Page 61 - The Hunt - Fall 2024

TRAVELER
So Close, So Underrated
The Lehigh Valley offers some idyllic options for the perfect weekend getaway.
BY MARILYN ODESSER-TORPEY
Don’t look now, but the Lehigh Valley is the fastest growing region in the state, thanks to its status as a bedroom community for Philadelphia, New York City and parts of New Jersey. Weekend warriors will find an abundance of historical sites, arts and culture, indoor and outdoor activities, and unique places to stay, dine and shop. With a robust festival schedule and tree-lined streets and trails vibrant with seasonal colors, fall in the valley is a particularly special time.
WHERE TO STAY ...
Perched on two hilltop acres overlooking Bethlehem’s SouthSide Arts District, Sayre Mansion is a gracious B&B housed in a meticulously restored circa-1858 home and three carriage-house suites furnished with antiques. With its beamed skylight ceiling, the Conservatory suite offers loads of light by day and stargazing at night. A full custom breakfast
is included with your stay, and the inn welcomes dogs. On Thursdays, the mansion hosts a 19th-century style afternoon tea. $169-$400. 250 Wyandotte St., Bethlehem, (610) 882-2100, sayremansion.com.
Elevated appetizer fare at the rooftop ZEST bar+grille.
First-class accommodations await at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
Restored to its original 1920s grandeur, the Historic Hotel Bethlehem is in the heart of the town. Rooms and suites fit the property’s elegant ambiance and offer expansive views of local landmarks like the shining Bethlehem Star on South Mountain. The hotel has two on-site restaurants and a full-service spa and salon. Starting at $219.
437 Main St., Bethlehem, (855) 264-2598, hotelbethlehem.com.
WHERE TO EAT ...
In favorable weather, request an outdoor terrace table at ZEST bar+grille, a popular rooftop dining spot. The menu is seasonal, but look for the super-tender charred octopus. For hearty appetites, there’s a butcher’s cut steak served with bone marrow butter and caramelized onion balsamic jam. 306 S. New St., Bethlehem, (610) 419-4320, zestbethlehem.com.
Spend a Sunday morning at the Hotel Bethlehem’s musical brunch. The elaborate buffet spread includes fresh salads and fruit, seafood, and desserts, plus made-to-order omelets and waffles and a carving station. Musical accompaniment may be a harpsichord, harp, piano, a jazz
duo or even bagpipes (during the city’s Celtic Festival). 437 Main St., Bethlehem, (855) 264-2598, hotelbethlehem.com.
In Allentown, the headliner at Henry’s Salt of the Sea is the Lobster Française—two tails egg-battered and sauteed with mushrooms, tomato and capers. The extensive selection of meat, pasta and other seafood dishes is sure to please. 1926 W. Allen St., Allentown, (610) 434-2628, henryssaltofthesea.com.
Easton’s family-owned Ashley’s Signature Restaurant has been serving guests from its cozy home setting since 1935. Upscale pub menu selections include a prime rib sandwich or cavatappi mac and cheese
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BOTH PHOTOS: COURTESY OF DISCOVER LEHIGH VVALLEY