Parks and the outdoors in Bethlehem

9 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Bethlehem.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

See
Colonial Industrial Quarter
This area contains a few of Bethlehem's early buildings, like the 1761 Tannery, 1762 Waterworks (a National Historic Landmark), the 1869 Luckenbach Mill, and the Miller's House Garden (an 1870 Victorian garden). The area is right along the Monocacy Creek, so it's a great place to take a walk or even fish, right downtown (if you have a license).
Free
See
Goundie House
If you're on Main St., you'll probably walk by here. A nice little place to stop by with a few rotating exhibits, but not a destination itself. Beer enthusiasts take note though - Goundie was the town brewer back in the day.
Do
Illick's Mill Park
One of Bethlehem's city parks, Illick's Mill Park offers ice skating (seasonal), pool (seasonal), the Bethlehem Municipal Golf Club (see above), a driving range, baseball fields, and a nature trail that runs along the Monocacy Creek.
See
Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts
An interior designer's dream come true, the Kemerer Museum is dedicated to the history of decorating. There are various rooms dedicated to periods in history, with textiles, china, paintings and more. The Victorian gardens on the ground provide a welcome spot to relax.
Thu-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM
Do
Musikfest
Musikfest is an annual 10-day music festival that takes place in the beginning of August. Over a million people visit the festival every year. All of the hundreds of concerts, save the headlining acts, are free of charge, and take place at various "platzes" set up around the historic district. Past performers include Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Clinton and Ludacris. The food is top-notch (if expensive) as well, with everything from fried Oreos to gyros, and there are activities for children as well. Check out the polka tent for the festival's only dance floor and the famous "Chicken Lady," a local legend.
Free
Do
Rose Garden Park
Rose Garden Park is on 8th Ave and offers playgrounds, a bandshell where the Music in the Park concerts are held, and the DAR House, a replica of the first log cabin built in Bethlehem.
Do
Sand Island Park
Sand Island Park is along the Lehigh River and offers playgrounds, hiking trails, basketball and tennis courts, and plenty of room for fishing.
Do Not mapped
Fireworks
Fireworks are shot off from Sand Island Park on July 4th, the end of Musikfest, and New Year's Eve.
Eat
Black Forest Deli
Sandwiches as well as a Russian and Ukrainian menu.
$6-13

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bethlehem (CC BY-SA 4.0).