Things to do in Allentown area?

[caliswift]

Yeungling Brewery in Pottsville, PA. America's oldest brewer. Great tour. Famous beer.

Hour drive from Allentown? Yeah, that's where I'd go.

[DeanInChicago]

Fred's Chamber of Commerce listings are great!

Here are more Allentown and stadium recommendations:

1. Check into your hotel BEFORE the Friday show. This way, you lessen the chance of any problems with a late night check-in.

2. Eat at a diner. There are at least a half dozen in the area. My favorite is the Sunrise Diner - a 3 to 5 minute drive from downtown Allentown en route to Quakerstown.

3. The Allentown Fairgrounds has excellent desserts, pizza, haircuts, and tchotchkes.

4. Best parking for the show is on Chew Street. This is two roads behind the grandstand, on the other side of Greenwood Cemetery. On-street parking in both directions. I usually park here early, then meander over to the fairgrounds to load up on pickles.

5. Some of the entrance ramps onto route 22 are very, very short. Be prepared. Traffic often slows each day in the late afternoon with so many people leaving work, or starting their weekend.

6. I usually make the drive towards Reading on Saturday, with quarters and one dollar bills, and do much friendly haggling at the barn sales, yard sales, and garage sales. Bring a second, empty suitcase. Be proud of your hoarding.

7. For the past several years, the stadium personnel has allowed ticketholders to bring in small coolers, large bags of Fritos, full-size pizzas, and whatever.

8. There is great stadium food each year! I've promised Mike Boo I would schlep a root beer snowcone down to him this year at the corps entry gate.

9. The men's washroom near the grandstand/food vendors is almost always a sauna. Yuck. So, when Boo gets his snowcone, it's also an ideal time to visit the corps entry gate washroom - that washroom is mostly near empty with cooler temperatures.

10. And finally, each year, I see at least two people fall in the upper deck stands. Gain your balance, and move slowly, before navigating the stairs to and from your seat.

[George Dixon]

I agree - hit a diner early in the day - and save some room for the food at the stadium - it's actually REALLY good for stadium food

[ajlemm]

Wow, some really great suggestions. Thanks, everyone!

[SkyRyder_FMM]

The traffic from DC to Allentown can be horrendous. While it should only take 3.5 hours, it has taken me over 7 hours before while traveling on I-95.

If you are flying into Dulles, you are much better off going the back way (28 north, 7 West, 15 north, I-83 north, I-81 north, I-78 East). The milage is a bit further, but it will take you substantially less time.

[Lincoln]

All these great suggestions - but up until now, no one has mentioned if Allentown has a Taco Bell or not.

[wesleyrp]

Toxic Smell... That's dangerous territory before Allentown....

[Fred Windish]

Really appreciate suggestions from others. Living here, I always find it fascinating how our guests spend their non-drum corps time. I made a few additions to my original list of things to do.

Allentown gets a bad rap for its lack of parking near the stadium. In reality, there's much, but 2-3 blocks away. The lovely and calm neighborhood just South of the Stadium (where Youell's Oyster House is located) has plenty of curbside parking. Walk down a couple of blocks and you will be at the lake and park where all the corps warm-up. Hundreds of fans mill around there to get their faces blown off. MANY don't ever go inside the stadium. The vibe outside, before and after the corps perform, is really something to experience. Another great picnic option.

DO NOT rely on TAXIS after the event. There are several small companies, but they are mostly late, and not dependable.

If you do need to cross Hamilton Boulevard to reach the corps warm-up areas, take extra precaution. It can be full of fast-moving traffic. I STRONGLY suggest you cross at the traffic light located at the bottom of 24th Street (about the middle of the park area).

Now, here's a hint, if the grandstand is too full for your liking. There is a somewhat steep, grassy bank on either side of the Upper Level grandstand. In the past, many fans sat up there on blankets. The view of the corps is outstanding, but you really must be careful !

For those making their FIRST visit to Crum Stadium, you will find the vantage point high, past the goal line, to be quite good, even for sound. The entire grandstand seats just under 16,000, but only about 9000 get a seat between the goal lines. If the seat you purchase is too low, try sitting high-up out toward the ends. It's better than you think!

[ajlemm]

The traffic from DC to Allentown can be horrendous. While it should only take 3.5 hours, it has taken me over 7 hours before while traveling on I-95.

If you are flying into Dulles, you are much better off going the back way (28 north, 7 West, 15 north, I-83 north, I-81 north, I-78 East). The milage is a bit further, but it will take you substantially less time.

Wow, that bites. I am flying into Reagan National though. Either way, I had better give it plenty of time...

[Fred Windish]

All these great suggestions - but up until now, no one has mentioned if Allentown has a Taco Bell or not.

Linc -

There are several, but not near the stadium. A brand new one opened-up on Airport Road about 2 miles South of LVIA on the Eastside. The absolute BEST Mexican food is found at the Tavern House in Hellertown, PA, about 2 miles Southeast of the Casino complex, a little South of the I-78 Hellertown exit. The place looks like an old stone neighborhood hotel, but don't be fooled, it's close to the meals I've had in Arizona, California, New Mexico.