The Lehigh Valley
Bethlehem is located in the heart of the Lehigh Valley, an eastern Pennsylvania region that has a rich cultural heritage and growing economy. It offers great diversity in education, housing, recreation, culture and virtually every other aspect of community living.
Ten colleges and universities enrich the education experience in the Lehigh Valley. These include Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Pennsylvania State University (Lehigh Valley Campus), Moravian College, Muhlenberg College, Cedar Crest College and DeSales University.
The Lehigh Valley has a variety of activities available for everyone. For those interested in sports and adventure, there is white water rafting, skiing, scuba diving, indoor and outdoor rock climbing, fishing, cycling golfing and tennis. You can take in some of the area's attractions such as the Crayola Factory, Lehigh Valley Velodrome, Lehigh Valley Wine Train, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom and 2,500 acres of parks. Click here for more outdoor activities in the Lehigh Valley.
Sports include the Philadelphia Eagles training camp, Lehigh Valley's Iron Pigs baseball stadium, professional cycling, NASCAR racing, professional golf, basketball or collegiate level sports including the annual Lehigh vs. Lafayette football game - the nation's oldest college football rivalry.
There is a thriving nightlife in the Lehigh Valley with a magnitude of restaurants to satisfy any taste, as well as live music, movie theatres and drive-in theatres.
The Valley's three cities - Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton - blend the convenience of city living with the beauty and intimacy of smaller communities. They enjoy the cultural benefits of a symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, art museums and galleries, municipal Opera Company and a professional repertory theater.
Other activities include shopping at several malls, an expansive farmer's market, downtown Bethlehem shops and outlet shopping at The Promenade Shops or less than an hour away in Reading and Stroudsburg, PA.
Summer is always celebrated in the Lehigh Valley with such festivals as Musikfest, Mayfair, The Allentown Fair, Celticfest, a Shakespeare Festival and the Kutztown German Festival.
