Lehigh Parkway, a delightful multiuse trail along both sides of the Little Lehigh Creek in Allentown, provides many opportunities for family recreation, including walking, hiking, biking, and fishing.

The shaded creek itself is lovely, and young children love the Lil-Le-Hi Trout Nursery. Opened in 1883, it is the nation’s only city-owned fish hatchery. Here, for a small fee, you can buy fish food that kids toss into the pools. The fish twist and spin to get to the food; the water seems to churn and boil with the flash of fins. The hatchery is open year-round.

Several parking areas are along the parkway. If you park at the hatchery, you can walk or bike along either side of the creek. The parkway extends for 3 miles on both sides, but you can loop back across the creek at one of several bridges. The stroller-friendly cinder path is mostly flat, though it traverses some small hills when it goes through woods.

In the cold-water limestone spring creek itself, the many pools and riffles make for ideal trout habitat, so fly fishing is popular—popular enough that a fly-fishing shop provides instruction in the sport for kids ages 11 and up. The shop is located near Fireman’s Bridge (contact Heritage Fly Shop, 610-248-8836).

Also along the parkway are the small Museum of Indian Culture, the 1841 Bogert’s Covered Bridge, a log cabin, and other historical structures. At Klein’s Bridge, look for Planet Walk, a model that gives a sense of the scale of the solar system; it will likely be “over the heads” of young kids, but will appeal to older children.

Picnic areas are located along the creek, including a large area adjacent to the disc golf course.

Remember: Dogs must be leashed.

Cedar Creek Parkway’s universally accessible destination playground is nearby in Cedar Beach, on Hamilton Street at Ott Street.
 

Proceed down South Cedar Crest Boulevard to a commercial area with restaurants and shops.