Visiting Philadelphia Metro Area

Philadelphia and eastern Pennsylvania greet spring and summer with baseball, festivals and PA  traditions. Upstate Pennsylvania and the Poconos Mountains fill with outdoor enthusiasts hiking, mountain biking and fishing. Meanwhile, events like Allentown's Mayfair and Celebrate Lancaster in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, commemorate the region's culture and heritage. Athletes test their training at challenges like PHLYTri, Philadelphia’s premier triathlon, SheRox Philadelphia for women and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Philadelphia late summer. Visitors fill the stands at Citizens Bank Park for Philadelphia Phillies games and travel to traditional country fairs like the Great Allentown Fair.

Allentown, north of Philadelphia, is the heart of Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. Celebrate the transition to summer in Allentown’s Cedar Beach Park at Mayfair Festival of the Arts, Memorial Day weekend 2012. Mayfair 2012 celebrates its 26th year and Allentown’s 250th Anniversary with the Artist Market, Culinary and Garden Markets, live music and performances. Bring the family to Cedar Beach Park for the festivities May 24th through 28th.

Lancaster, the heart of Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country Roads region, welcomes visitors to the city’s largest celebration in June. MOOSE, the mayor’s office of special events, in Lancaster hosts 2012 Celebrate Lancaster on June 22nd. Festivities include live music on two stages, more than 20 food vendors and locally crafted beer and wine. Be sure to stick around until dusk and top off a day of fun with the spectacular fireworks show.

Athletes, set your training goals for the 2012 PHLYTri, June 24th. Events begin at Smith Field on the 22nd with the PHLYTri MultiSport Expo, running through the weekend. Kids events are on Saturday, with the sprint and Olympic distance triathlon events on Sunday. The women’s only 2012 SheROX Philadelphia Triathlon / Duathlon is August 5th. Choose a swim, bike, run, or run, bike, run course for your challenge and join like minded women for the event.

Sample the best offerings of the Brandywine Valley at the Myrick Conservation Center. The 2012 Brandywine Food & Wine Festival is June 9th. Hosted by the Brandywine Valley Association, guests enjoy wine seminars by Pennsylvania’s winery and vineyard advocate and food demonstrations by the area’s most popular restaurateurs.

Nothing beats the summer tradition of baseball and in Philly it’s all about the Philadelphia Phillies. Home field is Citizens Bank Park on the north side of Interstate 95 near the Philadelphia Navy Yard. With the Phillies regular 2012 home season running through September, there’s no excuse for missing a day at the ballpark. Attend the May 24th game against the Astros for a Phillies Liberty Bell cap, June 25th and 26th games feature fireworks, and receive a Hunter Spence bobble head August 21st, when the Phillies host the Reds.

The Great Allentown Fair is an ideal end to summer. The 2012 fair runs August 28th through September 3rd, at the Allentown Fairgrounds. Organized by the Lehigh County Agricultural Society, the Allentown Fair has been a Lehigh Valley tradition for over 160 years. Grandstand headliners include Victoria Justice, The Band Perry and Blake Shelton. Browse exhibitions of the best of region farmers, gardeners and homemakers and enjoy all the fun of midway games and amusement rides.

Philadelphia Metro Area Hotel Map