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Lehigh Valley
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Explore Lehigh Valley for Bethlehem’s steel heritage, Allentown’s arts, Easton’s riverside culture, historic trails and rolling Pennsylvania countryside.

Lehigh Valley is a compact but varied region in eastern Pennsylvania, conventionally comprising Lehigh and Northampton counties. Its three principal cities—Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton—stand along the Lehigh and Delaware rivers, while wooded ridges, farmland and small historic communities extend north and south of the urban corridor. The region’s position between Philadelphia and New York has made it an important crossroads for transport, manufacturing and migration, but its landscapes remain close at hand.
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Allentown is the largest city and the commercial centre of the valley, with museums, theatres, a substantial public market and a long connection with transportation and industry. Bethlehem has perhaps the most recognisable historic character, combining Moravian religious heritage with the immense remains of Bethlehem Steel. The former steelworks, now interpreted through SteelStacks and the Hoover-Mason Trestle, provides one of Pennsylvania’s clearest encounters with the physical scale of American heavy industry. Easton, at the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware rivers, has a handsome central square, colonial-era associations and a growing food and arts scene.
The valley’s history is not confined to its cities. Moravian settlements, canal landscapes, early ironworks, stone farmhouses and preserved industrial sites reveal successive layers of European settlement and economic development. The National Canal Museum in Easton explains the importance of the Lehigh and Delaware canals, while the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem explores the machinery and working systems that powered the country’s industrial expansion. Local history also reflects the presence and displacement of the Lenape, whose homeland included the Delaware River basin long before colonial settlement.
Outdoor opportunities are readily accessible. The Lehigh River supports paddling and fishing, the D&L Trail follows historic transport corridors, and protected areas such as Trexler Nature Preserve and Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center offer walking, birdwatching and wildlife habitat. Farmland and rolling hills create a different rhythm beyond the cities, particularly around the northern and western edges of the region. Seasonal events, university and arts programming, live music, farmers’ markets and a diverse restaurant culture add contemporary energy without erasing the valley’s industrial identity.
Food reflects both Pennsylvania traditions and the region’s multicultural population. Visitors will encounter Pennsylvania Dutch influences, bakeries, diners, breweries and restaurants shaped by Latin American, Mediterranean, South Asian and East Asian communities. Lehigh Valley works well as a multi-base destination: Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton are close enough for linked visits, but a car is useful for nature reserves, rural attractions and settlements beyond the main urban corridor.

When is the best time to visit Lehigh Valley?

Best: May–June, September · 22–26°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January471
February562
March1087
April1686
May (best)2292
June (best)2695
July29108
August28100
September (best)2492
October1782
November1273
December476

Getting to and around Lehigh Valley

How to get there

Lehigh Valley International Airport is in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, north of Allentown and near Bethlehem, and provides the region’s principal air gateway, although many international visitors may find a wider choice of flights through airports outside the region serving Philadelphia or the New York metropolitan area. Interstate 78, US 22 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Northeast Extension provide major road approaches, while Interstate 80 is useful for journeys from the north. Regular intercity passenger rail does not currently serve the main Lehigh Valley cities, so visitors arriving by train generally need a connecting road journey from a station outside the region.

Transportation

The urban corridor is served by public buses operated through the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority, with routes linking Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and neighbouring communities. Services are more useful for city-to-city travel than for reaching scattered rural attractions. Driving is convenient for Trexler Nature Preserve, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, historic villages and trailheads, though traffic can be busy around major roads and shopping areas. Taxis and app-based car services are available in the principal cities, while walking and cycling work well in historic centres and along sections of the D&L Trail. Check trail conditions before setting out.

Top city travel guides in Lehigh Valley

The cities of Lehigh Valley, and the easiest places to base yourself.

Best attractions in Lehigh Valley

Lehigh Valley’s attractions reflect the meeting of industrial history, religious settlement, rivers and accessible countryside. Bethlehem’s SteelStacks, the remains of Bethlehem Steel and the Hoover-Mason Trestle offer an unusually direct interpretation of heavy industry, while the National Museum of Industrial History places machinery and manufacturing within a wider American story. Moravian Bethlehem’s restored buildings and archaeological areas provide a different perspective on eighteenth-century community life. In Allentown, the Allentown Art Museum, America on Wheels Museum and Da Vinci Science Center broaden the cultural and educational offer, with Dorney Park providing a major seasonal amusement attraction. Easton’s National Canal Museum explains the transport systems that carried coal and manufactured goods through the valley. Beyond the cities, Trexler Nature Preserve, Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center, the Lehigh River and sections of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor support walking, cycling, wildlife observation, paddling and fishing. The result is a destination where museums and heritage sites can be combined with open-air recreation without long journeys between every stop.

