Things To Do In Easton

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 year-round 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. The Kemerer Museum Of Decorative Arts is one of only 15 of its kind 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.

Attracting more than 170,000 art enthusiasts to its events in 2011, the Sugarloaf Crafts Festival showcases original work from hundreds of artisans showcasing everything from handcrafted pottery, sculpture, and metalwork to jewelry, fashion, décor, and photography. Audiences can witness art being made live during educational demonstrations as artisans sculpt clay, whittle wood, forge metals, and imbue baskets with the power of speech. Hungry crafters can also sniff out specialty food items to sample or purchase while dancing across the sprawling venue to the tunes of live music.

In the summer, Captain Don Cartwright migrates from Florida to New Jersey to captain fishing trips off Sandy Hook and Raritan Bays aboard his 35-foot boat, the Bill Chaser. Cartwright, who has a US Coast Guard master's license and more than 20 years of fishing experience, helps groups hook everything from striped bass and bluefish to larger catches such as bluefin tuna and shark.

Although they started with only five canoes in 1967, the river riders at Bucks County River Country, Inc. knew their fleet of watercraft was destined to grow. They now rent kayaks, tubes, and rafts alongside their traditional canoes. Now led by the charismatic River Dan, the shop draws patrons in with its proximity to the Delaware River. Once there, they can choose from a variety of vessels to drift past wildlife.

At Bethlehem's Steel Ice Center, two NHL-sized ice surfaces host hordes of merry skaters, and the state-of-the-art sound system, party rooms, heated rink-side seats, and snack bar keep energy levels high. Suit up, lace up, and whirl around the ice with family and friends during one of Steel Ice Center's public skating sessions, which are currently scheduled throughout the week during both the afternoon and evening hours.

Pocono Community Theater projects independent and art films across three screens. The unique selection of films allows audiences to catch flicks that are not widely shown at standard movie theaters or reviewed by Oscar statuettes. During the show, moviegoers can alternate between sipping on large sodas and munching on popcorn that's been popped in sunflower oil and topped with real butter. For coffee lovers, local arabica-bean brews from Electric Roasting Company are available for purchase at the theater's café. Along with showing films, the venue supports the arts community by providing artists with stages and an exhibition space to showcase their works and fold their laundry.