Visit Bethlehem, PA City Guide

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 3 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #797 in Local, #75,868 overall

Bethlehem is a Hub of Arts and Culture in Eastern Pennsylvana

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania has been America's Christmas City since the mid 1700s. The city was founded by the Moravian Brethren, a denomination of German Protestant settlers whose patron in Saxony region of German was Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf. Count Zinzendorf paid a visit to the settlement on Christmas Eve and named the community Bethlehem.

This lens is a member of the Squidoo City Guide

Home of the defunct Bethlehem Steel Works, the city is well into an urban Renaissance destined to rival the rebirth of cities with greater size and wealth. Bethlehem's ambiance and year round cultural events attract visitors from all over the world.

Bethlehem is a hub of cultural and creative ventures offering visitors and residents plenty to see and do all year 'round.

Bethlehem's Rebirth - Cultural Renaissance in Pennsylvania's Steel Town 

Bethlehem's ambiance and cultural events attract visitors from around the world all year long.

Bethlehem is America's Christmas City, and hosts a German-style holiday market - Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem - every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As the corporate home of the now-defunct Bethlehem Steel Works, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was a major industrial center during the height of the manufacturing age in the USA. Today Bethlehem is in the midst of an urban Renaissance to rival cities of greater size and wealth, and the abandoned steel mill property is at its heart.

Bethlehem is a mecca for higher education and the performing and visual arts in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. The old city retains its Main Street America charm with wide, tree-shaded streets and historic buildings built from stone and brick and dating to the 1700s.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Photo Journal 

Take a tour of Bethlehem, PA through these tourist photographs.

Shimmy Shimmy Shake by alan(ator)

Shimmy Shimmy Shake

W. Market and Main Sts., Bethlehem, Pa. by Lehigh Valley Source

W. Market and Main S...

Coffee cup planters, Bethlehem, PA by Lehigh Valley Source

Coffee cup planters,...

Hotel Bethlehem, Bethlehem, PA by Lehigh Valley Source

Hotel Bethlehem, Bet...

Architecture, Bethlehem, PA by Lehigh Valley Source

Architecture, Bethle...

Historic Sun Inn, Bethlehem, PA by Lehigh Valley Source

Historic Sun Inn, Be...

automatically generated by Flickr

Bethlehem Tourism and Cultural Attractions 

Musikfest - The Art of Music
Musikfest - America's Music Festival features 10 days of music, food, arts, beer and fun in Bethlehem, PA featuring over 500 performances annually. Indie artists and famous names perform every summer on the outdoor stages and indoor concerts. Most performances are free - expect to pay standard ticket prices for top acts.
Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, PA
Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) is a world-renowned holiday marketplace recognized by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the top holiday markets in the world. This annual event features fine arts, Christmas decorations, crafts, food and seasonal entertainment Thursday through Sunday from Thanksgiving

Bethlehem, PA as a Destination Resort 

Bethlehem Steel Transformed to Casino and Arts Center

Redevelopment of the former Bethlehem Steel Works is transforming an abandoned industrial brownfields site from a decayed, rusting eyesore to a world-class destination resort and cultural center featuring a hotel and casino, restaurants and pubs, upscale retail shops, performing arts center, housing and much more. Sands Beth Works casino opened to the public in May 2009.

Allentown - Billy Joel 

Billy Joel's Famous song "Allentown" is about Bethlehem Steel and the fall of company-owned town

Well I'm living here in Allentown, and it's hard to keep a good man down ...

Runtime:
views
Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Bethlehem Steelworks Becomes Sands Casino Complex 

Sands Casino Bethlehem Opened May 2009

PBS 39 Tempo - Show 449 - Seg 1 - Sands/BethWorks Project

What does the future hold for the old Bethlehem Steel land; well there are big plans for this area. Reporter/Producer: Alice Massimi

Runtime: 366
3911 views
2 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Bethlehem Steel Works Rebirth 

New Life for the Bethlehem Site

The city of Bethlehem was home to the main headquarters for the world-famous Bethlehem Steel Works. Billy Joel made neighboring city Allentown famous in song but the issues he sang about were actually those of thousands of people who lived and worked in the regional steel industry ruled by Bethlehem Steel. Bethlehem is included in the song lyrics.

The Bethlehem Steel site is huge, and for years was a decayed eyesore and painful reminder of lost prosperity to former employees and townspeople. In 2008, the rusted and abandoned Bethlehem Steel industrial site became a location set for the film Transformers 2.

Today, the decaying steel mill property is under reconstruction to become a destination resort and cultural center. Sands BethWorks will feature a world class hotel, casino, night clubs, loft apartments, upscale shopping and arts center.

Photo used under Creative Commons license
Photographer

Transformers 2 - filming in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 

The rundown Bethlehem Steel Works site was the location shot for Transformers 2.

