one that involves chocolate? Priceless!!!!
Perfect combination of learning, fun and tasty treats.
You cannot go wrong with a chocolate factory tour! And samples just a bonus. This is such a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks! It is fun and the samples at the end are delicious!
My oldest daughter was working at the Kilwins in St Augustine. I loved in Michigan for 38 years and never heard of them. Now I need to add another chocolate tour to my list!
For sure! It would be so fun to work at a Kilwins!
Kilwins is one of our very favorites! They make my husband’s very favorite ice cream of all time, toasted coconut!
That is a wonderful flavor – it actually is ranked #2 for best sellers for their ice cream (which we learned on the tour). Apparently, if we love that flavor there will be a new flavor coming out this summer … we couldn’t get any more info out of the tour guide!
Love me some Kilwins, we go every time we come across one traveling. Never knew about their history, interesting info!
Now you’ll enjoy visiting Kilwins even more! If we see one while traveling we always stop to check it out too.
I love Kilwins. The fudge are def. the best you can get anywhere 🙂 Your post makes me go there right now.
– Divya
thesavingsaddict.com
I agree – love their fudge (and everything else!).
I love stuff like this!!!
You and me both!
My husband and daughter would LOVE this! Payton tells everyone that chocolate is her “favorite food group.” I will have to pin this for future reference!
I love it! Yes, she would be a big fan then. My daughter agrees that it’s a food group.
Wow! Your Kilwins is HUGE! We have one beachside. I need to go more often! I am definitely a chocolate snob.
Me too! I like dark chocolate that is sustainably sourced – and Kilwins fits the bill!
We also love finding factory tours when we are traveling. A Chocolate tour would be great. Once we found a candy cane factory tour and it was great.
We always look for them too! I did a candy cane tour in December – it was super interesting.
OMG, this looks so fabulously delicious…and I am definitely a chocolate addict. I would LOVE to check it out! Thanks for sharing this yummy place! 🙂
I hope you get a chance to check it out someday!
Petoskey is one of our favorite cities! We’ll have to check this out next time we are there! Thanks!
You definitely should – it’s fun, informative and a nice little break in the day. Isn’t Petoskey a great place?
I would go anywhere for chocolate! This looks so fun!
I love it! Me too!!!