Top 5 Things To Do In Historic Bethlehem This Spring

March 28th, 2023 |

Written by Kaitlyn Schock for Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites

Top 5 Things To Do In Historic Bethlehem This Spring 

Looking for ways to get out and be active this Spring? Historic Moravian Bethlehem is a fun and exciting way for you and/or your family to enjoy this upcoming Spring season. With various outdoor walking tours, events and volunteer opportunities the city offers a wide variety of activities for everyone to enjoy. 

Here are the top 5 things to do in Historic Bethlehem this Spring: 

1. Hike, bike and/or run the Heritage Trail

The Heritage Trail, sponsored by St.Lukes Hospital, is a great way to enjoy the sunny, spring weather on the move. This trail uses pre-made audio recordings so that you are able to create your own personal tour around the Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District, Victorian era homes, and Bethlehem Steel buildings. The Heritage Trail™ audio file can be found at historicbethlehem.org and allows for you to discover Bethlehem’s rich history on your own time and at your own pace. These tours range from 0.75 miles to 3 miles and can take anywhere from about an hour to two hours. This trail is also pet-friendly! 

2. Discover the Burnside Garden 

The Louise W. Dimmick Garden is a part of the Burnisde Plantation (1461 Schoenersville Rd, Bethlehem) and is a representation of an early American Kitchen Garden. It holds various herbs, spices, flowers and vegetables. This garden is cared for completely by volunteers and all levels of gardeners are invited to adopt a plot in the colonial garden which you will then care for over the season. Plants, seeds and compost are all provided and at no extra cost. You are able to stroll around the plantation and gardens on any day during its normal visiting hours. Visitors are also invited to schedule a tour, which will allow you to see inside Burnside’s historic buildings and you can add on a cooking demonstration and luncheon that takes place in one of the beautiful barns.

3. Take a self-guided or guided tour of the various museums and sites  

Historic Bethlehem offers a wide variety of self-guided and tour led tours that are perfect for the bright, spring weather. As mentioned before, the Heritage Trail has a wide variety of self-guided tours that allows you to pick and choose what you’re most interested in and tour the historic district at your own pace. There are also a lot of guided tours that are offered year round. Choose between options like the Old Bethlehem Walking Tour, the Moravian Story Walking Tour and the Death and Dying Cemetary Tour which allows you to walk through the oldest cemetery in Bethlehem while learning about early Moravians and their funerary traditions. Before and after your tour, make sure to stop at one of the various restaurants and shops along Main Street Bethlehem! 

4. Do a spring photoshoot and tag @historicbethlehem

Historic Bethlehem is home to many great photo locations, both along its main colonial district and at its historic sites. Especially during the spring, the scenery around the building blooms again and is a great place to plan your photoshoot. The Heritage Trail and Burnisde Plantation are great places to find many different photo locations along the way. Once you post your pictures make sure to tag @historicbethlehem.  Search up this tag and also find other visitors’ pictures that they have taken! 

5. Attend one of Historic Bethlehem’s various events taking place this Spring 

Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites is always putting on a variety of events throughout the whole year. Currently coming up soon they have a Vintage Baseball Game as well as a Retro Game Night that will take place at the beginning of April. These events are a great way for you to get involved and learn more about the Historic Bethlehem area. Other events taking place are Free Sundays at the Museum, which takes place on the first Sunday of every month, where guests of all ages are able to enjoy free admission to both the Kemerer Museum of Decoratve Arts (427 N New St, Bethlehem) and the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem (66 W Church St, Bethlehem). There is also a free activity included during each free Sunday which includes designing your own pipe cleaner creature, making your own suncatcher silk paintings and much more. 

To find out more about upcoming events, scheduling tours, site hours and more visit historicbethlehem.org. 

Kaitlyn Schock is a student intern from Kutztown University and a contributing writer for Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites.

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