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.
Email your news release to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com
History buffs and film enthusiasts alike are invited to a special screening of The Fries Rebellion, an acclaimed short film exploring the 1798–1799 Pennsylvania tax revolt that took place across Northampton, Bucks, and Montgomery counties. The event will be held on Tuesday, October 28 at 7 p.m. in the Hellertown Historical Society’s Tavern venue, located in the lower level of the historic Heller-Wagner Grist Mill at 170 West Walnut Street, Hellertown, PA. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
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.
The Lehigh Valley IronPigs have announced that Banana Ball will return to Coca-Cola Park on August 7 and 8, 2026, bringing the high-energy baseball phenomenon back to the Lehigh Valley for a second straight year.
L.L.Bean is bringing some spooky outdoor fun to Lake Nockamixon this weekend with its Witch, Warlock, and Zombie Stand-Up Paddleboard or Kayak Outing and Food Drive in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.
Participants are encouraged to dress in their best Halloween costumes and paddle alongside L.L.Bean’s Outdoor Discovery instructors, who will be wearing their own witch, warlock, and zombie attire for a fun fall adventure on the water.
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.
Rising singer-songwriter Renee Christine has unveiled her latest single, “Lehigh Valley,” released on September 26, 2025. Produced by Doug Schadt, the track blends Christine’s folk and country influences with vivid storytelling rooted in place, memory, and resilience.
The End Bookstore, a longtime community hub for readers in the Lehigh Valley, is unveiling its expanded design and layout on Tuesday, September 23 at 5 p.m. The renovation adds more than 1,000 new titles, fresh sections for trending genres, and new areas dedicated to families and young readers.
The independent bookstore, which has served readers for nearly 13 years, remains the only all-new, general interest bookstore in the region. Its expansion reflects both the resilience of indie bookstores nationwide and the surge in interest around genres such as romantasy, dark romance, fantasy, and horror.
To mark the occasion, The End will host a launch event for its new “Midnight Lair” section on September 23. The celebration includes appearances from a popular romantasy book blogger, themed swag, and exclusive promotions. The store has also lined up a series of author events, including an October 10 reading with science fiction luminary Martha Wells.
Beyond new genres, the bookstore is strengthening its role as a gathering space. Families can enjoy the redesigned “Let’s Play Books” area, which hosts weekly story times on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. Readers can also explore curated audiobook picks through Libro.fm. Partnerships with local businesses will help fund books for children as part of the store’s Authors to Schools program.
Owner Kirsten Hess emphasized that adaptability is central to The End’s success. “We’ve been in business for almost 13 years, the only way to do that is by constantly changing. What does our community want? What does our community need? That’s our approach.”
The End Bookstore is a member of the American Booksellers Association and the New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association. As the indie bookselling landscape grows nationally, Hess remains candid about the challenges: “We are always about two months away from closing – every book purchase matters.”
At Lehigh Valley with Love, we love a good deep dive—especially when it involves something as iconic (and sugary) as Peeps! These fluffy marshmallow treats, made right here in Bethlehem, PA, have taken their brand way beyond the Easter basket with some of the wildest collaborations we’ve ever seen.
From Hello Kitty to Pepsi, Oreos to nail polish, Peeps has managed to hop into some truly unexpected places. Some of these collabs make perfect sense (Peeps-flavored coffee creamer? Sure!), while others left us absolutely shocked (Cauliflower Peeps?! Thankfully, that one was an April Fool’s joke).
In our latest Peeps Collab Deep Dive, we break down: 🐥 The strangest Peeps products we could find
🎨 Limited-edition Peeps fashion, beauty, and accessories
🏃♂️ The official Peeps 5K (because why not?)
🏨 And even a Peeps-themed hotel room right here in the Lehigh Valley
We’re excited to announce that George Wacker, founder of Lehigh Valley with Love Media, will be a panelist at the Young Professionals Council’s Leadership Summit on February 21, 2025, at DeSales University!
As part of the “Building Your Personal Brand” breakout session, George will share insights from over a decade of experience in media and storytelling. With more than 15 million video views and 8 million podcast downloads, Lehigh Valley with Love Media has been recognized regionally and nationally for creative and impactful work that connects businesses, nonprofits, and communities with their audiences.
This is an amazing opportunity to learn how to leverage storytelling, build a personal brand, and make an impact. We’re proud to contribute to this event and share some of the strategies and lessons we’ve learned along the way.
Click to learn more about the event and secure your spot: 📅 2025 Leadership Summit Details: https://bit.ly/3O1D1TR
As 2024 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate an incredible year for the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast. This year, we reached an extraordinary milestone: 2.7 million hits across all of our episodes, showcasing the power of community storytelling and local connections.
