Fun Things to Do in Eastern Pennsylvania
Trip to the Lehigh Valley and Nearby PA Destinations
Jun 25, 2009
Due to its excellent location, eastern Pennsylvania has numerous places to visit and things to do. This article highlights some great, child-friendly and adult day-trips for the next time visitors make their way to the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas in eastern Pennsylvania.
The Lehigh Valley itself is situated due north of Philadelphia, and includes the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton. It is serviced by Lehigh Valley International Airport as well as bus lines and other forms of public transportation.
The Delaware and Lehigh Rivers run along the Pennsylvania/New Jersey state line, forming an approximate eastern border for the Lehigh Valley. It is an approximate border, since some consider the western New Jersey county of Warren part of the Lehigh Valley. The northern boundary of the Lehigh Valley is formed by mountain chains including the Poconos and the Slate Belt. The southern boundary is typically considered the county line between Northampton and Bucks, although some consider the boundary much closer to Philadelphia. The western boundary is also somewhat subjective, although most agree it is the Lehigh/Berks county line, before the city of Reading. The Lehigh Valley, therefore, extends through several counties in eastern Pennsylvania and benefits greatly from the diversity this provides.
Some of the Museums in the Lehigh Valley
It is no surprise that the Lehigh Valley has a rich history, and as a result, houses some excellent museums. In Easton, there is the Canal museum which one can even take an old boat drawn by mules down a canal which is parallel to the river. This allows children to see historical artifacts from the early American industrialization era and see how goods used to be transported southward to Philadelphia.
Currently, there are plans for a Smithsonian-affiliated history museum to be built along the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant in the city of Bethlehem. The old stacks and other materials have been preserved from the site to maintain the history of the region. While the museum is not yet open, there is a newly-opened casino on the edge of the site, which is a great stop for adult visitors to the Lehigh Valley.
Allentown also houses an excellent art museum. Although not as large as the Met in New York or the art museums of Philadelphia, the Allentown Art Museum still has a vast collection of both local as well as well-known artwork.
Child Activities in the Lehigh Valley
Continuing onward, the Lehigh Valley is known for many products in addition to the steel bearing one of the city's names. Bethlehem is where Just Born makes their candies, including the marshmellow Peeps. Easton likewise is where some of the Crayola company products are manufactured. People may actually tour the facilities, and in downtown Easton, there is even a Crayola Factory for young and old to come learn more about the markers and other art accessories the corporation makes. There are art stations for children to draw and play.
In nearby Allentown, there are two additional child-friendly environments for learning and recreational purposes: the DaVinci Center and Dorney Park. The DaVinci Center is an interactive facility with a focus on science education. In addition to exhibits, the DaVinci Center has many stations and educators on hand to foster and encourage interest in science. Nearby Dorney Park offers visitors both roller coasters and water park rides. It has the typical fares of most amusement parks and includes many games often seen on the boardwalks of New Jersey. There is a wave pool and rides appropriate for adults and even rides for youngsters.
Lehigh Valley Sports Activities
If visitors young or old desire sporting events in their trip, there are lots of options in the Lehigh Valley. Allentown hosts the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, a minor league team affiliated with the Philadelphia Phillies. Outside the Lehigh Valley, in nearby Reading (a city about 45 minutes from Allentown), there is a second team, which fields players practicing to rejoin the Philadelphia Phillies after injury as well as new, rising talent. If one wants professional games, Philadelphia and New York are both less than 2 hours away, and Baltimore is less than 4, giving both National and American League teams to watch.
If baseball is not necessarily the sport one wants to see, maybe visitors would rather watch professional football players train during a summertime trek to the Lehigh Valley. The Philadelphia Eagles use the practice fields at Lehigh University, a private university housed in Bethlehem, quite close to the old Bethlehem Steel site. Football is also available during indoor season in Bethlehem with the Lehigh Valley Outlawz, during the high school and college season (with numerous rivalry games with some of the longest running in the nation), and with professional indoor games available if one travels south on the Turnpike to Philadelphia.
To find out about more great activities in the Lehigh Valley and nearby communities, please read More Fun Things to Do in Eastern Pennsylvania.
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