More Fun Things to Do in Eastern Pennsylvania
Trip to the Lehigh Valley and Nearby PA Destinations
Jun 25, 2009
In continuation of the article Fun Things to Do in Eastern Pennsylvania, one may venture beyond sports, museums, and children activities when visiting the Lehigh Valley and nearby communities.
Art and Cultural Events in the Lehigh Valley
Depending on when visitors are planning to come, one may be able to add numerous cultural events and activities to the itinerary. Musikfest is a large concert and outdoor event held annually in Bethlehem in late July or August. It includes great food, large name musical performance acts, and lots of vendors. The same area hosts Christmas shops each winter in the weeks leading to the holidays. Numerous artisans sell their wares, and the region's ethnic heritage is felt with music and foods. Bethlehem likewise hosts another outdoor event in this same open section of Bethlehem in early fall, Celtic Fest. It includes the foods of Celtic history and the games and music too. Many vendors come to sell everything from kilts to Irish-inspired jewelry.
Allentown also hosts its own large-scale outdoor music and amusement events. The largest is likely the Allentown Fair, which is typically late summer, usually after Musikfest but before the end of Labor Day weekend. It includes well-known musical performances and vendors.
The area's numerous colleges and universities also have numerous concerts and exhibits often open to the public for a small fee, or sometimes, free of charge.
Other Places to Visit When Coming to the Lehigh Valley
The Lehigh Valley is due east of one of the areas most known for Pennsylvanian Dutch and Amish communities. Within a half hour's drive from Allentown, there is Kutztown, which hosts its annual Kutztown festival each summer, where quilts and typical Pennsylvanian Dutch cuisine is sold. A little further west, one could visit Lancaster itself, the home of a large Amish community, and learn about the Amish way of life. Nearby, there is the town of Strasburg, where one could take a ride on old trains through the countryside. Children particularly love this activity.
If one ventures north of the Lehigh Valley, daytrips throughout the year could include visiting the Jim Thorpe area. The mountainside in the fall includes some of the best fall foliage with vivid colors as the deciduous trees go through their color changes. There is an old jail and a mansion one could tour, in addition to numerous stores, many of them specializing in antiques. Additionally, many visitors flock to the Poconos in the summer for time along the lakes, but more so, the winter months make the Poconos famous for the great ski slopes. If one is visiting the Lehigh Valley in the winter, one ought to venture up to the Poconos if interested in winter sports like skiing or snowboarding.
Therefore, in summary, the Lehigh Valley is a great location to travel to, regardless of age or interests. There is more than enough to do here for a short trek, regardless of season. The museums, cultural events, and sports are only a highlight of the full list, so feel free to check out the area's tour books when planning a trip! Feel free to check out the Lehigh Valley Convention and Tourism office for more details too.
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