2020-12-05 23:33:16
The charm of this region is how seamlessly you can move from a morning in the scenic outdoors to an afternoon stop-and-sip at craft breweries, and finally to a fun-for-all night at a sporting event, live performance, or festival. Experience the area’s rich heritage as remnants of the Industrial Revolution have been reimagined as impressive new cultural centers, movie houses, and music halls. Along the way, you’ll discover an impressive lineup of museums, historic sites, and immersive living history experiences that offer a glimpse into bygone eras. THE PAST IS PRESENT Throughout the beautiful countryside of the Lehigh Valley, you’ll discover historic sites and gems of the past that have shaped our world today. Founded in 1745, Bethlehem’s Moravian Book Shop is not only the oldest bookstore in America, but it’s the oldest operating bookshop in the world. Explore the shop’s carefully selected library and discover its storied history. If you’re staying in Bethlehem, downtown’s Historic Hotel Bethlehem puts you at the heart of this National Historic Landmark District. With firstrate accommodations, an on-site restaurant, and a popular ice cream parlor, you’ll want to extend your stay. And don’t be frightened if you meet some special visitors—this hotel is rife with ghost stories. On your visit to Bethlehem, explore Burnside Plantation, a 6.5-acre living history museum. Through agricultural demonstrations and tours of the farmhouse, you’ll learn about the lifestyle and farming methods used on this 18thcentury Moravian farm. Discover more about Moravian culture at the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem. Located in the 1741 Gemeinhaus, Bethlehem’s oldest building and a National Historic Landmark, this museum tells the story of Bethlehem’s Moravian founders. In Allentown, you can take a self-guided tour of the region’s seven historic covered bridges, the oldest of which dates back to 1839. The bridges you’ll see on the Lehigh Valley Covered Bridge Tour have been the subjects of many artists and photographers for decades. Before you go, be sure to stop by Allentown’s Liberty Bell Museum. Zion’s “Liberty Bell” Church, formerly Zion’s Reformed Church, is the location where the Liberty Bell was hidden in 1777 from British troops who were about to seize Philadelphia. Today, you can observe a memorial to the Liberty Bell’s safekeeping and ring the replica bell in its honor. In Easton, the National Canal Museum honors the history of America’s canals. With interactive displays, visitors can learn about the technology and processes of building canals. Ride a mule-drawn canal boat, build your own canal system on the museum water table, tour a locktender’s house, and explore the D&L Trail along the Lehigh Canal and Lehigh River. HIGHLIGHTS C.F. Martin & Co., Nazareth Tour the factory of this legendary guitar maker and witness how each instrument is expertly crafted. Then stop in the guitar museum for a music history lesson. Crayola Experience, Easton Explore 27 hands-on attractions at this colorful playground. See how crayons are made, star in your own coloring page, and craft your own family-fun adventure. SteelStacks, Bethlehem In the bones of an old steel plant, you’ll find a thriving arts and entertainment district. Walk beneath towering furnace “stacks” while enjoying a concert, festival, or film on this 10-acre campus. Banana Factory Arts & Education Center, Bethlehem With 30 resident artists and three galleries, art lovers will adore this Bethlehem treasure. Take a class or workshop to create your own masterpiece. Easton Public Market, Easton Visit Easton Public Market—an extension of Easton Farmers’ Market, America’s oldest continuously running openair market—for artisanal food vendors, a farm stand, and a demonstration kitchen. Da Vinci Science Center, Allentown See science and technology come alive with a robotic dinosaur, an animation station, a pitch-black tunnel maze, and more hands-on exhibits at this interactive education center. National Museum of Industrial History, Bethlehem Marvel at our nation’s industrial heritage and see the innovations and advancements of different industries like steel, textile, and energy dating back to the 19th century.
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Lehigh Valley
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