Things to Do in Bethlehem

Founded on Christmas Eve in 1741 by a small group of Moravian settlers and christened “Christmas City, USA” in 1937, Bethlehem turns its gaze toward the past during the holiday season with guided tours and museum exhibits. The 10.9-mile Heritage Trail snakes through 80 historic stops, including two National Historic Landmarks, Victorian-era homes, and the nation’s oldest gift shop. On historic walks, guides lead tour groups through the now-defunct site of Bethlehem Steel, the city’s oldest cemeteries, and the 1762 Waterworks, known as the first municipally pumped water system in the country. Located inside the 1741 Gemeinhaus, the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem curates a collection of exhibits about the town’s settlers, including their missionary work, education system, and medical techniques.

Founded by Pilates master Susan Fox, The Core Center is a 4,500-square-foot facility featuring a large space for group classes and two areas for equipment classes. Along with select members of her staff, Fox holds a license in Fletcher Pilates, a variation of the original Pilates method that emphasizes movements that emerge organically throughout the routine. The center also plays host to Zumba, Yamuna, and dance classes, all of which welcome students with two left feet as long as they bring their own pairs of left shoes.

Lehigh Valley Grand Prix's gas-powered Sodi GT5 Proline karts zip around a quarter-mile racetrack with 11 brake-stomping turns. The karts feature air-intake units that trap their exhaust and keep the atmosphere fresh, and the track—constructed from 1,300 used Goodyear tires and the shredded remains of Mario Andretti's learner's permit—is outfitted with three observation platforms for track marshals to regulate each lap and guarantee riders' safety. A full-time mechanic keeps finish lines crowded by calibrating karts to run within three-tenths of a second of one another and hanging hundreds of piñatas from the checkered flag. At the facility's bar, Octane, drivers can refuel with drinks and food while watching stock-car races on the five 42-inch TVs.

Backed by a score of pulsing music and illuminated by swirling veins of light, bowlers swing their arms back and send pearlescent orbs hurtling down the glossy lanes in front of them. Though it recalls science fiction, this surreal scene is commonly witnessed at Playdrome Rose Bowl's Future Bowl nights. These cosmic escapades are among the many family-friendly events hosted at the sprawling bowling alley in an average week.

Flanked by neon murals and electronic scoring machines, Playdrome's 36 lanes remain open from mid-morning into the wee hours of the night. Bowlers of all ages can satisfy their between-game appetites with hearty fare at Orbits Cafe or practice their aim on three billiards tables. A full arcade keeps fingers loose with button-mashing combos; more serious bowlers can take turns building muscle by lifting the video-game consoles over their heads.

Racing past the multilevel arena's black-lit arches, barriers, and pathways, phaser-wielding players navigate their way through a foggy arena in pursuit of opponents. Such battles are the main draw of Lehigh Valley Laser Tag, where participants aged 7 and older compete for victory in three games during each 40-minute laser-tag session. After arrival, a short safety video screened in the staging room explains the game's equipment and confirms there's no need to wait 20 minutes between eating and playing before guests strap on their vests and ready their phasers. The arena hosts regular team-versus-team game play as well as special format rounds, all of which end with reports that compare each player's score to the results of friends and teammates. Afterward, groups reenergize by noshing on fare from the snack bar or playing abundant video games in the arcade.