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- A new survey from USA Today recently named the best Main Street in the U.S.
- The No. 1 spot went to Main Street in a quaint Pennsylvania city: Bethlehem.
- Bethlehem is a must-visit year-round but especially magical around the holidays.
Main streets are synonymous with a tight-knit community, local shops, and a hefty dose of charm, but they’re not all created equal. Some of these thoroughfares are decidedly more visit-worthy than others, and USA Today recently deemed one main street the best in the county.
In the annual 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Main Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, took the top spot. The destinations on the list were all nominated by a panel of travel experts and then voted on by its readers. According to the publication, the Bethlehem street received accolades for its dining options, walkability, “numerous watering holes,” and the “chocolate trail that runs through this part of downtown.” But there are also a handful of other reasons travelers may want to venture to this part of the Keystone State.
Along Main Street, you’ll find Moravian Book Shop, the oldest bookstore in America, as well as the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, the latter of which sits adjacent to the Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the site itself covers 10 acres—an area that includes four ruins, nine structures, and God’s Acre Cemetery—you can get an amazing view while having a meal at the hotel’s on-site restaurant, 1741 on the Terrace.
Main Street actually runs through the Historic Moravian Bethlehem District, serving as a corridor connecting various historical buildings, like the Central Moravian Church Sanctuary and the 1752 Apothecary. Just steps away, on W. Church Street, is the 1741 Gemeinhaus. Believed to be the largest 18th-century log structure in continuous use in the U.S., it’s now home to the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem.
You can certainly visit Bethlehem and explore its history along Main Street any time of the year, but it’s particularly appealing during the holidays, when twinkling lights, festive carriage tours, and decorated trees demonstrate why the destination has the nickname “Christmas City.”
Other destinations that received recognition for their main streets include Emporia, Kansas (No. 2), Ogden, Utah (No. 3), and Howell, Michigan (No. 4). Discover the full list on usatoday.com.