Transformers 2 filming Bethlehem, PA

filmed 6/2/08

Runtime: 235
204478 views
119 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Bethlehem Pennsylvania Lenses 

Bethlehem Steel Transformers II 

Transformers 2

Shot at Bethlehem Steel on 6-2-08 during the filming of Transformers 2.

Runtime: 82
153134 views
25 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

The 1758 Sun Inn 

564 Main Street, Bethlehem 18018

Bethlehem has a long history of hospitality. The 1758 Moravian Sun Inn, located just off Main Street, has been serving guests of distinction continuously since the American Revolution.

The Continental Congress met at The Sun Inn September, 1777. Historically notable guests and visitors to the inn include George and Martha Washington, John Hancock, the Marquis de Lafayette, John and Abigail Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Harrison and Ethan Allen as well as many early governors, foreign dignitaries and native American leaders.

The lower floor of the beautifully restored inn is a living history museum filled with 18th century artifacts and furnishings. The Sun Inn no longer offers lodging, but does offer exquisite dining for individuals or groups in the reception rooms on the second floor, and guided tours of the building and landscaped courtyard.

The Sun Inn celebrates its 250th anniversary in September, 2008. Special events include a public party and a special dinner at the Inn.

Historic Hotel Bethlehem 

Hotel Bethlehem sits on the same site as Bethlehem's original first house, erected by Moravian settlers who arrived in 1740.

The hotel's traditionally furnished guest rooms overlook historic downtown and the famous hillside Bethlehem star.

Have you visited Bethlehem, Pennsylvania? 

Share your thoughts about America's Christmas city.

Bethlehem offers a convenient residential location for commuters who travel to Philadelphia and Manhattan daily and from surrounding communities to work in the city. It's an easy weekend trip from many major areas in the Northeastern United States to Bethlehem.

The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton region is served by Lehigh Valley International airport (ABE) that's easily accessible and served by major airlines.

submit

More to do in Bethlehem, PA 

Here's what Yelpers have to say about Active Life in 18018

Healing Hands Massage Therapy Center (Bethlehem)  
"Absolutely Wonderful! Love this place. So professionial. Great atmosphere. Have had 2 massages there so far and each was great." more
Action Wheels (Bethlehem)  
"For the longest time, this was the only bike shop I knew about. Or it was the closest one to me, so convenience won out (no longer true, since Cutters on..." more
Dutch Springs (Bethlehem)  
"I've enjoyed my dives at Dutch Springs, its a neat place with plenty to do. The aqua park is fun to play around on when you're in between dives, and I can..." more
Yoga Loft (Bethlehem)  
"I'm an amateur yogi, hoping to gain some flexibility and some strength. You'll definitely at least get some cardio climbing the very long 2 flights of..." more
Saucon Valley Country Club (Bethlehem)  
"3 full golf courses, one better than the next. All 3 are among the best in Pennsylvania. One short 6 hole course. Conditions here are nearly always on a..." more
powered by Yelp

New Life for Old Steel - Sands Beth Works 

Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

The Sands Casino Resort now stands on the resurrected brownfields site of the former Bethlehem Steel Works. The resort features casino with 5000 slots, parking, shuttle to the city, restaurants and more. The Beth Works complex is located 120 minutes from New York and opened officially in May, 2009.

PBS 39 Tempo - Show 449 - Seg 1 - Sands/BethWorks Project

What does the future hold for the old Bethlehem Steel land; well there are big plans for this area. Reporter/Producer: Alice Massimi

Runtime: 366
3911 views
2 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Higher Education - Bethlehem Area Colleges 

Lehigh University Lehigh's picturesque 1600-acre wooded campus is actually built into the side of what is affectionately known as "Old South Mountain" in historic Bethlehem, Pa. A little more than an hour's car ride from Philadelphia or New York City, Lehigh is located within the thriving economic and cultural corridor of the eastern United States. Undergraduate and graduate students experience challenging diverse programs in four colleges: arts and sciences business and economics engineering and applied science and education.

Moravian College America's sixth-oldest college, located in the center of historic Bethlehem, Moravian delivers a values-based liberal arts education in a caring environment, through which it nurtures in students the capacities for leadership, lifelong learning, and positive societal contributions. The College traces its founding to 1742 by followers of John Amos Comenius, the 17th century Moravian bishop whose humanistic ideals helped to shape modern education.

Northampton Community College For 40 years, Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pa., has focused on offering a wide variety of courses at an affordable price, without sacrificing quality of instruction. NCC offers recent high school graduates, as well as adult learners, a variety of credit and non-credit classes, offered during the day, evening, and on weekends.

Muhlenberg College Muhlenberg College is an independent, undergraduate, coeducational institution related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Founded in 1848 to provide a liberal arts education in the Judeo-Christian humanistic tradition, Muhlenberg is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and excellence. The College is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 55 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City.

