If you have yet to visit Bethlehem, Pennsylvania during the holiday season, you might want to make it a point to travel to the historic little town this year. Bethlehem, also known as “Christmas City”, certainly lives up to its name. Carolers dressed in Victorian garb welcome visitors as they stroll down Main Street and merchants’ shops are decked out in their most elegant Christmas finery. There’s certainly no shortage of holiday spirit and the area positively bursts at the seams with things to do this time of year.
Planning an Overnight Visit
The Hotel Bethlehem, built in 1922 at the direction of Bethlehem Steel President Charles M. Schwab, is located in the heart of the action and was first visited by such luminaries as Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.
Each year, the hotel staff decorates for the Christmas season and employees spend approximately 1,000 hours preparing the hotel and grounds for visitors who will behold 26 Christmas trees, 36 giant wreaths, six seven-foot toy soldiers and a large crèche.
Shopping Options Abound
Step out the front door of the Hotel Bethlehem and an array of shopping opportunities await. Art galleries, specialty shops and boutiques line Main Street and are all within walking distance. The Moravian Bookstore, located across the street from The Hotel Bethlehem, will delight any bibliophile. The shop opened in 1745, four years after the founding of Bethlehem and is known as the oldest continuously operating bookstore in the world, offering a wide variety of books and unique gift items for that special someone.
Arrive before December 22nd and you can cross some items off your list with the choices available at Christkindlmarkt, which has been drawing visitors from miles around for two decades. Recognized by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the top holiday markets in the world, the event features more than 100 retailers, food vendors and performers, and a special visit from Santa, who is always happy to pose for pictures with the little ones.
Another seasonal shopping favorite open this time of year is the Christmas City Village, which operates from Friday through Sunday through December 23rd and is comprised of charming heated huts clustered behind the Sun Inn on Main Street. There you’ll find a cornucopia of crafts and other special items to complete your Christmas shopping.
Learn about History at Area Museums
Bethlehem touts itself as an historic area and, as such, there is no lack of museums, from the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts on North New Street, to the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, to the Single Sisters’ House, Burnside Plantation, 1752 Apothecary located behind the Moravian Bookstore and the Goundie House. The Goundie House features a ‘living advent calendar” where, each day, at approximately 5:30 p.m. through December 23rd, a town crier announces a special event. A child is then selected from the crowd to knock on the door of the house, which will then open to a surprise form of entertainment ranging from quartets, to carolers and even bagpipers. Each evening will be sponsored by a different merchant who will hand out treats to the children in attendance.
Tours Galore
Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit and learn a little more about the area by taking one of the many tours available. Those who choose to walk can take a “Christmas City Stroll” from November 22 through January 7, 2018 and be led through downtown Historic Bethlehem by a guide in period dress. Visitors who prefer to sit back and relax can schedule a horse-drawn carriage ride from Thursday through Sunday November 24 through December 31, 2018, where they can learn more about the city’s 18th century architecture from a certified guide.
The tours continue after the sun goes down where guests can view the Christmas lights from the warmth of a motor coach. “The Bethlehem by Night” bus tour takes tourists through town where they will be entertained by a guide telling tales of holiday traditions and historical happenings. The 45-minute tour concludes with a trip to South Mountain to view the famous Moravian Star.
Tours can be arranged by stopping by the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Visitor Center at 505 Main Street.
These are just a few of the options available in the next few weeks as Bethlehem celebrates its much-awaited Christmas season.
For more on dates, times and events to celebrate the season in this festive and historic region, visit: www.discoverlehighvalley.com
(All photos courtesy Discoverlehighvalley.com)
