Explore the Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District. Encompassing around 14 acres in the heart of the city, this storied area was once home to Moravian settlers from Europe who established a communal society here as part of an international religious network during the 1700s. Radical for their time, the Moravians believed that all people—regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender—had the right to the same healthcare and education. Today, visitors can gaze upon some of the community's original buildings, which are designed in the German Colonial architectural style. In fact, the area actually boasts more original structures than equally historic Colonial Williamsburg.

Take a step back in time with a visit to Bethlehem's most historic sites. With a fascinating heritage that stretches back almost three centuries, there is no shortage of places to explore in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Best of all, many of them are within an easy walk or short drive or bike ride away from each other. Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the 6.5-acre Burnside Plantation is all that remains of an 18th-century Moravian farm, offering a glimpse of farm life during the colonial era. The Colonial Industrial Quarter stands as the United States' earliest industrial park, while the nearby 1762 Waterworks was once the first pumped municipal water system in the country. Other must-see sites include the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, a collection of the Lehigh Valley's oldest and most historically significant buildings, and the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, which takes up residence in three 19th-century homes.

Pay a visit to the National Museum of Industrial History. Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the museum is housed in the former Electric Repair Shop of the Bethlehem Steel plant and charts the history of the people, machines, and ideas that shaped America's industrial heritage. Here, visitors can gain insight into the city's transformation into a manufacturing powerhouse and gaze upon fascinating manufacturing artifacts like a loom from the Scalamandre textile factory, which once crafted fabrics for White House restoration projects from the Hoover to Clinton administrations.

Be inspired by Bethlehem's creative spirit with a stop at the SouthSide Arts District. A vibrant patchwork of eateries, shops, and more, this lively neighborhood comes alive with a colorful collection of mosaics, murals, sculptures, and functional art structures like painted planters and whimsical bike racks. Visitors can even tickle the ivories at the area's community piano. The best way to experience the SouthSide Arts District is by following the Urban Arts Trail, which stretches for almost three miles and can be completed in around two hours.