Photo: Doug Kerr from Albany, NY, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Our 10 Best Things to Do in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania looks at a historic city founded in 1741. Bethlehem is located in Lehigh and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania. This city is renowned in the United States for its industrial history. Currently, Bethlehem city is home to various museums, parks, farmers markets, and wineries. During your visit, you can stop at one of the farmer’s markets to interact with the natives, buy local produce and products, and get to know the culture. You can also visit the restaurants in the markets to enjoy traditional meals.
Additionally, you can visit the historical museums within Bethlehem if you want to understand this industrial history and the history of the people living in the city in the 16th and the 17th centuries. A visit to the museum will give you a chance to understand the city’s lifestyle then. You can visit the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, one of the only 15 museums dedicated to decorative art in the United States and the only one in Pennsylvania to check the decorative arts spanning for centuries. There are amazing parks located within the city that you can visit to enjoy nature and relax or have family time or get-togethers with friends. Bethlehem City has fantastic places you can visit for a picnics. Further, if you love wine, you want to taste wine, or want information about wines, you can visit the Black River Farms
Bethlehem has an elevation of 110 m, and its area code is 610. Bethlehem city covers an estimated area of 1,890 square kilometers. As per the 2010 census, this city’s population was around 74,982, thus among the largest cities in Pennsylvania. Bethlehem city has multiple places to visit and endless fun activities you may have during your visit.
Here are 10 Best Things to Do in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
# 10 – Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts
Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts is one of the only 15 museums in the United States and the only museum in Pennsylvania that exclusively focuses on decorative arts. The museum is located at 427 N. New Street, Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. This museum is housed in three interconnected 19th-century homes. Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts features changing exhibits, period rooms, and galleries displaying furniture, china, flatware, artwork, paintings, and silver three centuries. The exhibits showcase the changing designs and style trends over the last three hundred years.
Additionally, inside this facility, there is a garden designed by Scott Rothenberger which utilizes both contemporary and traditional elements in a creative way. There are stainless steel sculptures created by Skip Karlik everywhere in the garden. The garden in Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts is a suitable place to hold various events since it features lush, sustainable plants, a cocktail garden, and a chapel garden.
# 9 – Dutch Springs Aqua Park
Dutch Springs Aqua Park is a fantastic place to visit if you want to spend time outdoors. Do you know how to scuba dive? Do you want to go swimming or camping? Or you want to go out for a picnic? Well, Dutch Springs Aqua Park has all you will need to have fun outdoors. Located at 4733 Hanoverville Rd in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, this park is an excellent spot for swimming and scuba diving. It has the best scuba diving spots in the entire state of Pennsylvania. Dutch Springs is a lake spanning 50 acres. This facility also features picnic and camping areas, making it suitable for birthday parties, family get-togethers, picnics, and field trips, among other activities.
# 8 – Bethlehem Farmers Markets
The city of Bethlehem is home to various farmer’s markets. Farmers markets are great places to visit while in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania if you want to interact with the natives, experience their culture, get information, and learn about the people. Farmers’ markets also allow you to taste and buy local products sold by multiple vendors. Some of the farmer’s markets located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, include Bethlehem Farmers Market, Rose Garden Farmers Market, and Steelstacks Farmer’s Market. Fruits, vegetables, dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, fresh eggs, pasture-raised beef, chicken, pork, and baked goods are among the products sold at various farmer’s markets in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The markets are opened during various days of the week and month.
# 7 – Moravian Museum of Bethlehem
Suppose you want to know and understand the lifestyle and the culture of the people living in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the 1700s and 1800s. In that case, the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem is the perfect place to visit the region. Moravian Museum of Bethlehem is located at 66 W. Church Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Inside this museum, there are multiple buildings from the 1700s. The buildings have information about the early settlers and the city’s history. Among the buildings located in the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem include The Gemienhaus, which was built in 1741 hence making it the oldest building in the city. Additionally, the museum also features a 1752-drug store building plus other unique buildings of the 8th century.
# 6 – Burnside Plantation
Have you ever seen horse-powered wheels in operation? If you want to see horse-powered wheels in operation, you should visit Burnside Plantation. Burnside Plantation is located at 1461 Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem, and it is a historic farm established in 1748. Inside this plantation, there are several barns and a variety of outbuildings. Additionally, during your visit, you will have a glimpse at horse-powered wheels in operation. There are various events held on this plantation during different times of the year. Live cooking demonstrations, tours of the farm, and various farming demonstrations are among the activities held at Burnside Plantation.
# 5 – Black River Farms
If you love wine, then you should check out the Black River farms when in the region. Black River Farms is located at 2472 Black River Rd, Bethlehem in Pennsylvania. Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is blessed with productive soils and a climate suitable for growing grapes of the highest quality. The high-quality grapes produced are used in the winery and vineyard located within the city called Black River Farms. There are more than 9 acres of grapevines featuring 14 varieties. Black River Farms have a wide selection of handcrafted wines, red, white, and rose. You can visit the farm to taste the wines produced in the region.
# 4 – Illick’s Mill Park
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, has great places to visit if you are an outdoor enthusiast. Illick’s Mill Park is located at 100 Illick’s Mill Rd in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. If you are visiting Bethlehem with your family or friends, then the best place to stop by is Illick’s, Mill Park. It has a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere where you can relax to cool your mind. Additionally, you can visit the water body located within the park and watch the ducks enjoy themselves as they swim. Illick’s Mill park features a bridge, waterfall, pavilions, restrooms, picnic tables, benches. You will also find geese inside Illick’s Mill park during your visit.
# 3 – Historic Bethlehem Tours
Bethlehem is a historic town with numerous historic attractions located within. You can choose any place you want to visit while in the city. Walking tours, custom tours, and special seasonal tours of historic Bethlehem are some of Historic Bethlehem Tours’ tours. Some of the tour options include the 1752 Apothecary Tour, the Christmas City Stroll, the Death and Dying Cemetery, and the Colonial Industrial Quarter Walking Tour. Historic Bethlehem Tours is located at 505 Main Street Bethlehem.
# 2 – Hoover Mason Trestle
Located at Steel stacks, 711 First Street Bethlehem is a 1,650-foot elevated park. This 1,650-foot elevated park was form home to Bethlehem Steel. Hoover Mason Trestle is currently a public walkway, museum, and recreation space. While in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, visiting this facility will give you a close-up view of the blast furnaces and the gas blowing house.
# 1 – Crayola Experience
If you are traveling with kids and wondering what fun things they can have near Bethlehem, then Crayola Experience is your destination. Generally, kids love colors, and a visit to Crayola Experience will inspire the budding artist in them. During the visit to this interactive art destination, your kids will have multiple colorings activities. Additionally, the younger ones will get a chance to create their crayons and melt crayons into shapes.
