College Visit: Lehigh in Bethlehem

Four years of visiting my daughter at Lehigh in Bethlehem, PA gave me an education about this town near Allentown. If Lehigh University is on your list for a college visit, you are in for a pleasant surprise! A trip to this beautifully-situated university in the Lehigh Valley also offers the opportunity to spend a great day just west of Scarsdale amongst rolling hills and fields of green. With the reinvention of the Bethlehem Steel manufacturing plant into the Sands Casino Resort (877) 726-3777, Bethlehem is making itself anew with shops, galleries and restaurants. Lehigh University overlooks neighborhoods and streets that line the Cedar River running through the historic district and downtown. Moravian College is situated on Main Street and is worth a visit as you stroll following your college tour. The Moravian book store is an emporium of books, clothing, housewares, fresh candies and homemade baked goods serving light lunch in their café. Learn about the original settlers of this part of town at a museum housed in a former community building. Museum phone (610) 691-6055.

A 15-minute drive from campus is the ever-popular Promenade, an outdoor mall with movie complex, L.L.Bean, American Eagle Outfitters, amongst other shops and services. Fresh Market offers prepared foods, local packaged snacks and fresh produce. Certainly worth a stop when you are in the area.

How to get there:

George Washington Bridge to I-95S. Take exit 14 to merge onto rte 78W to exit 67 PA-412 towards Bethlehem. Turn right on rte 412N for one mile and then left on East 4th street for 2 1/2 miles and then left on Brodhead Avenue and then right on University Drive to Campus.

Where to stay:

For contemporary style go to the Hyatt Place Bethlehem 45 W. North Street (610) 625-0500. You can walk from main street to this new hotel which offers the latest in hip, comfortable rooms and good breakfast off the well-designed lobby area. Historic hotel accommodations can be had right on main street at the well-known Hotel Bethlehem, right in the midst of the shops and restaurants. The lobby has photos of bygone days showing Lehigh activities and Bethlehem founders.

Where to eat:

Billy’s for breakfast - (610) 867-0105 - Place to eat if you don’t mind the wait!

Bethlehem Brew Works Brewery and Restaurant - for lunch or dinner (610)882-1300… nice for salad and of course a beer!

Edge Restaurant - is the spot to be parent’s weekend! Reserve to avoid disappointment.(610)814-0100.

Starfish Brasserie - also around the corner from Main Street and great menu with a fun crowd! (610)332-8888.

Mama Nina – Great Italian Food and nice outdoor seating. (610) 867-9802.

No trip to Bethlehem is complete without stops at Matz’s roasted peanuts 67 E. Broad Street (610) 868-6894 and granola from the Bethlehem Inn 476 North New Street (610) 868-8100.

Other points of interest:

Steel Stacks
Colonial Industry Quarter
Burnside Plantation
National Museum of Industrial History
Dutch Springs Aqua Park
Christkindlmarket (especially during Christmas time)
The Banana Factory
Saucon Valley Country Club

College tour information: www.lehigh.edu

Happy travels to Bethlehem, Pa!

This article was contributed by Lydia Hassan of Scarsdale.