JimF-LowBari Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 (edited) 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. 7 and 15 have gotten a lot more crowded over the years but still great compared to the alternatives. Especially if you need a bunch of bathroom (good blood pressure pills in my case) or stretch breaks. 83/81 around Harrisburg is Hades going north/east around 3:30-5:30pm on week days. Live west of Harrisburg and taken a ton of trips to Norfolk, VA in the 90s and now wifes brother lives in Raleigh, NC. Having flashbacks taking my 15, 7/29/forget, 17 and 95 at Fredricksburg route again. Yeah more miles but if crap hits the fan at least you aren't stuck on the freeway. But does drive my GPS nutzo batzo when I turn off 95. Get the "make a legal U turn" msg for about 20 miles. Edited July 29, 2014 by JimF-LowBari Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bstar82 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 (edited) If you have a car and I assume you do, I drove to NYC between shows a caught a Yankee game, left early and made it back in time for the second show. Another year, I watched SCV rehearse at Kutztown State and played 18 holes at a remote golf course not far from there. Another year, I drove to AC, kind of far but something to do, and of course the bar across the street from the stadium was the place to be after the shows for a lot of fans and staff members. I don't believe it has reopened. I miss late night sandwiches from Wawa. Edited July 29, 2014 by bstar82 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Windish Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 (edited) There are MANY more things to do in the Allentown Area than most would think. First of all, this weekend is the BIGGEST tourism weekend of the entire year. Hotels will be scarce and more expensive than usual. I'll list a few Saturday (non drum corps) options in no particular order. All within 1 hour drive, or much less depending where you stay. Bethlehem Skate Plaza. Skateboard/BMX facility. Opposite Sands Casino. Musikfest in downtown and Southside Bethlehem. One of the biggest outdoor music events in the country. Tons of free performance venues. They have a website. Das Awkscht Fescht in Macungie, PA Memorial Park. One of the nation's top antique, classic and specialty auto shows. 2,500 vehicles. Martin Guitar Festival on Main Street, Nazareth, PA . Nazareth is home to Martin Guitar. They will have an exhibit to go with many guitar-related other booths and live music. NASCAR at Pocono Raceway. Several Saturday Sprint Cup and other events. Sands Casino in Southside Bethlehem, PA. Highest grossing casino in Pennsylvania (that might not be a good thing!) 6-7 restaurants, shopping, unique setting within massive, former Bethlehem Steel Corporation complex. Gigantic 'ore bridge' overhead, huge blast furnaces. Crayola Factory in Easton, PA. Easton is home to Crayola products. Dorney Park @ Wildwater Kingdom 3 mile West of Crum Stadium. Big Theme Park combined with large Water Park. Several spectacular roller coasters. Allentown Art Museum. Newly expanded, top notch collections. New Hope, Pennsylvania. Funky, artistic, gay-friendly Delaware River town. Art galleries, antiques, outdoor eating, drinking, people watching. Unique in several ways. The Promenade in Center Valley, PA. High-end, outdoor, lifestyle shopping. Includes a large L.L. Bean and a quality-type food market named Fresh Market. Wonderful spot for sandwiches and salads. All top notch. Cabela's in Hamburg, PA. Massive outdoor sports, apparel and gear, museum, etc. People come from miles around. Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville, PA. America's oldest brewer. Great tour. Famous beer. Dutch Springs in Lower Nazareth. Unique water park inside clear, deep water former quarry. Scuba diving with sunken stuff to explore. General swimming above. Lehigh Valley Mall area in Whitehall, PA. Probably 800 stores within a one mile radius. America on Wheels Museum in Allentown. Medium size building housing vehicle collections, old soda fountain. All nicely done. Rodale Institute. About 10 miles West of Crum Stadium. World famous Organic Gardening publisher headquarters nearby this working experimental farm with tours. Just Born Candy Company, headquartered in Bethlehem. Maker of famous Peeps, Mike & Ike's, and other treats presents a specialty item and gift shop inside the Sands Casino complex. Unusual gifts/apparel decorated with cute, yellow Peeps images. Banana Factory. Southside Bethlehem working artist studios with gift shop and original art for sale in former banana warehouse building. National Canal Museum in Easton, PA. Ride a real canal barge pulled along by a mule. Wanamaker & Kempton Steam Railroad, about 15 miles North of Allentown. Very good, open steam train rides. Roadside America. Massive model train layout, built during the 50s but still drawing tourists. About 1 hour West of Allentown. Merchants Square Mall Train Exhibit. 