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Best landmarks in Lehigh Valley

The most recognisable landmark in Lehigh Valley is the line of Bethlehem Steel stacks beside the Lehigh River, now preserved as part of the SteelStacks cultural complex. Their scale conveys the industrial importance that shaped Bethlehem and the wider region, while the Hoover-Mason Trestle provides an elevated route through the former works. Bethlehem’s Moravian historic district contains eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century buildings associated with the town’s founding religious community, including the Gemeinhaus and adjoining historic spaces. In Easton, Centre Square and the focal figure of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument anchor a historic civic landscape near the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware rivers. The Delaware and Lehigh Canal corridor, with its towpath and engineered waterways, is a quieter but important landmark of the anthracite and transport era. Allentown’s historic civic and residential buildings, including the Old Allentown area, help express the city’s nineteenth-century growth. Beyond the built environment, the Lehigh River, wooded ridges and open views from Trexler Nature Preserve form the valley’s principal natural landmarks.

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Explore Lehigh Valley on the map

Plan your trip on one map. See where the top cities, national parks and sights are, and book hotels and experiences in a few clicks.

Best restaurants in Lehigh Valley

Dining in Lehigh Valley ranges from old-fashioned diners, bakeries and Pennsylvania Dutch-influenced cooking to restaurants shaped by the region’s Latin American, Mediterranean, South Asian and East Asian communities. Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton contain the widest range of cafés, casual restaurants, breweries and more formal dining rooms, while smaller towns and rural roads offer family-run establishments and traditional inns. Local food culture includes baked goods, pretzels, seasonal produce, sausages and other Pennsylvania traditions, although no single dish defines the whole valley. Farmers’ markets and farm shops are useful for finding fruit, vegetables, preserves and baked products from the surrounding agricultural districts. Around Bethlehem’s former industrial areas and Easton’s downtown, contemporary restaurants occupy a setting where historic buildings, arts programming and newer food businesses overlap. Visitors should expect American portion sizes and should note that gratuity for table service is normally added separately from the menu price.

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Best bars in Lehigh Valley

Evening life is concentrated in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton rather than spread evenly across the rural valley. Traditional pubs, craft breweries, cocktail bars, restaurants and live-music venues provide the main options, with Bethlehem particularly notable for the cultural programming and concert setting around SteelStacks. Allentown has the region’s broadest urban choice, including theatre, music and late-evening dining, while Easton’s compact centre supports bars and restaurants within walking distance of one another. Nightclubs exist but the region is not primarily a large-club destination, and closing times and entertainment schedules vary. Outside the cities, evenings tend to centre on local pubs, dining rooms, breweries and seasonal events rather than a formal nightlife district. Under-21 alcohol rules are strictly applied in the United States, and visitors should carry accepted identification when purchasing alcohol.

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Best nightclubs in Lehigh Valley

Evening life is concentrated in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton rather than spread evenly across the rural valley. Traditional pubs, craft breweries, cocktail bars, restaurants and live-music venues provide the main options, with Bethlehem particularly notable for the cultural programming and concert setting around SteelStacks. Allentown has the region’s broadest urban choice, including theatre, music and late-evening dining, while Easton’s compact centre supports bars and restaurants within walking distance of one another. Nightclubs exist but the region is not primarily a large-club destination, and closing times and entertainment schedules vary. Outside the cities, evenings tend to centre on local pubs, dining rooms, breweries and seasonal events rather than a formal nightlife district. Under-21 alcohol rules are strictly applied in the United States, and visitors should carry accepted identification when purchasing alcohol.

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Best shops in Lehigh Valley

Shopping in Lehigh Valley is centred on the urban downtowns, traditional commercial districts, farmers’ markets and larger suburban retail areas. Allentown offers the broadest city shopping environment, including independent food businesses, galleries, specialist stores and the long-established Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market. Bethlehem’s historic districts are suited to browsing for books, gifts, art, antiques, jewellery and locally produced food, with the SouthSide area adding contemporary shops near the former steelworks. Easton’s compact centre has independent retailers, galleries, cafés and food-oriented businesses, while market activity reflects the city’s relationship with nearby farms and producers. Visitors looking for regional purchases can consider Pennsylvania Dutch baked goods, preserves, craft beverages, artwork and products made by local makers rather than generic souvenirs. Large shopping centres and national retailers are present in the suburban corridor, but they are generally easier to reach by car and offer a different experience from the older downtown streets.

