Things to Do in the Lehigh Valley: 2013 Lehigh Valley Summer Bucket List

I couldn’t wait until my two oldest were out of pre-k and there were no more dance classes, karate classes, or swim classes. It felt like we were constantly rushing somewhere.  This summer I decided to have a quiet summer at home with the three kids.   

Yes, you heard right.  An entire summer with my kids! So what is there to do?  It turns out that there is lots!  There is so much to do in the Lehigh Valley this summer and some of it is even free!

LEHIGH VALLEY 2013 SUMMER BUCKET LIST

	grow a garden or herbs in containers on the porch
	pick fruit at a local farm (our favorite spots are Seiples and Schmidt Berry Farm)
	visit the farmer’s markets (Steelstacks, Allentown, Easton, Nazareth, Emmaus, Saucon Valley, and Quakertown all have free markets on different days)
	reading adventures (storytimes @ the local Barnes & Noble and storytimes & crafts through local libraries)
	summer reading program at the local library (earn prizes for books read)
	movies outside (local drive-ins such as Shankweilers and Becky’s), some towns have free movie nights at the park, and ArtsQuest is showing free kids movies select evenings this summer)
	attend an Iron Pigs Baseball game (on Sundays kids can run the bases after the game)
	backyard water fun (run through the sprinklers, throw water balloons and sponge bombs, and make a river out of aluminum foil and a hose to float small toys or bottle caps)
	hiking (Hawk Mountain, Bushkill Falls, Jacobsburg Park, and other spots in our area)  I recently stumbled upon this post about 5 popular places to hike in the LV that may make a nice mom and dad date outing!
	Dutch Springs, local pools, or the pop jets at the promenade shops (free)
	visit a local farm like Quiet Valley or Klein Farms
	visit the Lehigh Valley Zoo or the Philly Zoo
	Make tie-dye t-shirts (preferably w/ friends to give a stained t-shirt a new life)
	Visit a museum such as the Allentown Art Museum, Museum of Indian Culture, DaVinci Science Center, Crayola Factory, or the Please Touch Museum in Philly (on the first Wednesday of the month from 4-7pm it is only $2 a person which is a steal)
	Do a playground tour and make a passport of the playgrounds you want to visit  A year or two ago there was a list of playgrounds in the newspaper and here are some that my kids want to check out: Cedar Beach Park at Hamilton & Ott Streets in Allentown (a destination playground), Buck Boyle Spray Park at 10 Pump Place in Allentown (mini water playground open from noon-7pm in the summer), and Panther Playground at 600 W. Mill St in Quakertown (wooden playground resembling castle).  We also have a listing of local parks and pools provided by our local moms club.
	local fairs (click here for a list of local fairs in the Lehigh Valley this summer)
	miniature golfing (Two T's Miniature golf in Easton and Putt U in Center Valley are just 2)
	bowling (kids can play 2 games free daily at participating centers through kidsbowlfree.com and this includes Town 'n Country Lanes in Bethlehem and Playdrome Rose Bowl in Allentown)
	Peas & Q's kids concerts on Saturday mornings at 11:30 at Steelstacks-TD Community Stage starting June 22nd
	decorate sidewalks with chalk
	host a family and friends barbeque
	fly kites
	bubbles (need I say more?)
	grab the umbrellas and put on your rainboots and go dance in the rain and go puddle-jumping
	flashlight tag and stargaze
	put up a tent in the yard and have a camp-out
	make s'mores (you can't camp without s'mores)
	bike ride
	go fishing
	make and eat homemade popsicles
	backyard theatre (act out your favorite story complete with costumes)
	walk in the Nazareth Kazoo Parade
	go swimming
	have a picnic
	go to the beach
	Daddy and child date one Saturday morning for either a Lowe's Build & Grow clinic  or a Home Depot Kids Workshop
	geocaching
	go to the theatre to see a movie (Regal has $1 kids movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 am and the Carmike at the Promenade Shoppes  every Thursday at 10am has a kids movie, popcorn, drink, and candy for $4)
	do a service project (make cards for servicemen or the elderly, donate food to a local animal shelter, donate food to a local food bank, drop off cookies at the library or the local police station for the workers)
	visit the Allentown or Bethlehem Rose Gardens

	let the kids stay up and watch the sunset
	road trip
	lay on our backs in the yard and watch the clouds and guess what shapes they are
	make ice cream
	make mud pies
	have a pen pal

	make a summer fun book (have kids take pics and then mom and dad can write descriptions as told by each child)
	visit Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary
	catch fireflies
	get ice cream at The Inside Scoop, the Ice Cream Lab, or Emily’s
	yoga outside with the kids one morning

visit an amusement park (Dorney, Hershey, Land of Make Believe, Knoebels, Sesame Place, or Dutch Wonderland)