Bethlehem's central location in the Lehigh Valley make it a particularly good starting point for exploring the region. For moving on, consider these attractions:
Dorney Park
For the thrillseeking type, Dorney is one of the biggest amusement parks on the East Coast, located next door in nearby Allentown.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs
The IronPigs, the AAA-level minor league team of the Philadelphia Phillies, play their home games from early April through early October at Allentown's Coca-Cola Park. The team boasts a brand-new ballpark with excellent sight lines, concessions, suites and activities for kids. The team is made up of tomorrow's major leaguers and occasionally a recently injured Phillies star on a rehab assignment.
The Poconos
The Poconos are the place to go for skiing and snowboarding in Eastern Pennsylvania. Most of the resorts are about 60-90 minutes north of Bethlehem by car. For the non-ski bums there is also an outlet center, casinos, and a waterpark in the summer.
The Bethlehem area is also in close proximity to other large cities in the Northeast, such as:
Allentown, Pennsylvania's third-largest city, located 3 miles west.
Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania and the sixth-largest in the United States, located 50 miles to the south.
Easton, located 9 miles east of Bethlehem.
Phillipsburg, 15 miles to the east in New Jersey.
New York City, the largest city in the United States, located 80 miles to the east.
Reading, 40 miles to the southwest.
Scranton, 70 miles to the north.
Harrisburg, the state's capital, 85 miles west.
Atlantic City, a popular seaside resort known for its beaches and casinos, located 120 miles south of Bethlehem.