Ethel M Chocolates, Glendale

In 1911, young Forrest Mars Sr. watched with rapt attention as his mother, Ethel, crafted gourmet chocolates in their kitchen. He would grow up to help build the Mars candy empire which is known for modern confections like Snickers and M&M's. 70 years later, he honored her memory by making chocolates of his own in Henderson, Nevada, where today a small factory still whips up his mother's recipes.

Traditional candies mingle nuts, crème liqueurs, and caramels with dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and truffles. Handpicked pecans float amid chocolate and butter in Ethel M's signature brittles, and milk, dark, and sugar-free chocolate envelops bite-sized treats such as espresso beans, nuts, and fruit. Ethel M Chocolates invites guests to tour their chocolate factories, where chocolatiers prove sweets can be made without preservatives.