From historic landmarks to contemporary escapes, the Valley’s havens of hospitality are a patchwork of the area’s charms. Book a blast with live music and blackjack in the shadow of old Bethlehem Steel or whisk your sweetheart to a serene estate and meditate on a pond of meandering fish—the spectrum of staycations is at your fingertips.
Sayre Mansion
250 Wyandotte St., Bethlehem | sayremansion.com
In a field full of ancestral mansions turned boutique hotels, Sayre is one of the original players. Its builder was one of Bethlehem’s big business movers and shakers, Robert Sayre, who chose the edge of Fountain Hill for his Gothic Revival roost. While other refurbished estates go for a marriage of slick and vintage, Sayre Mansion embraces an old-world charm with antique furniture and décor. Enhance your stay with floral arrangement or charcuterie add-ons, or bring the girls for Sayre’s Ladies’ Night package at the Carriage House Apartment. A stone’s throw from The Wilbur Mansion, it shares the convenience of that location and a free vacation guide to sort out your priorities amid a wealth of attractions. The glass-ceilinged Conservatory room is as stunning inside as it looks from the street!
Courtesy of Sayre Mansion
Townley House Hotel
130 N. 3rd St., Easton | townleyhouse.com
The luxury at this boutique hotel in Downtown Easton is unique, from the thoughtful design of each room to the complimentary champagne offered upon check-in. Designed to restore original tile fireplaces and mahogany staircases balanced by bespoke modern touches, the interior is a feast for the senses, while the quaint brick façades see you off to explore the city. It’s just a stroll to Centre Square and attractions like the Easton Public Market and Sigal Museum. Sister businesses River Grille and Three Oak Steakhouse are sure bets for an outing—just ask the hotel’s concierge. Townley also sports its own chic watering hole, Bar Bix, with indoor/outdoor space and a private courtyard.
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Photography by Marco Calderon
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Photography by Marco Calderon
The Wilbur Mansion
201 Cherokee St., Bethlehem | wilburmansion.com
Once the home of one of Lehigh University’s founders, The Wilbur Mansion is now an event venue, restaurant and hotel, resurrected into something the original residents would be floored by. Bright with downy white bed linens and honey-colored wood floors, the nine rooms offer peace and comfort while the bathrooms boast luxurious rainfall showers. The restaurant’s locally sourced menu is known for great cocktails and a splendid brunch on Sundays, but if you’re looking to strike out on the town for a meal, The Wilbur is centrally placed to head into Southside or Downtown Bethlehem. The Wilbur’s bird logo is inspired by the chimney swifts that stop at a 45-foot chimney preserved on the property to support the migration patterns of our feathered friends.
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Photography by Alison Conklin
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Photography by Alison Conklin
The Dery House
520 5th St., Catasauqua | Facebook | Instagram
Once the home of one of Lehigh University’s founders, The Wilbur Mansion is now an event venue, restaurant and hotel, resurrected into something the original residents would be floored by. Bright with downy white bed linens and honey-colored wood floors, the nine rooms offer peace and comfort while the bathrooms boast luxurious rainfall showers. The restaurant’s locally sourced menu is known for great cocktails and a splendid brunch on Sundays, but if you’re looking to strike out on the town for a meal, The Wilbur is centrally placed to head into Southside or Downtown Bethlehem. The Wilbur’s bird logo is inspired by the chimney swifts that stop at a 45-foot chimney preserved on the property to support the migration patterns of our feathered friends.
Photo by Marco Calderon
Historic Hotel Bethlehem
437 Main St., Bethlehem | hotelbethlehem.com
Once the home of one of Lehigh University’s founders, The Wilbur Mansion is now an event venue, restaurant and hotel, resurrected into something the original residents would be floored by. Bright with downy white bed linens and honey-colored wood floors, the nine rooms offer peace and comfort while the bathrooms boast luxurious rainfall showers. The restaurant’s locally sourced menu is known for great cocktails and a splendid brunch on Sundays, but if you’re looking to strike out on the town for a meal, The Wilbur is centrally placed to head into Southside or Downtown Bethlehem. The Wilbur’s bird logo is inspired by the chimney swifts that stop at a 45-foot chimney preserved on the property to support the migration patterns of our feathered friends.
