Bethlehem, PA Road Trips

In 1741, the town was settled by a small group of Moravians (a persecuted Protestant religious group from modern-day Germany and Czech Republic) led by Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf. Bethlehem was founded on Christmas Eve and named for Jesus' birthplace, Bethlehem, Palestine. During the Industrial Revolution, Bethlehem Steel became one of the largest steel companies in the world; its principal rival at the time was Andrew Carnegie's U.S. Steel in Pittsburgh. San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge was built from Bethlehem Steel, as were many of New York City's largest skyscrapers. Through two world wars, Bethlehem's Steel was strategically vital for shipbuilding. By the early 1980s, local coal and steel makers were struggling as prices were undercut by imports; in 1982, Billy Joel sang "Out in Bethlehem they're killing time, Filling out forms, Standing in line" in a popular tune named for nearby Allentown. In a pattern typical of the US rust belt, huge factories built for economies of scale when times were good were being out-manoeuvred by smaller, more modern competitors with lower costs and more advanced technology. By 2001, the factories had closed; the bankrupt company was disbanded in 2003. In 2019, the city had a population of about 76,000, and is a thriving with a beautiful historic district, many cultural events, two colleges, an industrial museum and a large casino/entertainment complex. Discover Lehigh Valley, 1250 Simon Blvd., Easton, ☏ +1 610-882-9200 1 Visitor's Center, 505 Main St..

1 1751 Old Chapel, Church St. & Heckewelder Pl, ☏ +1 610-691-6055. This Moravian Chapel was the second place of worship in Bethlehem's colonial era. 2 1758 Sun Inn, 564 Main St., ☏ +1 610-866-1758. The 1758 Sun Inn is a restored 18th-century inn that once hosted guests such as George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette. It has been fully restored and now offers guided tours, which provide a rich history of 1700s Bethlehem. It can also be rented and catered for private gatherings. The courtyard also hosts a summer concert series. 3 Banana Factory, 25 W. 3rd St, ☏ +1 610-332-1300. Gallery hours: 11AM-4PM. The Banana Factory is a community center for the arts located on Bethlehem's south side. What was once a banana warehouse has been renovated into space for two art galleries, classrooms and artists' studios. Offers daily guided tours and the Lehigh Valley's only glassblowing studio, and on the first Friday of every month there is an art showing. Unless you love art it's probably not worth a trip to the South Side by itself but if you're there already be sure to stop by. 4 Burnside Plantation, 1461 Schoenersville Rd, ☏ +1 610-691-6055. This local plantation affords an excellent look at rural life in the Lehigh Valley beginning in the mid-18th century. The restored Moravian homestead highlights farm life and the region's industrial development through the mid-19th century. It not only makes the past come alive but provides a showcase for agriculture and craftsmanship of the era. 5 Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church St, ☏ +1 610-866-5661.

If you were to give a typical building in each of Bethlehem's two main destinations, the Historic district would be "18th-century industrial museum" and the South Side would be "college bar" (or as of late, "casino"). If you don't fit either of those (and especially if you have kids) you'll still find stuff to do; you'll just need a car and maybe a GPS to get there. Most of the city's parks, recreational facilities, sports teams, etc. are on the outskirts of the city, and the bus system leaves a lot to be desired here. 1 Bethlehem Municipal Golf Club, 400 Illick's Mill Rd, ☏ +1 610-865-7079. Public golf course within the city. For those looking for just a round on the links on the cheap, the city course will do the trick. Also see Saucon Valley Country Club below. 2 Bethlehem Skateplaza, 1325 Steel Ave. A 750-ft-long skateplaza offers BMX riders and skateboarders a safe place to ride across from Wind Creek Resort. 3 Illick's Mill Park, 100 Illick's Mill Rd. One of Bethlehem's city parks, Illick's Mill Park offers ice skating (seasonal), pool (seasonal), the Bethlehem Municipal Golf Club (see above), a driving range, baseball fields, and a nature trail that runs along the Monocacy Creek. Local high school athletics. Bethlehem's three largest high schools, Bethlehem Catholic, Freedom, and Liberty, all participate in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, which includes the 18 largest high schools from the Lehigh Valley and Poconos and is often ranked as one of the best in the state and nation.