With 47 episodes in 2025, we’ve shared countless stories that celebrate the heart of the Lehigh Valley and beyond. From exclusive celebrity interviews like Tony Danza, to exploring local landmarks such as The Sayre Mansion and The Dery House, to diving into community-focused initiatives like New Bethany Ministries’ Turkey Drive and Festival Unbound, our podcast covered an incredible breadth of topics this year.
Thanks to your support, we connected with people from all walks of life, sharing the stories that make the Lehigh Valley truly special.
We’re proud of every episode we released this year, but here are a few that truly stood out:
Tony Danza: Standards & Stories – Tony joined us to share insights from his career and his one-man show at SteelStacks, giving listeners a behind-the-scenes look at his life in entertainment. Listen / Watch here.
New Bethany Ministries Turkey Drive – We highlighted the incredible work of New Bethany Ministries in supporting our community during the holiday season. Listen / Watch here.
Festival Unbound with Touchstone Theatre – A deep dive into this vibrant annual festival celebrating creativity and community. Listen / Watch here.
Lafayette College Arts Tour – Exploring the rich arts culture on campus with exclusive insights. Listen / Watch here.
Toured The Sayre Mansion – An exclusive look at this historic gem in Bethlehem. Listen / Watch here.
Learned to Swim with Goldfish Swim School – A fun and educational episode about fostering water safety. Listen / Watch here.
Toured The Dery House in Catasauqua – Discovering the history and beauty of this iconic property. Listen / Watch here.
Celebrated 90 Years at Shankweilers Drive-In – A nostalgic dive into America’s oldest drive-in theater. Listen / Watch here.
These episodes, among many others, exemplify the diversity and richness of stories we’re privileged to share with our listeners. Your engagement—from sharing episodes to leaving comments—helped make this possible.
Wind Creek Event Center – Hosting incredible events! Link
Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate – Connecting us to our community. Link.
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub – Fueling our team with great food and energy. Link
The Coop Sports Bar & Kitchen – Fueling our team with Dinosaur Eggs. Link
Banko Beverage Company – Helping us keep the conversation flowing. Link
Lehigh Valley Health Network – Keeping us healthy! Link
Thank you for believing in our mission and helping us bring these stories to life.
Looking Ahead to 2025
For more updates, episodes, and ways to connect with us, visit our website: www.lvwithlove.com.
We’re already planning for an even bigger and better year ahead, and we want YOU to be part of it! Whether you have a story to share, a business to spotlight, or an idea for collaboration, we’d love to hear from you. Fill out this form to get involved: https://forms.gle/3AXv59fdXrVirXke9.
Are you interested in being a guest on our podcast? Share your story with us by filling out our guest form here: https://forms.gle/V6czQLymPp1B31GW8.
Join the Conversation
Stay tuned for more incredible stories in 2025, and thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to another amazing year of connecting, sharing, and loving the Lehigh Valley!
It’s always a thrill to contribute to local creative projects, and we were excited to provide drone footage for Tape Swap Radio’s feature on Pale Fang. The footage captures the unique energy and atmosphere that complements the band’s vibe perfectly.
Tape Swap Radio continues to elevate the Lehigh Valley music scene with projects like this, and being part of their work is an honor. If you’re into discovering new music and creative visuals, don’t miss this one!
Recently, I had the opportunity to join Jo on the Jokes by Jo Show podcast, where we dove into the humor and heart of the Lehigh Valley. We talked about everything from running a local media company to what makes the Valley such a vibrant place to live and laugh.
The conversation was full of funny moments, genuine insights, and a lot of love for the local community. Being a guest on Jo’s show was an absolute blast, and I’m excited to share this collaboration with you!
At Lehigh Valley with Love, we’re all about celebrating the best of our community—from quirky events and local businesses to mouthwatering food and those little moments that make the Lehigh Valley so unique. That’s why we’re thrilled to share some exciting news: we’ve been featured in The Keystone Newsroom’s article, “Pennsylvania Instagram Accounts to Help You Ditch the Doomscrolling”!
Here’s what they had to say about us:
“If something cool and/or quirky happens in the Lehigh Valley, or even if it’s just Lehigh Valley adjacent—like comedian Pete Davidson rocking a Lehigh Athletics sweatshirt courtside at a basketball game—you’ll find it on Lehigh Valley With Love. Their coverage of Lehigh University students throwing the goal post in a river after the Mountain Hawks’ recent win over Lafayette was award-worthy. ”
Being recognized as a source of positivity and connection in our community means the world to us. It’s a reflection of the amazing people, places, and stories that make the Lehigh Valley such a vibrant and fun place to live. We’re grateful to all of you—our readers, followers, and supporters—for letting us share these moments with you every day.
