Be a part of something big

1.    Mayfair Festival of the Arts - May 24-28 - Come out to Mayfair this year for Allentown's premier festival of arts, crafts, music, food and fun. Check out http://mayfairfestival.org to learn more.

Museums

1.    Da Vinci Science Center - Cost of admission is $8.95 for children ages 4-12 and $11.95 for adults. For more information, please visit http://www.davincisciencecenter.org/.

2.    Liberty Bell Shrine Museum – Did you know the Liberty Bell was hidden in Allentown during the Revolutionary War? Check out the place where the Liberty Bell was hidden as well as the other history that surrounds it. For more information, please visit http://cp2.enter.net/~c73279x2/.

3.    Trains in the Lehigh Valley Exhibit - Come see how trains helped to shape America! Entrance fee for non-members of the Lehigh County Historical Society is $6 for adults and $3 for children. For more information, please visit http://www.lehighvalleyheritagemuseum.org/.

4.    America on Wheels Museum – Spend some time looking at how cars have changed through the ages. Cost of admission is $6 for children ages 11-16 and $10 for adults. Check out their website for more information: http://www.americaonwheels.org/.

5.    Allentown Art Museum – Enjoy the afternoon checking out the exhibits at the Allentown Art Museum. Admission is $12 for adults and $10 children 6 and up. There is free admission on Sundays. Check out their website for more information: http://www.allentownartmuseum.org/.

6.    Nurture Nature Center - A new science/environment/climate center called Nurture Nature Center has opened recently in Easton. They have a fascinating presentation involving a 6-foot diameter sphere that models the Earth. For more information, please visit http://www.nurturenaturecenter.org.

7.    Crayola Factory – The cost of admission is $9.75 for all guests. For more information, please go to their website: http://www.crayola.com/factory/.

8.     Martin Guitar Museum - Guided Factory Tours will show you how our guitars come to life through the hands of the craftsperson. Explore the art of guitar making, from old world tools to our state-of-the-art facility. Follow a guitar from rough lumber to a finished product which requires more than 300 steps to complete. Tours last approximately one hour. Photographs are allowed without a flash. Video cameras, recorders or cell phones are not permitted. Closed-toe shoes are recommended. Tours are conducted at regular intervals between 11:00 am and 2:30 pm, Monday through Friday. No charge. Please visit their website for more information: http://www.martinguitar.com.

9.   Colonial Gardening at the Burnside Plantation - May 19; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Discover the joy of gardening by planting at Burnside--just like the American colonists! Visit http://www.historicbethlehem.org for more information.

10.   Museum of Indian Culture - Native American Heritage Day - May 19; 9 a.m. - Learn about Native American crafts and culture during this fun and interactive day. Cost is $20 for a child with an accompanying adult. Go to http://www.lenape.org for more information.

Shows

1. Municipal Band of Allentown at West Park - May 20; 7:30 p.m. This free concert by the Municipal Band of Allentown will be held at Allentown West Park between Turner St. and Linden St. Admission is free.

For Animal & Nature Lovers

1.    Lehigh Valley Zoo (Trexler Game Preserve) - Hours for November 1, 2011 – March 31, 2012 are 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. daily, while shops and Café are only open on weekends. The entrance cost is $8.75 for adults and children. For more information, please go to http://www.lvzoo.org/.

2.    Hawk Mountain Sanctuary – Come out and see how many different birds you can find! Cost of admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 6-12. For more information, please visit http://www.hawkmountain.org/.

3.    Pool Wildlife Sanctuary - Open all year round from sunrise to sunset. Features the Harry C. Trexler environmental education center, the environmental enrichment center, hiking trails and more. Picnic tables are available. Cost of admission is $1.

Tours

1.    Historic Bethlehem - Check out all the historic sites of Bethlehem. Hours of operation and cost for locations may vary. For more information, please visit http://historicbethlehem.org/index.cfm?organization_id=127&section_id=1915&page_id=8821.

2.    Catasauqua Main Street - Take a tour of Catasauqua’s two national historic districts: the Biery’s Port District and the Mansion. For more information, visit http://www.discoverlehighvalley.com/16270/play/shopping-spas/catasauqua-main-street/.

3.    Morning Call Tours – Tours of the Morning Call facility are available by appointment every Wednesday after 5 p.m.  Tours are typically an hour and 20 minutes and require reservations.  Stops include talking with a designer, the quality control room, meeting with a reporter, seeing the presses, and seeing what’s “under the presses.”  After the tour, each child is given a tour certificate and a Max tour patch (he’s the newspaper’s mascot). To schedule a tour, contact Christine Campbell at (610) 820-6640.

Classes

1.    Michaels - Check out their website for class times and activities. Advanced registration is required. For more information, please visit http://www.michaels.com/Kids-/-Teachers/departments-kidsteachers,default,sc.html.

2.    Lowes Build and Grow Classes – Classes are held every Saturday at 10 a.m. Please visit their website for more information: http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/.

3.    Color Me Mine at the Promenade Shops - Every Tuesday in May; 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Design and paint your own ceramic piece. Visit http://www.sauconvalley.colormemine.com to learn more.

Other Venues

1.   SteelStacks - an arts & cultural campus in Bethlehem

2.   Roller Skating

      •   RollerMotion (http://www.rollermotion.com) in Macungie (5:30-8:30 p.m.)
      •   Skateaway Roller Rink (http://www.skateaway.biz) in Whitehall (6-9 p.m.) is free on Wednesdays when you bring the item of the week.

3.    Movies