Bethlehem
Christened Bethlehem on Christmas Eve 1741, this city lives up to its nickname, “Christmas City USA.” From the end of November through December, merchants go all out with decorations; Chriskindlmarkt, one of the top indoor Christmas markets in the world; and a live Advent calendar.
Once famous for its production of steel, the old Bethlehem steel mill is now the site of a Sands Casino and a lively arts and entertainment complex. The casino features five restaurants and a hotel, and plans are in the works for a second hotel. It also has a spacious event center that recently accommodated 1,000 attendees at the annual meeting of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to its Christmas flavor, Bethlehem is also famous for producing a favorite Easter-time treat: marshmallow Peeps candy. Other attractions include a Crayola crayon factory and the oldest Moravian bookstore in the country.
For 10 days in August, Bethlehem plays host to MusicFest.
“There are music groups everywhere — polka, rock and roll, harpists — and plenty of food,” said Lynn Cunningham, senior vice president at the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Poconos
The Pocono Mountains is one of the most popular outdoor recreational destinations in the Northeast, encompassing four counties and 80 percent of Pennsylvania’s resorts. Most accommodate meetings and events. Split Rock Resort is the largest. Among the others are the Sky Top Lodge, the Inn at Pocono Manor, the Mount Airy Casino Resort, Woodloch Properties, the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, and the Chateau Resort.
Skiing is, of course, a popular pastime in the Poconos. There are seven ski resorts, among them the Camelback Ski Resort. The area also boasts the only dude ranch east of the Mississippi: the Malibu Dude Ranch.
Corporate team-building opportunities are a major draw for the area, said David Jackson, vice president for sales at the Pocono Mountains Convention and Visitors Bureau. “You have dogsledding and geocaching, where you take a map and a compass, navigating your way through trails. There’s also the Pocono Raceway, where teams can drive cars themselves at up to 140 mph.”
Milder forms of entertainment include the myriad festivals year-round, from chili cook-offs to blues and bluegrass festivals. The region also has many quaint towns, including Jim Thorpe, named in honor of the Native American athlete who is buried there.
