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Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Photo: self, Copyrighted free use via Wikimedia Commons
Kutztown is a small town in the northeastern part of Berks County, in Pennsylvania Dutch Country between Reading and Allentown. It is home to about 5,100 year-round residents (2018), and to the Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, a public university whose 8,300 students make the town a busy place from late August to early May. In the summer months and during school breaks, the town is much quieter and dominated by locals.
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Crystal Cave is an underground cave that was discovered in 1871. Tours of the cave are available, showcasing various rock formations. There are "ghost" lantern tours that are offered around Halloween. Other activities available include gemstone panning, miniature golf, and a museum. Crystal Cave also has a gift shop, picnic area, ice cream shop, and a restaurant.
Located in a former Victorian schoolhouse that was built in 1892, the historical society is home to many artifacts pertaining to the history of Kutztown, including a 1799 newspaper with a story about the death of George Washington, Keith Haring drawings, a Pennsylvania long rifle manufactured by gunsmith Jacob George dating to 1817, and several antique items including toys, books, quilts, farm equipment, and fire equipment. There is also a replica of a school room from the 1930s.
Located on the grounds of Kutztown University in the 19th-century Sharadin farmstead, the heritage center serves as an outdoor museum and research center for the Pennsylvania Dutch folk culture, language, and traditions. The center features a one-room schoolhouse, stone farmhouse, barn, and two log houses. The heritage center's library allows for genealogical and cultural research and also offers folklife demonstrations and traditional art.
Railroad that offers excursions on 4 miles of track between Kutztown and Topton, passing through farmland. Excursions are diesel-powered and operate with a passenger car, multiple cabooses, and an open-air flatcar. Trains run on a seasonal basis and for special events. Some of the occasions that the railroad operates trains for include a Valentine's Day train, an Easter Bunny train, Halloween trick-or-treating, a Santa Claus train, and wine tasting trains. The railroad occasionally operates steam-powered excursions.
The Kutztown Folk Festival is a nine-day festival held in July that celebrates Pennsylvania German folklife. It is the oldest folklife festival in the United States. The festival offers Pennsylvania Dutch food, a quilt auction, antiques, collectibles, and working hand crafters and folk artists.
Diner serving breakfast all day. Popular among locals and college students.
Italian restaurant serving pizza, calzones, strombolis, appetizers, salad, soup, seafood, chicken, pasta, sandwiches, cheesesteaks, burgers, and dessert. Also has a bar. Specials Monday-Thursday and Happy Hour Specials Monday-Saturday. Delivery available.
Restaurant and bar offering appetizers, wings, salad, soup, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, pasta, paninis, pizza, dessert, and other items. The Kutztown Tavern is home to the Golden Avalanche Brewing Company, where Golden Avalanche beer is brewed on premises. This beer follows German brewing tradition and American innovation with five signature brews and seven additional seasonal brews.
Italian restaurant that offers pizza, calzones, stromboli, sandwiches, cheesesteaks, burgers, chicken, wings, soup, salad, and dessert. Has daily specials, lunch specials, and student specials. Delivery available.
Sandwiches, cheesesteaks, burgers, hot dogs, and pizza. Delivery available.
Chinese dishes.
Pretzel place that features the "stuffed pretzel", which consists of various food such as cheesesteak, buffalo chicken, and pizza stuffed into the pretzel dough. Offers student specials and party trays. Has a location in downtown Kutztown on Main Street and a location at Renninger's Farmer's Market
This ice cream shop is known for being the go to ice cream spot in town. They offer a variety of flavors and toppings.
Bar serving 20 drafts and over 100 craft beers, with a variety of beer from local breweries. Has outdoor patio seating. Also serves southern style BBQ cooked from scratch on a wood-fired smoker. Karaoke on Wednesday nights, DJ on Friday and Saturday nights.
Located beneath the Kutztown Tavern in the alley behind Main Street, this bar/nightclub offers drinks, a bar menu, music with live DJs, pool tables, a jukebox, Megatouch and arcade games, and seven TVs. Bar features various drink specials throughout the week and drinks are relatively inexpensive. Free bingo on Tuesday, beer pong league on Wednesday, Happy Hour specials at 5PM on Friday. Shorty's Bar is a popular place among the college crowd on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights and often gets packed after 11PM.
A small cafe which sells a variety of coffees, lattes, etc.. as well as a plethora of bagels and bagel sandwiches with all sorts of toppings. Offer eat-in, take out, and delivery. Can place an order through their website.
Hotel offering both standard rooms and suites. Amenities include HDTV, coffeemaker, work desk, free Wi-Fi, free hot breakfast, indoor pool, fitness center, and meeting space. Suites also include a sofa bed, microwave, and mini-fridge.
One-story motel with exterior room entrances.
Bed and breakfast that offers the comforts of a hotel. Facility has eight rooms which each have their own bathroom and a queen or king bed. Rooms include cable television, Keurig machine, mini-refridgerator, luxury bath, central air-conditioning, and free Wi-Fi. Non-smoking. No pets or children under 12. Breakfast is included in the room rate, offering both continental breakfast items and made to order food.
Budget hotel offering free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, and cribs. Parking is available for cars, buses, trucks, and RVs.
Renninger's consists of a farmers market, an antique market, and a flea market and has been around since 1955. Local merchants and farmers sell a variety of produce, meat, dairy products and other food. The market offers a variety of products including antiques, collectibles, flowers, and furniture.
By plane
The closest airport with commercial air service to Kutztown is the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) in Allentown, which is about 30 minutes away by car.
By train
There is no train station close to Kutztown.
By bus
Bus riders from New York City can take Klein Transportation's run into Kutztown. This service also stops in the Lehigh Valley and Reading.
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Allentown/Bethlehem · Regional · ABE
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