Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Lehigh Valley Destination Guide 9

The Lehigh Valley Region The Lehigh Valley, home to over half-a-million residents and therefore the state of Pennsylvania鈥檚 third largest metropolitan area, is definitely a diverse region perfectly located at the eastern element of the state, 1 hour north of Philadelphia and one-and-one-half hour west of recent York City. Occur natural beauty of the excellent Appalachian Valley, with numerous natural attractions with a strong economic base, the vicinity provides residents and visitors a large cornucopia of attractions and opportunities. Other places three major cities and surrounding areas 鈥?Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton 鈥?all abundant with background culture offer residents an inexpensive living environment, great neighborhoods, excellent schools and universities, numerous parks, quality restaurants, cultural and indoor/outdoor recreational choices, in addition to a varied choice of employment opportunities. Businesses driving the area鈥檚 economy are lead by Agere Systems, Binney & Smith (Crayola and Silly Putty), Just Born (candies), and Mack Trucks. Lehigh University (Bethlehem) and Lafayette University (Easton) in conjunction with Cedar Crest College (Allentown), Moravian College (Bethlehem), Muhlenberg College (Allentown), and Penn State Lehigh Valley (Fogelsville) present you with a useful educational opportunities for Lehigh residents and students from external with the area. People the region enjoy a range of accommodation, dining, and shopping options along with events much like the Mayfair Arts Festival, Pennsylvania German Festival, Lehigh Valley Blues Fest, Bethlehem鈥檚 Musikfest, and also the Great Allentown Fair. Attractions add Crayola Factory, the websites and buildings of Historic Bethlehem, numerous museums 鈥搃ncluding the Allentown Art Museum, the Liberty Bell Museum, the Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum, the Easton Museum of PEZ Dispensers, and also Mack Truck Museum. Additionally, the Lehigh Valley is simply short drive from Crystal Cave, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, the Trexler Nature Preserve, and fewer than a single hour through the skiing and aquatic adventures within the Pocono Mountains. If you're going checking out the the area, most visitors include the summertime time. The milder weather seasons of spring and fall are as well pleasant times to arrive at. Whatever any time you visit, regarding of your Lehigh Valley will invite you to the cities to enjoy and experience the many attractions and activities Lehigh Valley has to present. Lehigh Valley Travel Air: Need to book a direct flight ticket to or from the Lehigh Valley? Look for a flights and lowest prices here: Book Flights to and from the Lehigh Valley Lehigh Valley Air-port (ABE), located three miles northeast of Allentown at 3311 Airport Road in Hanover Township, stands out as the commercial airport for ones Lehigh Valley area. The terminal airport is predominantly served by regional airlines offering service on over 35 daily flights into the eastern and mid-western Nation and Toronto with a lot more service feeder flights to larger cities for other destinations. Airlines offering departing and arriving service at Lehigh Valley Air port include Air Canada with non-stop flights to Toronto; Allegiant Air with flights to Orlando/Sanford and St. Petersburg/Tampa; Continental Express offering non-stop flights to Cleveland and bus plan to Newark Airport; Delta Connection servicing Atlanta, Boston, and Cincinnati; Northwest Airlines flying to Detroit, United Express (Skywest) provides flights to Chicago and Washington Dulles; and US Airways services Charlotte and Philadelphia. Airport Services: Lehigh Valley Air port offers its passengers and guests numerous services including assistance for people with disabilities; ATM machines (at the lower level), customer care information volunteers on-duty around the airport; free luggage carts; a self-service USPS postal center including Airborne Express, Federal Express, and Airborne Express drop-off boxes; like the cellular telephone waiting area for the people collecting arriving