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Lehigh Valley essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the United States dollar, written as USD or US$, and the same national payment conventions apply here as elsewhere in the United States. Credit and debit cards, mobile wallets and contactless payments are widely accepted in hotels, museums, restaurants and shops. Carry some cash for small vendors, farmers’ markets, parking situations and rural businesses, where card facilities may be less dependable. Sales tax is added at the till rather than included in displayed prices, and restaurant tipping is customary for table service.
Safety
Lehigh Valley is a generally straightforward destination for visitors, but normal urban precautions remain sensible around transport hubs, nightlife areas and parked vehicles. Outdoor visitors should wear suitable footwear, carry water and check weather conditions, particularly on wooded trails and former canal paths. River recreation requires appropriate equipment and awareness of changing water levels. Winter snow and ice can affect roads and footpaths, while summer heat can be significant. On rural roads, allow for limited shoulders, farm traffic and changing visibility, and use marked crossings in city centres.
Emergency Situations
Dial 911 throughout Pennsylvania for police, fire or ambulance emergencies. Give the dispatcher the exact address or trail location, since wooded preserves and long-distance paths may have limited landmarks or mobile coverage. For a mental-health or suicide crisis in the United States, call or text 988. In a non-urgent situation, contact the relevant local police or fire department, and seek advice from park staff or site administrators when using managed trails and heritage attractions. Keep medical and travel-insurance information accessible.
Do's and Don'ts
Do queue patiently, observe posted rules at historic properties and ask before photographing people or private events. Do keep dogs under control and remain on marked paths in nature reserves, and do treat former industrial structures as active heritage sites with genuine safety constraints. In restaurants and bars, tipping for table service is customary, while counter-service arrangements differ. Do not climb barriers, enter closed industrial areas, remove objects from archaeological or historic sites, or assume that a public trail permits access across adjoining private land. Pennsylvania’s general customs apply rather than a separate regional etiquette code.
Local Tips
The valley’s three cities have different strengths: Allentown is the broadest urban centre, Bethlehem combines Moravian and steel heritage, and Easton has a compact riverside core and food-oriented downtown. Plan outdoor visits by location because preserves and trailheads are dispersed. The D&L Trail is best understood as a network of connected sections rather than one short urban walk. For a deeper sense of local history, pair a historic district with an industrial or canal museum instead of visiting only the best-known downtowns.
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From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHow ya doin'?[Haw yah doin'?]
GoodbyeSee ya later![See yah lay-tah!]
YesYeah[Yah]
NoNah[Nah]
Please/You're welcomeNo problem[No prob-lum]
Thank youThanks![Thanks!]
Excuse me/SorrySorry 'bout that[Sorry 'bout that]
How are you?How ya doin'?[Haw yah doin'?]
Fine. And you?Good. You?[Good. You?]
Do you speak English?You speakin' English?[Yah speakin' English?]
I don't understandI ain't gettin' it[Ah ain't gettin' it]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCan I see the menu?[Can I see the men-yoo?]
I don't eat meatI don't do meat[I don't do meat]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseCan I get the check?[Can I get the check?]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Scram![Scram!]
Call the Police!Call the cops![Call tha cops!]
Call a doctor!Get a doc![Get a doc!]
I'm lostI’m turned around[I’m turned 'round]
I'm illI'm not feelin' well[I'm not feelin' well]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...I wanna buy...[I wanna buy...]
I'm just lookingJust browsin'[Just browsin']
How much is it?What’s the price?[What’s tha price?]
That's too expensiveThat's too pricey[That's too pry-cee]
Can you lower the price?Can you knock down the price?[Can you knock down tha price?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?What time we got?[What time we got?]
It's one o'clockIt's one[It's one]
Half past (10)Half past ten[Half past ten]
MorningMornin'[Mornin']
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvenin'[Evenin']
YesterdayYesterday[Yesterday]
TodayToday[Today]
TomorrowTomorrow[Tomorrow]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
9Nine[Nine]
10Ten[Ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Where’s the...?[Where’s tha...?]
What's the address?What’s the address?[What’s tha address?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Can ya point it out?[Can ya point it out?]
When's the next (bus)?When’s the next bus?[When’s tha next bus?]
A ticket (to ....)A ticket to...[A ticket to...]