Driving directions 

Bethlehem, PA City Information 

Life is Good in Bethlehem

Bethlehem is a beautiful city conveniently located about 1 hour from Philadelphia and less than 3 hours from NYC.
Bethlehem, PA Online!
A comprehensive online resource for Bethlehem, PA and the surrounding Lehigh Valley.
City of Bethlehem Homepage
Official website of the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Welcome to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem Pennsylvania is an attractive tree-lined city of 75,000 in the center of the Lehigh Valley community, with a population of more than 600,000.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is located in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the heart of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton region.
Welcome to the Christmas City, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania! - www.ChristmasCity.org
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania offers some of the world's most unique holiday experiences including Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem, First Night Bethlehem and much more.
Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau - The Official Travel Resource for Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, PA
Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau is the ultimate travel guide for Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, Pennsylvania. Lehigh Valley CVB provides information on local area events, hotels, tours, meetings, attractions, restaurants, shopping, sports and recreation.

Weather in Bethlehem, PA 

Current weather conditions in Bethlehem, PA (18018)

Local Pollen Reports

27°F (Feels like 16°F)

Last update: 12/23/09 1:51 PM EST

Humidity: 43%
Visibility: 10.0 mi
Dew Point: 11°F
UV Index: 1 (Lawn and Garden Weather)
Barometer: 30.18in steady
Moon: Rush Hour Traffic
Wind: 14mph From: Airport Conditions
powered by weather.com

Today


Fair
High: 28°F
Low: 14°F
Sunrise: 7:23 AM
Sunset: 4:39 PM

Thursday
Dec 24 


Partly Cloudy
High: 34°F
Low: 23°F
Sunrise: 7:24 AM
Sunset: 4:39 PM

Friday
Dec 25 


Sunny
High: 34°F
Low: 33°F
Sunrise: 7:24 AM
Sunset: 4:40 PM

Saturday
Dec 26 


Few Showers
High: 39°F
Low: 31°F
Sunrise: 7:24 AM
Sunset: 4:41 PM

Latest news about Bethlehem, PA 

PA Bans British Choir for Singing with Israeli Orchestra
The dwindling number of Christians in Bethlehem were hoping to hear Bach's Christmas Oratorio, but the London-based Palestine Solidarity Campaign spread a ...
Officer slain in Wash. remembered at Pa. funeral
BETHLEHEM, Pa. ? Mark Renninger grew up 250 paces from the Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem. When he heard the lawn mower start up, he would come running ...
PA snubbing British choir over Israeli performance
(JTA) -- One of Britain's premiere choirs is being prevented from performing in Bethlehem following a Palestinian protest over its scheduled performance in ...

Sands Bethlehem Casino Tour 

Sands Bethlehem Casino at the New York Times Travel Show

http://romanotravelonline.com/View/V2303/ As presented at the New York Times Travel Show: From the moment you step on the Sands Bethlehem property, you will feel you are in a special place. After all, the land was home to one of the giants of Americas industrial age. For more than a century, Bethlehem Steel manufactured the material that helped build the country into a world superpower. Amid 20-story blast furnaces, expansive machine shops and iconic machinery used to cast steel, youll find one of the most exciting and unique casino and resort complexes on the East Coast. It is owned and operated by the Las Vegas Sands Corp., the worlds leading developer of integrated resort destinations. Let the Travel Agents of RomanoTravelOnline.com arrange your adventure! More info at Sands Bethlehem PA.

Runtime: 37
515 views
1 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Martin Guitars 

The Making of Martin Guitars - The Factory

Nice segment from Sunday Morning News about a great American Tradition: Making Martin guitars, a look at the Martin Guitar Factory.

Runtime: 252
75863 views
68 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Bethlehem, PA Stats 

The population of 18018 is 33,173.

That's #2545 out of all 42,305 zip codes.

84% of the population is white, which is 10 points more than the national average.

The average household income in 18018 is $39,177, which is $9,479 more than the typical average.

This contributes to the average house being worth $93,400. When the survey was done in 2000, that represented a difference of 19% from the typical value.

Men make up 44% of the population, and the typical age in this part of PA is 38.9.

Stats about: Bethlehem, PA

Population: 33,173
Number of Households: 13,985
Average House Value: $93,400
Average Income per Household: $39,177
Elevation: 211 ft

Population Breakdown:

Population Chart

Go Philadelphia Phillies! 

Loading Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
eBay

Eastern Pennsylvania Sports Hub 

The Philadelphia Eagles hold their annual football team training camp in Bethlehem each summer at Lehigh University. The region is also home to the newly formed franchise Iron Pigs baseball team, a training club for the Philadelphia Phillies.

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!