I love living in the City! (Allentown, Bethlehem: best city, hotel, new home) - Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton - City-Data Forum

toobusytoday · 03-21-2008, 06:48 PM

Instead of a negative thread about why one school district is better then another I thought this thread would give any City dwellers the opportunity to tell potential Newcomers what you love about your city and schools.

I've never lived in a city so would be interested in what one can do in a city that we can't do in our small town. I personally love to visit Bethlehem's stores and restaurants and think it's a beautiful city, I just don't want to live there. Whether you've lived in a city your whole life or chose to move as an adult, what is it that keeps you there and what do you think would make it an appealing place for a young family/ twenty-something, etc?

ozlem2008 · 03-22-2008, 09:01 AM

We live in Rochester, MI. Here, in the spring, summer , and fall I can walk the kids and the dog through the town. Within a 2 mile radius, we have outstanding restaurants who cater to everyone. Italian food (not chain), Sushi, Chinese, a neat Irish Pub, a couple of restaurants who can cok and outstanding steak that will melt in your mouth, a couple of upscale sports bars, several sandwich and grinder shops. There are neat breakfast restaurants in town where you can enjoy sitting outside on Main St. or walk over to the park. The park is absolutely wonderful. There's a trail about 20 miles long that is great for running, walking, biking, and in the winter, cross country skiing. The library is enormous and has events all of the time for children, teens and adults. There are 6 grocery stores within a 2 to 3 mile radius. 3 out of 6 are gourmet or specialty. In other words, they may offer a whole new spectrum of products and services the "regular" grocery stores may not. Our physicians are a short drive away (including dentists, specialists, and such). We have a new 4 star 4 diamond hotel that was completed not too long ago. The Royal Park Hotel. A beautiful one at that. Any time there are concerts, major sports events, or the Auto Show, have the camera ready b/c many celebrities are spotted walking in town. There are other gift shops, neat clothing stores, coffee shops, bakeries (fresh croissants and amazing artisan breads) art studios, everything.
There is a complex within 1 mile called Lifetime Fitness (I think it's only in the Midwest) that is perfect for the family in that they offer everything a gym normally offers and some extra event for the family. I the summer when schools are out, they offer all kinds of programs for kids. There are the regular shopping anchor stores like the home improvement stores, the discount stores, fabric & hobby stores...but they're also newer. These are just to name a few.
It makes being a stay at home mom with 3 very young children a lot easier.
To top it all off, we also are in one of the best school districts in the county.
Because we are so used to these "conveniences" I'll say, I guess that's why I am having trouble visioning our family in an area that seems so far from things. I hear Bethlehem is a great city, but the school system isn't rated well. I hear Parkland and Southern Lehigh are great school districts, but there's nothing to do in the area.
In reading these postings, I am finding out quickly, a majority of the newcomers are in the same boat as myself. This is not to say, however, that we don't like the areas we are seeing. It's just going to take a lot of getting used to. Maybe our next trip out will be better.

toobusytoday · 03-22-2008, 01:08 PM

Rochester sounds wonderful! I agree it's going to be hard to find a place like that on the East Coast. Our cities are just too old and built up. Good for people that are into history!

3boys269 · 03-23-2008, 05:45 AM

I live in Brooklyn ,New York. Yes we are moving to PA but I think New York is the best city with the most to do. Especially for a twenty something. Every restaurant, everything in arms distance, no car required. You can see Broadway shows, go to the sports arenas, every museum you can think of. Beautiful libraries. Central park is magnificent. I can go on and on.
Living in Brooklyn is expensive, as is living in Manhattan, but I sure will miss it here.
and if you think Bethlehem is beautiful Christmas time, you must make a visit to Manhattan.........

kathy

ozlem2008 · 03-23-2008, 10:55 AM

I hear that Allentown is about a 1 1/2 hour drive to Manhattan. Is this accurate? I have never seen NYC and I hear it is spectacular at Christmas time. Where in PA are you moving to, Kathy?

toobusytoday · 03-23-2008, 12:47 PM

There's regular bus service to NYC from the Allentown area. We usually get one from Hellertown, about 10-15 min.east of Allentown. That's the last stop before NYC, so a direct ride and it takes about an hour and a half from there. My daughter did it twice when she was home from China a few weeks ago and it cost $34. round trip.

FLhereIcome · 03-23-2008, 02:24 PM

I love taking day trips, but hate to drive so several times a year we take trips using Perkiomen Tours. They do have a website and have pick up in Allentown and Bethlehem (I don't know the exact pickup location). We've gone to New York during the holidays using them and had a great time. I feel their prices are reasonable, you just sit back and relax. You can take a cooler and snacks with you. They also have pillows and blankets on the bus.

3boys269 · 03-24-2008, 07:21 AM

hi ozlem
we are moving to lower macungie-springridge crossings- end of april beginning of may.
we are so going to miss the city but my kids need to be put in better schools, and housing over here is so not affordable.
where are you living?
kathy

ozlem2008 · 03-26-2008, 05:51 PM

We are focusing on 2 school districts: Parkland and Southern Lehigh. We plan on meeting again with our realtor in a couple of weeks to tour both areas. I liked Center Valley (Valley Green South and Blueridge Estates sub). I would like to explore other areas as well before we make a final decision. Lower Macungie is Parkland or East Penn S.D.? I hear East Penn is good too.

toobusytoday · 03-27-2008, 05:25 AM

Ozlem, When you are looking at new homes in Southern Lehigh School district you should know that the district is not just Center Valley (Upper Saucon township) but includes the borough of Coopersburg and the township of Lower Milford. The children all go to one of the three elementary schools and all wind up at the same Middle School and High School. Many homes in Upper Saucon township have a Coopersburg address, not Center Valley. There is no cache about a Center Valley address. The elementary school with the highest test scores is actually in Lower Milford township, not Hopewell in Center Valley.

New homes are being built on Locust Valley Rd (which turns into Old Allentown Rd.), on Blue Church Road, off of Flint Hill Road, and on Grant Road, all Coopersburg addresses. There are some very nice homes in older developments (live 10 -15 years old) that would probably be priced lower then new construction but in no way old looking.

I understand Lower Macungie as being in East Penn, but will let someone in the district confirm that.