Top 15 Things To Do in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown’s waterways reward paddlers with an unexpectedly varied palette: quiet, tree-lined creeks that feel miles from the city, broad river stretches that skim past converted mills and parkland, and quick access to more serious river runs a short drive away. This guide focuses on launching from Allentown—flatwater lunch runs, wildlife-friendly creek paddles, and easily arranged point-to-point trips—plus the practical details to plan safe, scenic days on the water.

Allentown sits at a practical doorstep to eastern Pennsylvania’s best day-rafting country. While the city itself is urban and industrious, a short drive places paddlers into the Lehigh River’s rolling gorge, tree-lined channels, and a handful of commercially run whitewater sections that range from mellow family floats to punchy Class II–III rapids. This guide focuses on rafting experiences easiest to access from Allentown: half-day and full-day guided runs, seasonal spring releases that ramp up the action, and the kinds of logistics—shuttles, timing, clothing, and river etiquette—travelers should plan for.

Allentown’s waterways slice through industrial history and green corridors to deliver a surprising variety of urban and suburban fishing experiences. From the riffles of Little Lehigh Creek—one of Pennsylvania’s celebrated freestone trout streams—to the deeper runs of the Lehigh River where smallmouth and catfish patrol, this guide focuses on accessible spots, seasonality, and practical strategy for anglers of every stripe. Expect walkable bank fishing, easy wade opportunities, and early-season runs that reward patient anglers willing to trade downtown bustle for quiet current.

Allentown's zoo experiences center on the Lehigh Valley Zoo tucked into Trexler Nature Preserve—a compact, walkable showcase of regional and global species, conservation programs, and family-focused programming. The experience blends accessible trails, outdoor habitats, and seasonal events, and pairs cleanly with nearby nature walks, riverfront greenways, and small-town Lehigh Valley culture.

Allentown's eco tours stitch together river corridors, reclaimed industrial landscapes, and suburban woodlands into accessible, interpretive outings that reveal how nature and people shape one another. Whether paddling a quiet bend of the Lehigh River, following the leafy banks of the D&L Trail, or walking the rolling meadows of Trexler Nature Preserve, eco tours in and around Allentown deliver close-up encounters with birds, pollinators, riparian plants, and the region's history of land reclamation. This guide profiles five curated eco-tour experiences—small-group guided walks, birding and pollinator-focused outings, and river-based interpretation—plus the practical details you need to plan a thoughtful, low-impact visit.

Allentown is not an obvious name on a scuba diver's list, but the Lehigh Valley functions as an inland hub for freshwater diving: think limestone quarries and man-made reservoirs that offer cool, clear water, training-friendly sites, and easy access to certification courses. This guide frames scuba in Allentown as a practical, approachable freshwater experience—ideal for training, night dives, and cold-water skills—and points to complementary adventures in nearby rivers and the Poconos for those who want to combine dives with hiking, paddling, or fly-fishing.

Allentown condenses a broad sweep of northeastern U.S. history and contemporary creative energy into a walkable, surprising cityscape. Sightseeing tours here pair industrial-era stories and hidden Revolutionary War moments with public art, riverside greenways, and approachable museums—ideal for half-day explorations, themed walking tours, or a relaxed day of museum-hopping and brewery stops.

Allentown may be known for its industrial roots and vibrant arts scene, but the city sits beside a quietly rewarding ribbon of water: the Lehigh. Boat rentals here are a study in contrasts—urban launches that put you on a slow, leafy river in minutes, family-friendly pontoons for a relaxed sunset cruise, and a selection of paddlecraft for anglers and day-trippers. This guide focuses on renting and launching boats in and near Allentown, how water and weather shape the experience, and the practical choices that will make a half-day float or a day-long exploration smooth and memorable.

Allentown’s city tours are intimate, human-scale introductions to an industrial-turned-creative American city. Walkable streets, a compact downtown, and pockets of murals, museums, and reclaimed riverfront make touring here a layered experience—part labor history, part contemporary arts scene, part neighborhood stroll. Whether you choose a guided walking tour, a self-led mural route, a bike tour along the river, or a museum-led exploration, the essence of an Allentown city tour is discovery: storefronts with stories, adaptive-industrial architecture, and small cultural anchors that reveal a city mid-reinvention.

Allentown's river tubing is a backyard-style summer ritual: lazy floats through industrial-turned-green corridors, quick runs past historic canalworks, and easy-access put-ins that make a half-day float feel like a mini-escape. Expect warm-weather slow water interspersed with riffles, seasonal current, and plenty of riverside spots for picnics, swimming, and complementary activities like fishing, hiking, and short paddles.

Allentown's low gradients, long rail-trails, and riverside greenways make it an unexpectedly excellent e‑bike base. From gentle pedal-assisted miles along the Lehigh Canal to mixed-surface connectors that thread suburban parks and small-town Main Streets, the city and its immediate valley deliver accessible, scenic rides suited to first-time e‑bikers and seasoned riders looking to cover more ground with less grit. This guide distills the best local loops, practical planning notes on battery range and trail surfaces, and ideas for pairing a day on an e‑bike with paddling on the river, brewery stops, or a short cultural detour to neighboring Bethlehem.

Allentown’s low horizons and long river corridors make for an unexpectedly generous canvas for air-based adventure. From gentle tethered balloon ascents that slow the world to skydiving dropzones and scenic flights launched from nearby airfields, the region serves travelers who want to trade pavement for updrafts and broad panoramas. This guide focuses on planning, seasonal windows, and the on-the-ground logistics of experiencing the valley from above—without losing sight of companion activities like riverside cycling, mountaintop hiking, and local craft breweries to celebrate a landing well made.