passengers; two food facilities - The L.A. Cafe and Subway; and also a Hudson News gift shop and newsstand. There won't be on-site hotel or gym facilities for the airport. Airport Transportation: There are multiple transportation types of getting between Lehigh Valley Air-port and then the city and surrounding communities. Bus: LANTA (Lehigh and Northampton Transit Authority) buses serve Lehigh Valley Airport. The one-way fare is $2.50. Shuttle Van/Shared Ride: Several limousine services serve ABE for both individual and group needs. Amongst the providers are A&A Limousine, Adamo Limousine, Elite Limousine & Coach, and Pocono Limousine Service. Taxi: Taxi service is supplied by Quick Service Taxi. Fares to Lehigh and Bethlehem might be approximately $15-$20 per cab. Train: There isn't really direct train or light-rail service to Lehigh Airport terminal. Car rental: Need to rent an automobile during the Lehigh Valley? The very best deals from top vendors are here: Rent a vehicle inside the Lehigh Valley Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and Thrifty all operate at Leigh Air port. Alternate Airports: In accordance with your origination point or destination, it could be far easier or inexpensive to try an alternate airport for Lehigh Valley. For its closeness to Philadelphia and California, Philadelphia Air port (PHL) 鈥?65 miles south - plus the three California area airports 鈥?John F. Kennedy Air-port (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) 鈥?90 miles east - may just be viable alternative airports. Train: The nearest train service made available from Amtrak is set in Philadelphia (with Trenton, New Jersey as a second item), approximately 65 miles south of Lehigh Valley. Amtrak鈥檚 Acela Express (Boston-Washington DC), Cardinal (New York City-Chicago), Carolinian (California City-Charlotte), Crescent (Los angeles City-New Orleans), Keystone (The big apple City-Harrisburg, PA), Palmetto (New York City-Savannah), Pennsylvanian (New york city City-Pittsburgh), Regional Service (Boston-Newport News), Regional Service-Springfield (Springfield, MA-Washington DC), Silver Meteor (New york city City-Miami), Silver Star (San francisco City-Tampa), and Vermonter (St. Albans, VT-Washington DC) all service Philadelphia in the 30th Street Station, 2955 Market Street, inside the city center. Bus: The Lehigh Valley area is served by several bus lines including Greyhound, Trans-Bridge Lines, and Biber Tourways, The Allentown bus terminal is positioned at 325 West Hamilton Street; the South Bethlehem terminal what food was in Adams & Mechanic Street; Bethlehem鈥檚 terminal was at 2012 Industrial Drive; plus the Easton terminal was in 35 South 3rd Street. Car: US Highway 22 is a main east-west thoroughfare running from Newark, Nj-new jersey to Cincinnati, Ohio. I-476 routes north-south, and west of Allentown, from Scranton to Chester, PA. I-78 travels from Harrisburg, PA, through Allentown, to The big apple. Some sample driving distances to/fm the Lehigh Valley (Allentown): Philadelphia 65 miles, Scranton 77 miles, Nyc 93 miles, Atlantic City 125 miles, Washington DC 191 miles, Pittsburgh 284 miles, Boston 309 miles, Cincinnati 553 miles, Chicago 731 miles, Atlanta 797 miles, Miami 1,251 miles, Dallas 1,461 miles, Denver 1,719 miles, and Seattle 2, 792 miles. Making your way around Lehigh Valley: Some of the most convenient method of transportation in the Lehigh Valley is by bus and automobile. LANTA (Lehigh and Northampton Transit Authority) provides extensive bus service. Those not needing to travel by bus and without their very own automobile would like to rent your vehicle. There isn't really light-rail service along the coast. Taxi service can be acquired Lehigh Valley Lodging Need a Hotel on the Lehigh Valley? Find all the top names for the very best value here: Book expensive hotels with the Lehigh Valley The Lehigh Valley is designed with a quantity of accommodation options covering anything from full service lodgings just like the Historic Hotel Bethlehem additionally, the Crown Plaza Allentown towards variety of popular chain properties just like the Residence Inn by Marriott Allentown Bethlehem and also the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites