Christmas is one of the world’s most awaited and best loved holidays. The season brings nothing but a resonating jovial atmosphere in the air. Though the North Pole’s perennial Yuletide town remains a myth every juvenile soul would like to indulge in, Pennsylvania offers a more realistic alternative. Christened Bethlehem on 1741’s historical Christmas Eve, Northampton and Lehigh’s County’s jolly city is a delight to unravel. Bethlehem, known throughout the United States as the Christmas City, has experienced a recent cultural and economic cultural renaissance, which promises a future as bright and as charming as its past.
Shopping
A stay in the Christmas City isn’t complete without shopping for Christmas, or in this case, year-round presents. Bethlehem has a range of shops, from little boutiques to large scale shopping centers. The city has one of a kind collectibles at the Brownstone Design Group, Antiques & Gifts on Broad LLC, and Treasure Box. For art pieces, shoppers can visit the Banana Factory, Donegal Square, and Home & Planet.
Things to Do
The city’s annual jam-packed agenda is thoroughly appreciative of the arts. Bethlehem’s curbside events display the work of local entrepreneurs and artists, as well as loads of theatrical and musical shows, all of which encourage wide community involvement. Bethlehem has more than 40 parks for outdoor activities, including jogging, golfing, and fishing ventures. The Sands Casino Resort is an exciting destination boasting of more than 3,000 slot machines and 89 game tables. If poker and live music isn’t your thing, try the meals offered in the resort’s 6 restaurants. Bethlehem also offers movies at the first and only single screen movie theater of Lehigh Valley, The Boyd. Vacationers can also join a tour and learn how the Steel City’s blast furnaces worked at the tour along the Lehigh River. Book your Bethlehem Hotels with Reservations.com.
When to Visit
The United States’ Christmas City has also been known at times as the City of Festivals. Bethlehem has more than 10 major festivals in its rosters, and more than 150 smaller festivities annually, most of which are free. Guests will love the lively mood of Harvest Festival at Main Street, the SteelStack’s hip environment during the Blast Furnace Blues, and the bucolic vibe of the Blueberry Festival. During the month of October, Bethlehem plays host to Thrill the World, a zombie-styled affair. During the Halloween weekend, tens of thousands of tourists perform Michael Jackson’s Thriller all in unison. A monthly celebration of culture and the arts is the First Friday, where unique galleries and shops provide the best prices in Downtown Bethlehem.
Best Museum
Bethlehem’s assortment of museums and historical tours entices more than just history buffs. Tourists can get to know the facets of Moravian Culture and three centuries worth of history at the Historic Bethlehem, which has been developed in association with the Smithsonian Institution. Travelers can tour the 18th century Moravian Museum of Bethlehem and Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, and the 19th century Goundie House. The Moravian Museum of Bethlehem lets tourists explore the interactions and views between the northern and southern Moravians. The Goundie House has collections of the Moravian Apothecary, which showcases the evolution of medicine in the 1800s.