Lehigh Valley Snubbed from National Geographic’s Best Places to Visit in 2026

National Geographic just dropped its Best of the World 2026 list, 25 must-visit destinations ranging from Milan’s Dolomites to Dominica’s whale reserve and even Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

That’s right. Pittsburgh!!!!

The Steel City made the cut for its museums, art scene, and downtown revitalization. And while that’s great news for Western PA, those of us on the other side of the state were left flipping through the list like: no Bethlehem? no Easton? not even Tatamy?

Sure, the Dolomites have stunning mountain views, and Dominica’s getting a whale reserve. That’s great. But have the folks who made this list ever watched Musikfest from the top of the Hill-to-Hill Bridge?

Have they ever wandered through Bacon Fest in Easton, elbow to elbow with thousands of hungry people and the smell of sizzling pork in the air?

Have they ever lined up at Yocco’s for a hot dog that’s somehow both simple and perfect?

Have they ever sat trackside at the Velodrome in Trexlertown on a Friday night?

Have they even been to The Great Allentown Fair  Demolition Derby?

Have they ever driven down Freemansburg’s finally omg took forever newly paved Main Street, windows down?

Have they ever biked the Saucon Rail Trail in Hellertown on a crisp fall day and ended up in a tavern debating who makes the best wings in the Valley?

And if the National Geographic team really wants to see world-class tourism, they should try visiting Jim Thorpe in the fall if they can find a parking spot. That town’s been so good at it, you can’t even visit!

We’re not saying National Geographic got it wrong. We’re just saying maybe they’ve never walked Main Street Bethlehem in December.


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Allentown Rescue Mission’s “Thanks for Giving” Drive Returns Nov. 8, with Meal Match Challenge

The Allentown Rescue Mission will host its annual Thanks for Giving Food & Supplies Drive on Saturday, November 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., marking the nonprofit’s 125th year of service. Donations of non-perishable food and essential supplies will be accepted at both Josh Early Candies locations in Allentown and Bethlehem.

Mostly Lehigh Valley Basketball Stars

The Lehigh Valley’s got a pretty wild basketball history. Some of the names on this list were born here, others showed up for college or to play with the Allentown Jets, but they all helped put local hoops on the map.

We rounded up a few who stood out the most:

Basketball runs deep in the Lehigh Valley. Some of these players were born and raised here. Others came through for college, for a few pro seasons, or to coach local teams like the Allentown Jets or the Pennsylvania ValleyDawgs. Together, they helped build a basketball legacy that stretches from packed high school gyms to NBA courts and overseas leagues.

Here are a few names that tell the story.

We Ask “What Hallmark Movie Character Would You Be?”

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is one of five cities or towns selected to host a live webcam on the Hallmark Christmas website this holiday season. A comment by a Philadelphia FOX News anchor started us on a journey to find the perfect Hallmark Christmas story in downtown Bethlehem.

Join us as we ask “Who would YOU be in a Hallmark Movie?” and let us know who you’d be in the comments.

Cams https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/chris…

 

Harry Potter Pub Crawl | October 8, 4 p.m. | Downtown Bethlehem

Welcome back to the official and 3rd Annual Harry Potter Pub Crawl! With well over hundreds of attendees last time, we are more than excited to move forward with this year’s event with the official partnership of none other than, Lehigh Valley with Love! ✉️

FACEBOOK EVENT TO RSVP / INFO / DISCUSSION

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Letters have been sent out by owl with the official term date of October 8th.

We expect you to be present for the first day of class! 🦉

This is a “shotgun” style pub crawl. Ideally, we would like you to report to your designated house first.

Then afterwards, you will be free to roam the grounds. We cannot guarantee your protection from Death Eaters nor Dementors. So, please do remember your wands and protective enchantments! And remember.. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” ― Albus Dumbledore.

See you all on October 8th! 🧙🏼‍♀️ (4PM-10PM)

The Official Houses/Destinations:
– Fegley’s Bethlehem Brew Works (Gryffindor)
– McCarthy’s Red Stag Pub and Whiskey Bar (Ravenclaw)
– Edge Restaurant (Hufflepuff)
– Ripper’s Pub (Slytherin)
– Joe’s Tavern (Slytherin)
– The Wooden Match (Platform 9 3/4)
– Lost Tavern Brewing (The Leaky Cauldron)
✨(More destinations TBA)✨

Be sure to RSVP TO THIS EVENT, and SHARE accordingly! 🧙🏻‍♀️

Stay tuned for future announcements! All inquiries can be made to ⚡️👉🏼 LVHPpubcrawl@gmail.com

*FRIENDLY REMINDER!* This Pub Crawl is in no way affiliated with Warner Bros. This is a FREE Pub Crawl for Patrons with a common interest. This crawl generates absolutely no revenue for its hosts, or for any other participating parties or establishments under said disclaimer.

Ginger and The Schnappes Share the Love with All Original Jazz Record “Social Music”  

Media Contact: maryellen450@gmail.com 

BETHLEHEM, PA – Social Music, the first all original full length album release by Pennsylvania six piece jazz band Ginger and The Schnappes, is about reconnecting with the power of song. 

“Social music is listening to the stereo, the cassette player, the radio, the concert or a streaming device with others and experiencing the music together. “Shh, listen, this is my favorite part,” and now your favorite part becomes your friend’s favorite part,” said Ginger Brew, the band’s stylish chanteuse. 

“Social music is shared. Was there ever a better expression of your love for someone then to hand them your personally curated mix-tape? “Here, share my universe with me.”

Social Music is engaging and sometimes indicative of the band’s Pennsylvania roots; take the song 309 for instance. It’s about all the quirky and fun places along PA Route 309 from Philadelphia to Tunkhannock. If you’re from around there you’ll know those stops and end up sharing your own stories of trips along that road.

Lehigh Valley Cupcake Taste Test with Sarah Jane’s Cupcakes and Dahlia

We were lucky to get our hands on a few insanely delicious cupcakes from Sarah Jane’s Cupcakes in Emmaus.

Sarah Jane is currently a student at Emmaus High School!

You’ll learn more about her entrepreneurial spirit in the next episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, but first… let’s taste test.

Dahlia was gracious enough to sample a few, and this is what happened!”

What NOT to do on Social Media: Personal Branding and the Job Search

We’re always happy to present one of our favorite topics, “What NOT to do on Social Media.”

This particular presentation was given at Moravian College on January 14, 2017 at its “Backpack to Briefcase” program.

Thank you, Moravian, for having us. We’re always eager to present!

Check out the full presentation (minus the cool animations) below.

Navigating the Social Media Maze (PRESENTATION)

Thank you to all ho attended Lehigh Valley with Love Media’s presentation of “Navigating the Social Media Maze” at the Greater Lehigh Valley Real Estate Academy on November 2, 2016.

The presentation focused on how real estate agents can better use their existing social media accounts to gain better engagement and social traction as well as whether or not they need to add any new social accounts.