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Courtesy of Historic Hotel Bethlehem
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Photo by Robin Hood
Wind Creek Bethlehem
77 Wind Creek Blvd., Bethlehem | windcreek.com
A four-star hotel with over 500 rooms and some truly lavish suites, Wind Creek Bethlehem is a universe of leisure all in one place. With a casino, outlets and an event center attached, it’s got entertainment, dining and fun built in, including Kids Quest for the youngsters and the Molten Lounge for live music and nightlife. It’s also the site of a full-service spa where you can level-up your relaxation with the latest therapies and breathtaking views. While Wind Creek encapsulates everything you could need, it’s also just a short walk to the other great attraction in the lee of old Bethlehem Steel: the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, where more entertainment awaits.
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Courtesy of Wind Creek Bethlehem
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Courtesy of Wind Creek Bethlehem
Glasbern
2141 Packhouse Rd., Fogelsville | glasbern.com
Surrounded by wooded hills and rolling fields, Glasbern feels like a world away despite sitting conveniently on the western fringes of the Lehigh Valley. It’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to hibernate from the hustle and bustle of life, with a restaurant stocked by Glasbern’s 150-acre farm and an on-site spa perfect for couples’ massage. Knowing full well its amorous atmosphere, Glasbern offers welcome treat add-ons like chocolate strawberries and champagne for that special touch. Enjoy rustic plank flooring and getting comfy by a stone fireplace, or take in the outdoors on the property’s hiking trail. Dilly-dally through gardens of perennials or around the koi pond on a romantic stroll. This stunning site is also fertile ground for weddings and corporate retreats.
Courtesy of Glasbern
Renaissance Allentown Hotel
12 N. 7th St., Allentown | marriott.com
Snuggled into Downtown Allentown’s PPL Center, the Renaissance Allentown Hotel is built on the city’s old Art Deco bank, whose name lives on in the Dime Restaurant on the first floor. The stunning two-story lobby was once where folks made their bank transactions, and from here on the balance of industrial and stylish is struck to great effect. It can’t be beat for convenience if you’re making an event of the sports, music and other shows hosted by the PPL Center, and the location is near other Allentown attractions like the art museum and Miller Symphony Hall. Come for the Phantoms hockey game, leave to prowl Hamilton Street’s restaurants and breweries.
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Courtesy of Renaissance Allentown Hotel
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Courtesy of Renaissance Allentown Hotel
Americus Hotel
555 Hamilton St., Allentown | americushotel.com
Starting as a tavern in 1810, the Americus Hotel has been hosting guests for over two hundred years in this very spot. The towering yellow-brick centerpiece of Downtown Allentown still displays original murals and chandeliers from the 1920s, maintained when the hotel reopened rather recently in 2021. Enter the embrace of an ornate, Jazz Age atmosphere with all the modern conveniences and spacious rooms. Just a block from the Renaissance Allentown Hotel, the Americus enjoys proximity to all the delights of the city, close to the Arts Park and the Downtown Allentown Market, and serves elevated American cuisine from its own Windows on 6th restaurant if you choose to stay in. Step back in time without compromising comfort at this historic hotel.
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Courtesy of Americus Hotel
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Courtesy of Americus Hotel
Lafayette Inn
525 W. Monroe St., Easton | lafayetteinn.com
The Lafayette Inn is everything a bed and breakfast should be. Think hanging flowers over a wraparound porch, quaintly furnished rooms with four-poster beds and old-fashioned wallpaper, maintained with love for the comfort of guests. Look no further than the grand piano in the parlor to grasp the inn’s flair for old-world elegance! Depending on the suite, you could experience the luxury of a soaking tub or fireplace, a window seat or a private balcony. Enjoy a breakfast that goes well beyond the common continental in the beautiful sunroom—or in bed! Located in a quiet historic neighborhood near Lafayette College, it’s great for a staycation, checking out the school (just two blocks from campus!) or to come back to after exploring Easton’s downtown.
Grand Eastonian
140 Northampton St., Easton | grandeastonian.com
Just off Northampton Street and the bridge to New Jersey, the Grand Eastonian is a relic of the Roaring Twenties’ effort to plant chic hotels across the land. It now provides comfortable, updated accommodation from the classic bed-and-bathroom to expansive apartment-esque suites with kitchens and common areas for groups up to six. Virtually on the doorstep are some of the most exciting spots in Downtown Easton for incredible dining, like the exquisite Kabinett Wine Bar, and events like live shows at the State Theatre. For those looking to visit the Crayola Experience, it’s an eminently well-placed launch pad, and Scott Park nearby is the site of food, drink and free music Thursdays through the warm season, right by the riverside!
Published as "Home Sweet Hotel: Rediscover Destinations on Your Doorstep" in the June 2024 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
