Profile written by local expert: Joanna Ireland

A quiet architectural renaissance has blossomed in Pennsylvania's third-largest metro area. Much of Allentown's charm comes from its vast collection of historic homes and buildings, commercial structures and century-old industrial buildings. Neighborhoods in the city center are a blend of Victorian and Federal-style row homes. Homes around West Park ooze Colonial Revival and Queen Anne charm. Architects have modernized and converted many of the closed mills and manufacturing buildings into apartments and lofts.

Several districts constitute Allentown proper – each with its own unique identity and flair. The Seventh Street business district features neighborhood living, as well as local restaurants and retail establishments. Allentown's theater district, in the West End, includes a black box theater and a civic theater, several popular restaurants, local retailers and an Arts Walk that leads to the Allentown Art Museum and Baum School of Art. Business is booming in the Hamilton Street business district, home of the PPL Center, where the Philadelphia Flyers hockey farm team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, play.

Nestled within the Lehigh Valley, with the Blue Mountain range to the north and South Mountain to the southwest, Allentown offers hikers and skiers access to great trails and snow. Meanwhile, residents can drive to New York City or Philadelphia in roughly two hours. Allentown's convenient location, commitment to healthy living and celebration of the arts make it a great place for active folks to settle down.

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