What to do in Allentown and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Allentown and Bethlehem, two neighboring cities in eastern Pennsylvania, were once known as a steel manufacturing powerhouse but now offer a surprising number of entertainment options for visitors.
Located 90 minutes from Philadelphia and two hours from New York City the area is perfect for a day trip or weekend stay.
A large stage at SteelStacks at the former Bethlehem Steel facility in Bethlehem.
What to do in Allentown and Bethlehem
Allentown Art Museum
Rembrandt’s “Portrait of a Young Woman” on display at the Allentown Art Museum.
I’m listing this first because the Allentown Art Museum was the most surprising attraction on our recent visit. We’ve visited Allentown numerous times but this was our first stop at the art museum and we were surprised from the moment we walked in the front door.
The extremely friendly front desk staff informed us that the admission price was - free.
Walking into the first room were were greeted by Rembrandt’s Portrait of a Young Woman. Yes, that Rembrandt, not what we were expecting at a free museum in Allentown.
As a professional photographer, I enjoyed their exhibit featuring prints by Robert Capa, Joel Meyerowitz and Alfred Eisenstaedt. The highlight was Capa’s famous photo from the D-Day landing.
The museum is free, there is plenty of parking nearby and you can see it all in 30 minutes. It’s absolutely worth the stop.
Allentown Arts Walk
The Allentown Arts Walk connects the Art Museum, Miller Symphony Hall, and the PPL Center, the 8,500-seat indoor sports arena.
There is also an upscale Marriott Renaissance Hotel attached to the PPL Center. The Renaissance is housed in the nearly century-old Dime Savings and Trust building, a nod to Alentown’s rich past and a visual contrast to the modern glass entrance of the PPL Center.
With numerous area restaurants, you could have a great overnight stay here when attending one of the many concerts or events at the PPL Center.
Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. If we recommend a product, activity, or hotel, we might receive a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
Bethlehem Steel facility attractions
My favorite part of the area is the former home of Bethlehem Steel, once one of the world's largest steel-producing facilities. At its height, the facility showcased America’s manufacturing prowess, after its closure it was a symbol of decline, as memorialized in Billy Joel’s song Allentown.
Today much of the facility has been transformed into a modern entertainment hub while the remains of the steel factory serve as a backdrop.
The National Museum of Industrial History
The museum, housed in the giant former electric repair shop of Bethlehem Steel, showcases the giant machinery that produced steel. The museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian so you know it’s going to be good.
The museum shows what it was like working in the thriving plant.
Adult admission is $15
SteelStacks
SteelStacks is a 10-acre complex that features concerts, movies, food, comedy, and weddings.
They host over 1,000 concerts a year, which sounds crazy but there are multiple stages of varying sizes both inside and outside.
WindCreek Resort
Located next to SteelStacks is the upscale WindCreek Resort. The 500-room resort features a casino, spa, numerous restaurants, bars, event space, and even an outlet shopping center.
WindCreek attracts visitors from throughout the Northeast.
Visiting Dorney Park
With over 60 world-class rides Dorney Park is Allentown’s largest attraction.
In addition to the 8 roller coasters Dorney Park now includes Wildwater Kingdom, with 19 water rides.
The highlight of the park is Steel Force, the eighth-longest steel roller coaster in the world and the second-longest on the U.S. East Coast.
Here are a few tips to help you enjoy a visit to Dorney Park:
Download the Dorney Park App - this will help you monitor wait times at the rides.
Consider purchasing Fast Lane - it’s a pricey add-on to your admission ticket but it will allow you to bypass the regular line at many attractions.
Buy your admission ticket online - not only is the online ticket cheaper but it will allow you to bypass the ticket purchase line when you arrive.
If you want to stay near Dorney Park there are two hotels directly across the street: Four Points by Sheraton and Holiday Inn Express & Suites.
Coca-Cola Park
Debbie at Coca Cola Park, home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have you covered if you are interested in catching a baseball game while in Allentown. The team plays in the 10,000-seat Coca-Cola Park. The ballpark is located in an industrial section of town, another example of blending entertainment and industry.
Allentown Farmers Market
The market is housed in a giant building on the grounds of the Allentown Fair Grounds. It is open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays featuring over 50 vendors.
While the building and the stalls are very dated and the air conditioning is barely noticeable I guess it adds to the charm, but I’m not positive about that 😀.
Most businesses offer food, including meats, sausages, cheeses, local produce, etc… Most of the shoppers appeared to be local residents picking up supplies for the week.
The food looked really good and we planned on eating lunch at the market but it was very crowded and not many places to sit.
Museum of Indian Culture
The Museum of Indian Culture is on all the lists about what to see in Allentown, but I must warn you it’s small, really small.
The museum is located in a charming building surrounded by large grounds. The exhibits are housed in two rooms on the first floor.
I’m sure every school kid in the Allentown area has been there on a class trip but our visit only lasted about 10 minutes.
We certainly did not mind paying the $5 admission fee since the staff was very passionate and the money goes to a good cause.
America on Wheels
If you are a car enthusiast, young or old, America on Wheels is for you.
From Mack trucks to scooters and everything in between the 23,000 square foot museum features a wide variety of vehicles. There are over 75 vehicles on display.
Adult admission is $16 and hours change seasonally so make sure to check their website.
The Mack Trucks Historical Museum
If you like the idea of America on Wheels then you’ll like this museum too.
Among the vehicles on display is one of the original sightseeing buses built by Jack and Augustus Mack in the early 1900s.
The small museum was started in 1984 and features not only vehicles but also photos, engineering diagrams, and other memorabilia.
There is some incorrect information about the museum hours on the internet, the correct info can be found on the Mack Trucks Historical Museum website. According to the website, reservations are required.
Where to stay in Allentown and Bethlehem
Note - This blog post contains affiliate links. If we recommend a product, activity, or hotel, we might receive a small commission if you buy or book from these links. This is done at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally used or have thoroughly researched.
Wind Creek Bethlehem
Features two towers with over 550 combined guest rooms including 50 suites.
Premier bedding, glass-enclosed indoor pool, and outdoor terrace.
More information and rates here.
Renaissance Allentown Hotel
Upscale hotel in downtown Allentown adjacent to the PPL Center arena.
More information and rates here.
Hyatt Place Bethlehem
A 4-minute drive to Steel Stacks and Wind Creek.
Features a pool and free breakfast.
More information and rates here.
This post was researched and written by John of the Empty Nest Explorers. You can learn more about the Empty Nest Explorers here
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