Allentown (closest hotel in the main gate at Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom) to Bed and Breakfast Inns. Other Allentown properties of mention include Best Western Inn and Suites Allentown , Allentown Comfort Suites, Allentown Hampton Inn, Days Inn & Conference Center, Howard Johnson Inn & Suites, Red Roof Inn, and Wingate by Windham. In Bethlehem, with all the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Hampton Inn & Suites Bethlehem, and Residence Inn by Marriott are very options. Bethlehem also provides three high-end Bed & Breakfast Inns. The Morningstar Inn and Sayre Mansion Inn are generally discovered in downtown Bethlehem with regards to Wydnor Hall Inn is just south of Lehigh University. Should your accommodation needs will be in Easton, try the enjoyment Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, or use the Quality Inn. If you need a B&B, The Lafayette Inn has 18 well-appointed rooms and is also located all around Lafayette College in support of one mile for Easton鈥檚 city center. Should you be looking for any quick getaway, and wish to stay via the airport, hotel options add the Four Points Sheraton Lehigh Valley Airport Hotel & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn-Allentown Airport, the Scottish Inn Airport, as well as the Staybridge Suites Allentown-Airport. The properties mentioned are just a sample of the many choices available to you around the Lehigh Valley area. Ensure that you check our hotel booking page for properties readily available the dates you will end up visiting Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, or one of the other great communities in the Lehigh Valley. Lehigh Valley Restaurants The Lehigh Valley cuisine scene offers diverse dining options covering quite a few menu choices from barbeque chicken to sushi, steak or fusion. Each city does have it's share of proper restaurant options with Bethlehem鈥檚 Broad Street 鈥淩estaurant Row鈥?leading the area鈥檚 inspiring selection of eateries. Allentown restaurants of note include Grille 3501, at 3501 Broadway; Hunan Springs, 4939 Hamilton Boulevard, promising a 鈥淶en Like Atmosphere with great Asian Food鈥? Ichiban Steakhouse, 1914 Catasauqua Road; the King George Inn, built all through the French and Indian War and discovered at 3141 Hamilton Boulevard, offers a relaxed dining atmosphere; Mediterranean Rim with Latin American influences will be menu style at Mangos Coastal Cuisine, 3750 Hamilton Boulevard; Morgan鈥檚, 3079 Willow Street, is one of Allentown鈥檚 best restaurants and provide a varied menu; Youell's Oyster House at 23rd and Walnut Streets makes a speciality of Maryland jumbo lump crabmeat dishes. Bethlehem鈥檚 鈥淩estaurant Row鈥?includes great places to eat for instance the Apollo Grill at 85 West Broad Street; Billy鈥檚 Downtown Diner at 10 East Broad Street; the cosmopolitan Edge Restaurant, 74 West Broad Street, serves a French and Asian inspired menu; and then the annual 鈥淏est in the Valley鈥?best rated Starfish Brasserie at 51 West Broad Street offers an inspired seafood menu. In Easton, Dinky鈥檚 on Centre Square serves tapas within a lounge setting; the River Grille, 243 Northampton Street, boasts a menu as stylish because it is design; Sogo at 237 Northampton Street gives the Chinese, Japanese, and Thai influenced menu; as well as top-of-the-line Vintage Restaurant and Bar with the Club at Morgan Hill (the game) may just be the finest Lehigh Valley fine dining. Lehigh Valley Shopping Antiques shops, free galleries, specialty shops, and places are common the main Lehigh Valley shopping scene. The downtown patches of Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton all offer their own unique specialty shops and great shopping environments as well as the area even offers several large malls. Cottage Crafters Craft and Antique Mall, in Allentown鈥檚 Tilghman Square Shopping Center at 4636 Broadway, often is the Lehigh Valley's largest craft and antique mall, auction web sites 400 crafters and antique dealers. In Easton, at 60 Centre Square, Julie's Emporium Antiques in the Square is often a 5,000 sq . ft . antique mall. Truck enthusiasts will love see the Mack Shop, 2100 Mack Boulevard in Allentown. The Mack (Truck) Shop offers collectibles, artwork, books, ladies, kids, and men鈥檚 apparel, golf gear, novelties even more. Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market, at 17th & Chew Streets in Allentown, has over 65 merchants offering baked goods, candy, deli foods, flowers, fresh meats, gourmet shops, poultry, produce, seafood, and snacks. The Farmers Market has several restaurants. Very large local retailer inside Lehigh Valley could be the indoor/outdoor Lehigh Valley Mall, at Route 22 and Route 145 North in Whitehall. Lehigh Valley Mall is anchored by Boscov鈥檚, JCPenny, and Macy鈥檚 and likewise you will find Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, American Greetings, Barnes & Noble, Gap Kids/Baby Gap, Hollister, J. Crew, Kay Jewelers, and Williams-Sonoma among other shops. Just down the street out of the Lehigh Valley Mall is Whitehall Mall which, and also the surrounding MacArthur Road stores, offers residents of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and also the entire Lehigh Valley area additional shopping options including retail stops Circuit City, Banana Republic, Filene鈥檚 Basement, Eddie Bauer, Nike, Nine West, and Old Navy. The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, 2845 Center Valley Parkway in Center Valley and just seven miles southeast of Allentown, may be the region鈥檚 first and only Lifestyle Center. The Promenade includes a unique mix of favorite fashion stores, one-of-a-kind boutiques, and a great range of restaurants in the outdoor setting. The merchant mix includes Barnes & Noble, Brooks Brothers, Douglas Cosmetics, L.L. Bean, Nautica, Old Navy, Sage, and then the Fresh Market. Outlet shoppers have got to head 40 miles north towards the Crossings Premium Outlets in Tannersville. Crossings Premium Outlets, between the beauty of the Pocono Mountains, has 100 outlets including Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, BCBG, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Chico鈥檚, Coach, Gap Outlet even more. Lehigh Valley Events All year round Lehigh Valley is host to many people civic and privately sponsored cultural, music, and sports. Major concerts and performances are held at the Stabler Arena on your Lehigh University campus in Bethlehem. Other major and smaller acts, alongside stage productions, appear in the Stage Theatre Center of this Arts in Easton. The Allentown Symphony performs along the 1200-seat Allentown Symphony Hall, a premier performing arts facility in Lehigh Valley. The Civic Theatre, in Allentown, presents film, arts education and stage performances. Stage performances can be offered by the Pennsylvania Playhouse in Bethlehem and also Repertory Dance Theatre performs for the Allentown Symphony Hall. The Zoellner Arts Center 鈥?relating to the Bethlehem campus of Lehigh University - delivers a a number of high-quality performing arts events. Penn鈥檚 Peak, in Penn Forest Township, and 35 miles north of Allentown, offers big-name concerts throughout the summer at its 1,800 seat center. Annual events while in the Lehigh Valley include the Mayfair Arts Festival with 200 free performing and visual arts events over five days in May; the summer-long Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival in Center Valley; SportsFest may well be an action-packed celebration of sports, stuck your second week of July in Allentown, featuring even more than 25 competitive events; the Pennsylvania German Festival is often a nine-day celebration of Pennsylvania Dutch life and lore, locked in Kutztown. Held annually in Whitehall during July, the Lehigh Valley Blues Fest brings national blues artists within the Lehigh Valley; Bethlehem鈥檚 Musikfest, where well over 300 performers from a fair distance and around the globe perform spanning a 10 night period, occurs each August; and then the Great Allentown Fair held inside the Allentown Fairgrounds at the end of August-early September has ended 150 yoa and features countless farm and home exhibits amidst the rush and excitement of rides, games, variety acts, international food and also most of the biggest stars in show business. Also in September, Bethlehem is the Celtic Fest, a celebration