Downtown is where most of Bethlehem's most popular restaurants are located, but for the best bargains, you'll have to venture into the residential neighborhoods of the town. Generally speaking, the closer to the Historic District, the more expensive the restaurant, although you will find a few quirky cafes on Main St. Bethlehem's most popular upscale restaurants can be found on W. Broad St., known as "Restaurant Row." 1 Billy's Downtown Diner, 10 E. Broad St, ☏ +1 610-867-0105. One of the best diners in Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley, located in Center City. Breakfast, salads, sandwiches and different "small bites". $5-15. 2 Black Forest Deli, 745 7th Ave, ☏ +1 610-865-3036. Sandwiches as well as a Russian and Ukrainian menu. $6-13. 3 The Cup at the Bethlehem Dairy Store, 1430 Linden St, ☏ +1 610-691-8422. The Dairy Store, sometimes called "The Cup" is the hot spot for ice cream, with 80 years of history and over 25 flavors. Lines can get long in the summertime, but it's well-worth the wait. $2-5. 4 Carl's Corner, 2 W. Elizabeth Ave, ☏ +1 610-691-1541. M-Sa 10:30AM-9PM. Located down the street from Moravian College's football field, steak sandwiches and subs offer an inexpensive postgame (or anytime) meal. 5 Bilal's Breakfast & Sandwiches, 46 W. North St, ☏ +1 610-866-5005. Simple Turkish breakfasts and lunches, like korkerec. Limited seating. $10-20. 6 Deja Brew, 101 W. 4th St, ☏ +1 610-865-2739. M-Sa 10AM-7PM, Su 10AM-6PM. Deja Brew is Lehigh U's local coffeeshop, frequented by students and staff alike.

If you're new to Pennsylvania, you will learn that there is always a place to drink, no matter where you are. There are many more bars than those listed here. With thousands of college students attending Lehigh University, Moravian College, and Northampton Community College, Bethlehem has its fair share of bars. Most are located on the South Side (close to the school) on 3rd and 4th Sts. You can find places to have a drink downtown too, but these cater more towards a more touristy, older crowd. The Historic District, particularly Main St., is well-preserved and clean, and the city government prefers to keep it that way; head to the South Side for a more uptempo scene, and stick to downtown for a more relaxed atmosphere. 1 Fegley's Brew Works, 559 Main St, ☏ + 1 610-882-1300. 11AM to 2AM daily. The Bethlehem counterpart to Fegley's Allentown. (updated Jul 2022) 2 Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. 4th St, ☏ +1 610-867-2390. Non-profit, member-supported listening club on the South Side. The acts focus on folk, but jazz, early rock-and-roll, and blues are also sometimes offered. 3 Keystone Pub, 3259 Easton Ave, ☏ +1 610-814-0400. 11AM-2AM. A pub remodeled from a historic inn. Monday night is Wing Night, featuring 40-cent wings. Good bar food. Great place for a drink. 4 New Street Pub, 728 N New St, ☏ +1 610-867-9733. 11AM-2AM daily. Pub. 5 Old Brewery Tavern, 138 W Union Blvd, ☏ +1 610-691-9406. Tu-Su 7PM-1AM, closed M. If you are looking for a dive, this is definitely the place. 6 Ripper's Pub, 77 W. Broad St, ☏ +1 610-866-6466. 11AM-2AM daily.