History of Lehigh Valley

Lenape Homeland and River Networks

Before European colonisation, the Lehigh Valley and Delaware River basin formed part of the homeland of the Lenape, whose communities used the rivers, forests and fertile lowlands for travel, hunting, fishing and cultivation. Colonial expansion, land purchases made under unequal conditions, disease and organised displacement profoundly disrupted Lenape life. The region’s later roads, towns and industrial sites therefore occupy a landscape with a much older Indigenous history, even though relatively little of that history is visible in the built environment. The Delaware River remains an important geographic reference for understanding the valley’s early movement and settlement.

Moravian Bethlehem, Founded in 1741

German-speaking Moravians founded Bethlehem in 1741 as a planned religious community on the north bank of the Lehigh River. Its communal buildings, workshops, churches and gardens expressed a distinctive approach to worship, education and economic organisation. Bethlehem became part of a wider Moravian network linking settlements in Pennsylvania and beyond, and its surviving historic district preserves an unusually coherent group of eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century structures. The settlement’s history includes complex relationships with Indigenous peoples and changing Moravian missionary ambitions. Today, the oldest parts of Bethlehem provide an important lens on colonial-era religious communities.

Canals, Iron and the Industrial Revolution

During the nineteenth century, the Lehigh Valley changed rapidly as anthracite coal from the upper Lehigh region was carried along canals and later railways towards furnaces and markets. The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company’s canal system helped connect the interior coalfields with the Delaware River, while local ironworks used regional resources and transport links. The later Delaware and Lehigh Canal corridor helped move fuel, raw materials and finished goods. Easton, Allentown and Bethlehem grew as commercial and manufacturing centres, and the rivers became engineered transport landscapes rather than simply natural boundaries.

Railways, Steel and Urban Growth

Railway construction in the nineteenth century reinforced the valley’s position between the coalfields, Philadelphia and New York. Bethlehem Iron Company, founded in 1857, evolved into Bethlehem Steel and became one of the largest steel producers in the United States. Its Bethlehem works made structural steel, armour and other products, while generations of workers and immigrant communities shaped the surrounding cities. Allentown also developed manufacturing in textiles, machinery, food processing and other industries. Industrial employment drove urban growth, transformed riverfronts and left a substantial architectural and social legacy.

Bethlehem Steel and the Twentieth-Century Nation

Bethlehem Steel contributed to major American infrastructure and military production, including bridges, ships and components for national defence. The company’s structures and workforce connected the Lehigh Valley to projects far beyond Pennsylvania, while its fortunes reflected the rise of integrated mass production. Industrial decline in the late twentieth century brought plant closures, job losses and extensive brownfield areas. Bethlehem Steel’s Bethlehem works ceased production in 1995, but the surviving stacks, furnaces and trestle have since been conserved as part of a major heritage and cultural redevelopment.

Suburbanisation and Modern Regional Change

After the Second World War, highways, housing development and changes in manufacturing encouraged suburban expansion across Lehigh and Northampton counties. The region became increasingly connected to the wider metropolitan economies of New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia, while retaining distinct cities and older boroughs. Former industrial land has been reused for museums, arts venues, offices, housing and entertainment, particularly around Bethlehem’s steelworks. Colleges, healthcare, logistics and cultural tourism now complement manufacturing. The result is a region balancing post-industrial renewal with farmland preservation, river restoration and the practical pressures of metropolitan growth.

Lehigh Valley in Photos

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Neighbouring regions of Lehigh Valley

The closest regions to Lehigh Valley, if you have time for more than one.

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Pennsylvania
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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Lehigh Valley

Discover Lehigh Valley with Evendo, a 100% free app-based travel guide covering attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more to enhance your trip.

  • Comprehensive details on attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more in Lehigh Valley
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  • Historical insights and travel essentials for Lehigh Valley
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  • Local tips and advice to experience the city like a local
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Welcome to Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, a hidden gem brimming with history, culture, and natural beauty. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, Evendo is your indispensable travel companion for exploring this vibrant region.

With Evendo, discover the iconic Bethlehem SteelStacks, a testament to the region's industrial past, or take a leisurely stroll through the picturesque Allentown Rose Gardens. Art enthusiasts can explore the Allentown Art Museum, housing an impressive collection of works. For a fun family outing, the Crayola Experience in Easton offers a colorful day of creativity and play.

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Planning your itinerary has never been easier. Evendo provides detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities. Each listing includes images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details, ensuring you have everything you need at your fingertips.

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