on the region's Celtic heritage. Sports in the Valley are highlighted by minor league baseball and collegiate action. The Lehigh Valley IronPigs , an AAA minor affiliate of your Philadelphia Phillies will become play within the completely new Coca-Cola Park in Allentown in 2008. A substantial rivalry exists within the Lehigh University (Bethlehem) Mountain Hawks as well as the Lafayette University (Easton) Leopards. Both schools field teams in the NCAA Division I level. Professional football gets nearer the room each July and August if your American footbal Philadelphia Eagles hold their annual pre-season training camp, at Lehigh University. Lehigh Valley Attractions Bushkill Park: 2100 Bushkill Park Drive, Easton - Bushkill Park has served town since 1902 to be a family entertainment center and amusement park The Crayola Factory: 30 Centre Square, Easton - The Crayola Factory, before the authentic manufacturing unit, is often a family hands-on discovery center doesn't only provides live demonstrations regarding how Crayola crayons and markers are produced and also has over the dozen hands-on art activities for guests to bring about mementos from the visit. Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom: 3830 Dorney Park Road, Allentown 鈥?This popular amusement park and waterpark is home to six world-class roller coasters, like the 200 foot tall Steel Force. Historic Bethlehem: Walk the streets of Historic Bethlehem and you鈥檒l feel transported to the next efforts and place. A sample a lot of attractions and sites in Bethlehem are highlighted below: 1750/1761 Smithy: 425 Main Street, Bethlehem - This reconstructed workshop includes the bellows, forge, anvil, and fire utilized Historic Bethlehem鈥檚 resident blacksmiths. 1810 Goundie House: 501 Main Street, Bethlehem 鈥?The Goundie House was the place to find John Sebastian Goundie, Bethlehem鈥檚 town brewer and community leader. A home is furnished to recreate the way it looked during the early 1800鈥檚. Burnside Plantation: 1461 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem 鈥?Originally established in 1748, this historic 鈥渇arm-in-the-city鈥?includes a restored 1748/1818 farmhouse, two 1840s bank barns, increased horse-power wheel, large kitchen garden and orchard, along with a corn crib and wagon shed. Colonial Industrial Quarter: 459 Old York Road, Bethlehem 鈥?Claimed as America鈥檚 first industrial park, the Quarter includes the Luckenbach Mill, a tannery constructed in 1771, and then the 1762-era National Landmark Waterworks pump house. The Luckenbach Mill currently houses the administrative offices of Historic Bethlehem Partnership Museums: Allentown Art Museum: 31 North Fifth Street, Allentown 鈥?The Museum's collecting even more than 13,000 projects provides the opportunity to experience more than nearly 2,000 great deal cultural heritage in an accessible and visitor-friendly environment. Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum: 432 West Walnut Street, Allentown鈥?The Heritage Museum includes galleries, a library and historical archives belonging to the Lehigh Valley area. Liberty Bell Museum: 622 West Hamilton Street, Allentown 鈥?The freedom Bell Museum exhibits such as a full-size replica from the Liberty Bell; hidden on the British from this historic church over the Revolutionary War. Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts: 459 Old York Road Bethlehem 鈥?The Kemerer was founded by local collector Annie S. Kemerer and includes exquisite Bohemian glass, cast-iron toys, dolls, fine needlework, landscape paintings, and tall case clocks. Moravian Museum of Bethlehem: 66 West Church Street Bethlehem - Bethlehem鈥檚 oldest building together with a National Historic Landmark, served as home, school, church, and workspace in the Moravian community鈥檚 earliest days. The complex also includes the 1752 Apothecary (pharmacy) and therefore the 1758 Nain-Schober House. America on Wheels 5 North Front Street, Allentown 鈥?The fresh America on Wheels museum tells the tale from the expansion of over-the-road transportation being focused on three main themes: America鈥檚 romance with mobility, the introduction of truck transportation, and racing. Easton Museum of PEZ Dispensers: 