A number of hotels are located on Airport Road near LVIA and the immediate areas surrounding it. Most hotels are located on the outskirts of town along Route 22. If you're going downtown figure about a 10-15 minute drive, cab, or bus ride. For those who would prefer to stay downtown, the Comfort Suites on the SouthSide of downtown Bethlehem and the Hotel Bethlehem on the North side are your two options; the locations are great and are some of the best places to stay in the entire city. 1 View Inn (former Comfort Inn), 3191 Highfield Dr, ☏ +1 610 865-6300, fax: +1 610 861-5074, [email protected]. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. Spacious rooms with what one would expect of an average hotel room. $90. 2 Comfort Suites, 120 W. 3rd St, ☏ +1 610-882-9700, fax: +1 610 882-4389. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. The Comfort Suites is one of the few hotels on the South Side. $129. 3 Courtyard Marriott Bethlehem/I-78, 2220 Emrick Blvd. (at the Route 33 and Freemansburg Ave), ☏ +1 610-625-9500, [email protected]. Hotel with rooms and suites, indoor swimming pool, wireless Internet access and meeting space. $140-190. 4 Extended StayAmerica, 3050 Schoenersville Rd, ☏ +1 610-866-8480. $119. 5 Best Western Allentown Bethlehem Lehigh Valley Inn & Suites, 2140 Motel Dr, ☏ +1 610-867-8681. Rooms with 1 king or 2 queen size beds, and amenities one would expect from an average hotel room. Breakfast included. $71. 6 Hampton Inn & Suites, 200 Gateway Dr, ☏ +1 610-868-2442. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. Free parking, Wi-Fi and breakfast.

1 Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE IATA), 3311 Airport Rd. Allentown, ☏ +1-800 FLY LVIA (3595842). This airport lies in the center of the Lehigh Valley, 5 miles (8.0 km) northwest of Bethlehem, and has nine gates, six aircraft holding spots, and two runways. Allegiant Air, American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express offer direct flights to Lehigh Valley International from Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, Fort Lauderdale, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and elsewhere. Car rental services and commercial and public bus services are available for ground transportation from the airport. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL IATA), ☏ + 1-800-PHL-GATE (745-4283), [email protected]. A second option is Philadelphia International Airport, which is 77 miles (124 km) south of Bethlehem. An extensive number of domestic and international carriers offer direct flight service to PHL from most U.S. cities, Canada, and a number of Caribbean, European, and Latin American destinations. Cars are available for rent at the airport. (updated Sep 2018) Despite being crisscrossed by several railroads, there aren't any passenger services to Bethlehem. Trans-Bridge Lines offers daily coach service to Bethlehem. Buses depart from the Park and Ride at I-78 in North Bethlehem, which can be reached by local mass transit. Trans-Bridge Lines, ☏ +1-610-868-6001. Trans-Bridge operates buses from several points in New York City.

Driving is relatively easy in the Allentown/Bethlehem area, when compared to Philadelphia or New York City roads. The highways and expressways can be very congested at rush hour, and local drivers on US 22, I-78, PA 33, PA 309 and PA 378 can be reckless and exceed the speed limit at times. Local streets can be clogged at rush hour, mostly on the South Side. Some roads are not for an inexperienced driver. Rental car companies can be found at the Lehigh Valley International Airport. Bethlehem has many lots and a few public garages to park in. The North Street and Walnut Street garages are located in Center City, and the Riverport garage is on the South Side. The rate is $1 per hour, or $6 maximum rate (all day). For details, including directions and a complete list of parking lots and garages, the Bethlehem Parking Authority's website is listed here. In addition to garages and lots, metered parking is available throughout the city. The rate is $0.50 per hour from 8AM-9PM. Lehigh and Northampton County Transportation Authority (LANTA) provides affordable bus transportation in and around Bethlehem and the surrounding cities of Allentown and Easton. LANTA provides a Metro Plus service for those who are unable to ride the regular Metro due to disability or requirement of special attention. Schedules are available online. The majority of LANTA buses serve mainly to link the three downtown areas of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, and if you're not staying/going in these areas, the bus service can be impractical.

Bethlehem by most accounts is relatively safe for a city of its size. Most visitors to the downtown areas or the Sands Casino won't encounter any sort of crime or danger. Some areas of the Southside off of 3rd St. can be sketchy at night, and Lehigh students have a notorious reputation for drinking, so be wary of visiting at night if you'd rather not deal with inebriated college kids. The same type of drunken misconduct can also break out late at night during Musikfest as patrons make more trips to the beer tent, and it occasionally results in scuffles on and around Main St. (which gets extremely crowded around at closing). If you use common sense and don't stray from the main attractions you should have no problems, and Bethlehem is far safer than neighboring Allentown or Easton.