The story behind the naming of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is truly fascinating. In 1741, a group of Moravian settlers bought a parcel of land along the Monocacy Creek, where it met the Lehigh River. The settlers named their town on Christmas Eve, in a stable, while singing a hymn about Bethlehem. Because of its unique history and its name, Bethlehem is known as “Christmas City, USA.”
One of the early structures from those first Colonial settlers still stands in Bethlehem – the 1741 Gemeinhaus, a National Historic Landmark that now operates as the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem. Other structures dating to the Colonial period include the 1744-1772 Bell House/Sisters’ House Complex, the 1751 Old Chapel, the 1761 Tannery, the 1748 Single Brethren’s House, the 1782 Miller’s House, the 1758 Sun Inn, the 1768 Widows’ House, the 1762 Waterworks, and the 1761 Tannery. Archeological remains of an oil mill, pottery, butchery, and dye house have also been discovered.
You’ll enjoy a captivating glimpse into early American history when you rent an apartment in Bethlehem! The landscape is truly inspiring, but that isn’t all there is to this charming city of the Lehigh Valley. This is a terrific place to call home – it was even listed on Money Magazine’s “Top 100 Best Places to Live” in 2006. Bethlehem is home to a major research university – Lehigh University, a private university ranked as one of the nation’s best. Moravian College – the nation’s sixth-oldest college – is also located in Bethlehem.
If you like having fun, you’ll love your Bethlehem apartment – there’s a variety of shops, restaurants, and parks to enjoy. There’s also the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, home to a hotel, an event center, several lounges, a bar, the Outlets at Sands Bethlehem shopping center, and a variety of restaurants. Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse owns three: Emeril’s Chop House, Burgers and More by Emeril (BAM), and Emeril’s Italian Table. Other restaurants in the casino include Carnegie Deli, Chopstick, and Joli Bakery & Café. The casino itself offers a 30-table poker room as well as more than 40 blackjack tables, craps, roulette, slot machines, and more. The annual Lehigh Valley Food & Wine Festival is held at the casino, as well.
Fun of a different sort can be had at Dutch Springs. This unique destination features an Aqua Park and the Sky Challenge, which involves a high-ropes adventure course. Visitors can also try scuba diving. One of the major underwater attractions is an 85-foot-long Sikorsky H37 helicopter. Scuba divers can also see a crane, airplanes, a tank truck, a trolley, and a pilot boat.
As you search for apartments in Bethlehem, be aware that the city is divided into four sections: East Side, South Side, West Side, and Center City. Each section contains unique neighborhoods. Once you settle into your Bethlehem apartment, you may notice several festivals taking place. Bethlehem is nicknamed the “City of Festivals,” hosting 10 major annual festivals and about 150 mini festivals. Some of the major festivals include the annual ArtWalk in Historic Bethlehem, VegFest (an annual street and foods festival that focuses on vegan and sustainable lifestyles), and the Bethlehem Harvest Festival. This festival includes wine and soup tastings, beer tastings, craft vendors, and live music.
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