1 mile South of downtown Allentown. 3000 sq. ft. display with simulated rain storms and other high-tech effects. IronPigs AAA baseball at CocaCola Park, near Lehigh Valley Int'l Airport. Unfortunately, they have a home game both Friday & Saturday night, but their team merchandise sells worldwide, for its Pig/Bacon themed items that grab lots of attention. Team store should be open both afternoons. Lehigh Valley Zoo. Not a traditional zoo with major animals, but clean and well-funded. Great spot for families with kids. Good picnic choice, beautiful and scenic setting. There's even a Covered Bridge to drive your car through. Located about 10 miles North of Allentown. Da Vinci Science Center. Museum bringing science to life. One mile West of Crum Stadium. Restaurants - Many quite good, in all price ranges, including Shula's, Emeril's, Carnegie Deli, Bolete, Molinaro's, Sands Buffet, Bonefish Grill, Grille 3501, Henry's Salt of the Sea, Bay Leaf, Melt, and the list goes on. Just re-opened after fire reconstruction is Youell's Oyster House, located just 3 blocks South of Crum Stadium. Very popular. Eat there, park there, walk to stadium. Also eat/park/walk from Crum Stadium is the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market. Indoor, similar to Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. Lots of vendors and food, many with sit down areas. Next door is Ritz Bar-B-Que with good, inexpensive food and legendary Butter Brickle Ice Cream. Steps behind those, Wert's Cafe (neighborhood favorite). Allentown Brew Works, a downtown eating & drinking success. Next door, Billy's Downtown Diner. An unusually good crepe place (Full of Crepes) is now in Southside Bethlehem. Very little seating but maybe 50 varieties of stuffed crepes, very fresh ingredients, absolutely yummy. Vegan Treats in Bethlehem is an all glutin-free specialty baker. Nationally known, supplies several top New York City restaurants every morning. Billy Joel's Allentown is LONG gone. At this moment, more than a billion dollars of new construction is taking place right next to YEA! and Cadets home office building, including new arena and hotel complex. The area is doing very well and growing in population. Enjoy! Just another bump-up, as many will use today for planning/travel to Allentown. Also added a few additions to above list of diverse things to do between drum corps events. Hotel availability should be OK despite all that is going on this weekend. The area's total amount of rooms has more than doubled over the past few years. If anyone still finds difficulty, some little known alternatives are Glasbern Inn, Resort at Bear Creek Mountain, and about 30 minutes South at the Quakertown Exit of Route 476 (PA Turnpike). Edited July 31, 2014 by Fred Windish 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim K Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Not sure where you are staying but Quakertown Family Restaurant has great breakfasts. If you're a history buff, Gettysburg is about a two hour drive. May be a bit of a distance and traffic in Gettysburg can be a nightmare on weekends. Amish Country is about an hour away. If you're a reader, there is a huge new and used bookstore in Harrisburg. I know some people hit Dorney Park in Allentown (amusements). Just relaxing and doing nothing is not a bad option either. Life can be hectic at times, though most of the places to stay are not exactly resorts, so maybe that's not the greatest option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Windish Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Good points, Tim. As you probably also know, from the Quakertown Exit (3 hotels) just another 30 minute South on the PA Turnpike is King of Prussia Mall. Second in size only to Mall of America in Minnesota. Larger in square footage, actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Windish Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 Final bump-up ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Standrews Posted August 1, 2014 Share Posted August 1, 2014 http://www.musikfest.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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