Lehigh Valley InSite

VeloFest 2012

On the morning of Cinco de Mayo, I attended VeloFest at the Valley Preferred Cycling Center. It was and most likely will remain the premier cycling flea market on the east coast. And it’s right here on the west side of Lehigh Valley in Trexlertown, Pa.

I showed up 15 minutes before the gates opened and the line was already snaking through the parking lots. There was the smell of someone cooking breakfast on a grill, the smell of bacon is just good. Anyway, there’s no shock at the line or interest, as I mentioned before the premier cycling flea market on the east coast. This is a big deal.

Relay For Life

On April 29, I participated in a little thing called Relay For Life. Ok, it’s not a little thing; it’s a very big thing, event, for a great reason. For those of you who are unaware, Relay For Life is cancer fundraising event operated through the American Cancer Society with events all over the world (I believe, don’t quote me). Typically these events held overnight, over a span of 24 hours with food, entertainment, tents, a survivor lap and never a dull moment.

With a little bit of research, you’ll come to find that there are several in Lehigh Valley. This particular event was held at Scotty Wood Stadium, located on Muhlenberg College’s campus, which is literally in my backyard.

Dinosaurs Alive

Last week, a few of us from Discover Lehigh Valley got a chance to tour the newest exhibit at Dorney Park: Dinosaurs Alive! I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but no matter how ready I was, I still think it would have totally blown my mind when I saw these dinosaurs up close.

The entrance reminded me of a scene from Jurassic Park, with the entrance gated off right next to their iconic roller coaster, Steel Force. Dinosaurs Alive! consists of 30 life-size dinosaurs, each of which has information listed detailing where they came from and fun facts about their diet and habitat. Some of the stations even had interactive outlines of the dinosaur complete with buttons that would move the corresponding body part, depending on what you pushed.

Cinderella Boy

“The crowd is just on its feet here. He’s a Cinderella boy. Tears in his eyes, I guess, as he lines up this last shot. He’s got about 195 yards left, and he’s got a, looks like he’s got about an 8-iron. This crowd has gone deadly silent… Cinderella story, out of nowhere, former greens keeper, now about to become the Masters champion.  It looks like a mirac… It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole!”

To any golfer, this Bill Murray (as Carl Spackler) quote from the 1980 movie Caddyshack immediately takes you to a flower bed with a sickle. With the 2012 Masters just over two weeks old, it was a great treat to watch Bubba Watson make such a remarkable shot on the second playoff hole to win one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments. So much so that it made me finally dust off the clubs from the long cold winter, ok so it wasn’t that cold, but it sure was long.

Jordan Parkway in the Sun

Winter has officially ended. Wait, did it ever really begin this year in Lehigh Valley? The region definitely had a very mild winter which was a blessing for some and a curse for others. The curse came to the ski areas located to the north and south of Lehigh Valley. Blue Mountain Ski Area in Palmerton was able to remain open through this past weekend which was pretty amazing and goes to show that you really don’t need the natural stuff to fall in order to ski, tube or board. Bear Creek Mountain Resort in Macungie was able to stay open to the week prior, which again made those winter sport enthusiasts happy campers.

I, on the other hand, do not really enjoy the cold winters. Sure, I love to see the snow fall, but I’d be happy doing that from my front bow window at home. I’m definitely excited that today is the first day of spring and temperatures this week in Lehigh Valley are going to be amazing.

Blue Mountain

Recently, as part of a work project, I had the luxury of taking a ski lesson at Blue Mountain Ski Area. The last and only time I’ve gone skiing was back in the fifth grade, yet I wasn’t nervous. After speaking with a few individuals on staff, the verdict was in; skiing is just like riding a bike. They were right and good thing because the older you get the more likely you are to shatter like glass when you fall…ok I’m not that old, not even close, that only happens when you’re 90 or older.

The staff is knowledgeable and very friendly, so it’s easy to get yourself set up and situated for the first time. In the rental shop, there are several computers to enter your information and like a maze you quickly make your way through grabbing boots, skis and poles.

City of Allentown Trash Cans

The main mission of this blog is to talk about our local experiences in Lehigh Valley to benefit the tourism industry and to spread the word about the exciting things our region has to offer. Whether it’s a play we’ve seen, a restaurant we’ve dined at, a quaint shop where we found that unique gift for that special someone, or an adventure we had at one of Lehigh Valley’s many attractions … you’ll pretty much read about it on our blog. But, for this post, I needed to reflect on tourism in general in Lehigh Valley.

Here’s the scoop on tourism in our region:

the wives

This past weekend I had the opportunity to experience the Christmas City first hand during the holiday season. My wife and I decide to run the Christmas City Classic with a bunch of friends. It always amazes me to see the spirit in runners. From the beginners to the most advanced, the amount of pride is enormous when one finishes their run.

After the run was over the real fun was about to commence (why do that entire run if you can’t celebrate a little). We chose the Bethlehem Brew Works for lunch where we became like old fishermen. We began telling stories of the run, and how if we did this and that we could have saved a minute here or there. As the libations grew so did the tales.

Cedar Beach Park

Back in August when I moved to West End Allentown, I knew it was a nice area with a lot to offer. Come to find out, there was much more than I initially realized. On any  given day you can find something, anything, to do.

1. Food, food, food. Beer, beer, beer. There are several great bars/restaurants in the West End. Jack Callaghan’s Ale House, The Tavern on Liberty & Stooge’s Bar & Grille are just a few in walking distance from my place, but the list goes on and on.

Bethlehem's Doggy Day

Lehigh Valley is home to many special events in the fall, although one of my favorite events took place this past Saturday in Bethlehem; the 4th Annual Doggie Day. This event is special to me because my life is controlled by a six-year-old Welsh Corgi named Snickers.

Saturday’s event featured a marketplace with a variety of canine vendors, ranging from rescue organizations to pet photographers. It was a great opportunity to visit with these worthwhile companies and learn a little more about their mission. I was even able to spend some quality time with employees of A Furry Tail Come True, a doggie daycare where Snickers is a client.