Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley by Eddie Applefeld

If you're looking for a place to escape for a day, or maybe two, let me direct your attention to the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania.

There are many towns within that area, but for the purpose of this report I'll confine this to the towns of Allentown, Bethlehem and Schnecksville. 

I'll give you a list of places to go and you can decide, but perhaps your first stop should be the Visitor Center and Museum Store, 505 Main St., Bethlehem.

After that go animal gazing at the Lehigh Valley Zoo, located in Schnecksville and voted best family day trip.

Then there's the Trexler Nature Preserve, 1,100 acres of roaming herds and trails and the Da Vinci Science Center with exhibits for all ages in Allentown.

In Bethlehem you have to see the Steel Stacks, at the site of the former Bethlehem Steel complex, featuring year round entertainment in various venues.

If you feel like gambling just head over to the Sands Casino with over 3,000 slots and 150 table games.

In the heart of town, at one of the old hotels, you can go looking for ghosts.  I did, and I can tell you it was an eerie experience. 

If you like wine, then check out the Franklin Vineyards (part of the Lehigh Valley Wine Trail) and for live entertainment get a ticket for a show at the State Theatre in Allentown.

If you like baseball, and it's the season, you can enjoy a game at Coca Cola Park and watch the Iron Pigs play, triple A affiliate of the Phillies.

Other places of general interest would include the Crayola Experience, the Allentown Art Museum, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom with lots of thrill rides and water slides and the Mack Truck Museum.

By the way, Bethlehem was declared Christmas City in 1937.  Bethlelem Steel was founded in 1857 and was shut down in November 1995.

For lodging, I'll suggest the Hotel Bethlehem, 437 Main Street, with 128 rooms, a fitness center, restaurants and within walking distance of historic sites. 

For more information go to discoverlehighvalley.com.