15-19 Bank Street, Easton 鈥?The museum dons display approximately 1,500 PEZ dispensers including Charlie Brown, Elton John NFL PEZ, Santa Claus, Star Wars, as well as other superheroes. Mack Truck Museum: 997 Postal Road, Allentown 鈥?The museum chronicles a brief history within the Mack truck with exhibits and 80,000 photos. National Canal Museum: 30 Centre Square, Easton - The nation's Canal Museum will be the only museum in america dedicated to telling the tale of America鈥檚 historic towpath canals. The museum features four galleries filled with hands-on exhibits that educate and entertain parents and children alike. Daytrips Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Twenty-five miles west of Allentown at 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton - Scenic Hawk Mountain Sanctuary offers visitors an outstanding, year-round nature knowledge about mountaintop vistas, 8 miles of hiking trails, plus the thrilling autumnal raptor migration. The Sanctuary is open year-round. Claussville Schoolhouse:Just 13 miles west of Allentown at 2917 Route 100, Claussville, the Claussville Schoolhouse, originally built in 1893, is scheduled to check considering that it did in the 1920鈥檚. Crystal Cave: Located during Pennsylvania Dutch Country and 18 miles west of Allentown at 963 Crystal Cave Road in Kutztown, Crystal Cave is an extremely popular natural attraction in Pennsylvania. Tours take you 125 feet underground to determine the water-formed caves and rock formation in the ages. Trexler Nature Preserve: Only 15 miles north of Allentown, at 5150 Game Preserve Road in Schnecksville, the Trexler Nature Preserve has over 50 varieties of native and exotic animals and birds. Also inside Preserve is a petting zoo and therefore the Lehigh Valley Zoo. The preserve is open 365 days yearly. Lehigh Valley Media Newsprint: An important daily newspapers for that Lehigh Valley area are classified as the Allentown based The Morning Call and therefore the smaller Easton based Express-Times . Pulse Weekly is usually a regional alternative arts and entertainment paper; published every Wednesday. Local Television Stations: Lehigh Valley is a component for the Philadelphia media market and has now a very small number of their own local stations. The place is also within selection of many Ny city stations. A local network TV stations in the Lehigh Valley area include: WLVT 39 (PBS), WBPH 60 (FamilyNet 鈥?religious), and WFMZ 69 (independent news). The local network TV stations out of the Philadelphia area are: KYW 3 (CBS), WPVI 6 (ABC), WCAU 10 (NBC), WHYY 12 (PBS), WPHL 17 (MyNetwork), WNJS 23 (PBS), WTXF 29 (FOX), WYBE 35 (Independent), and WPSG 57 (CW). Lehigh Valley Weather The Lehigh Valley provides a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. Spring is mild and funky to warm as the summer months approach, summers are hot and humid, fall is mild, crisp and sunny, and winter is extremely cold. Mild spring daytime high temperatures add some low-50s eventually of March on the high-70s noisy . June; evenings have the upper-30s to upper-50s. July is the hottest month in summer with daytimes averaging within the mid-80s; cooling to low-60s overnight. As autumn nears, September temperatures usually peak from the mid-70s; by November Lehigh Valley highs fall towards the low-50s. Autumn evenings might be cool at the start of 4 seasons also in the low-30s as winter approaches. Winter day often be above freezing, but also in the 30s; nights will frequently be below freezing. January is a coldest month of the season. Precipitation comes throughout every season considering the heaviest rains of 4 or over inches with the months of May through September. Most other months will spot precipitation in excess of three inches. Snowfall is usual November through February. For Remedies for All of Your Travel Needs Visit www.LehighValleyFlights.com Related Articles - Lehigh, Valley, |, Lehigh, Valley, Travel, Guide, Lehigh, Valley, Destination, Guide, |, Lehigh, Valley, Airport, |, Lehigh, Valley, Information, |, Lehigh, Valley, Travel, Email this informative article to a new Friend! Receive Articles just like it direct for the email box!Subscribe without spending a dime today!