The 2018 Toyota Highlander is an exciting mid-size SUV that marries luxury and practicality for a car that easily transitions from commuter vehicle to family car. Here is a small guide to help you learn more about the 2018 Highlander. Trim Levels The Highlander has an impressive eight trims to choose from: LE, LE Plus, XLE, SE, Limited, Hybrid LE, Hybrid XLE, and the Hybrid Limited. The LE comes with a range of standard features including backup cameras and Toyota's Entune system. Each trim level builds on the next with the top-of-the-line Limited model including Chromtec alloy wheels, plus heated and ventilated front seats. Engine Toyota offers three distinct engines. The first is the 2.7-liter inline-4 with 185 horsepower. Next up is the 3.5-liter V-6 with 295 horsepower. Finally, there's a hybrid powertrain that utilizes three electric engines, along with the 3.5-liter V-6 for a combined output of 305 horsepower. Technology There's a wide range of technology that can be added in the 2018 Highlander. Drivers can enjoy up to an 8.0-inch infotainment touch screen equipped with Toyota's Entune system. Bluetooth hands-free connectivity is available on all models. A JBL premium stereo system is a must-have for audiophiles, and a hands-free entry and start helps make getting on the road easier than ever. Safety All trim levels come with Toyota's Safety Sense-P system, which includes a full complement of passive safety features. There's also plenty of active features, including the ever-popular backup cameras and available technologies like Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. There's a lot to love about Toyota's premiere mid-size SUV 2018 Highlander.
3 Places to See Live Theater in Allentown
Allentown, and the surrounding Lehigh Valley area, are home to an exciting cultural and artistic community. Here are our three favorite places to see a live theater production around Allentown. Steel River Playhouse Producing over 90 plays and other live performances annually, Steel River Playhouse is one of Lehigh Valley's major hubs for live theater. Outside of their professionally produced plays and musicals, the playhouse also hosts local productions through their many community outreach programs and workshops. Steel River Playhouse is run as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit education and performance center. The theater is located at 245 E. High St. in Pottstown. Whitaker Center The Whitaker Center is dedicated to both the arts and science and is home to an intimate theater that allows guests the luxury of viewing pieces of live theater in a small, more personal setting. Enjoy international hits such as "Hairspray" or "Grave Doubts" performed by national and international actors. The Whitaker Center can be found at 222 Market St. in Harrisburg. Tickets for shows can be purchased online. Civic Theatre of Allentown Run out of a historic theater, the Civic Theatre of Allentown is the town's main theater. It offers both live theater and musicals on a regular basis, plus film screenings and acting workshops for the town's younger residents. They feature locally-produced plays, and there's more information about the audition process on their website. The Civic Theater is dedicated to fostering the artistic community in Allentown. The theater is located at 527 N. 19th St. in Allentown. Enjoy a show at any of these three locations and support your local artistic and cultural community! Image via Flickr by John-Daggett
Make the Most of a Game at Coca-Cola Park
If you're looking for an exciting way to spend a summer afternoon, Coca-Cola Park is home to the Triple-A affiliate team, the IronPigs. Affiliated with the Philadelphia Eagles, the IronPigs are based out of the park and their games are always super fun. Here's a small guide to having the best time ever at a game at Coca-Cola Park. Tickets There are a variety of tickets you can choose to help you get the best experience and that also meets your budget. Enjoy general admission tickets that give you access to the game, or buy a loaded IronTicket that gives field-level seats plus credit that can be spent at the concession stand. IronTickets are the preferred choice for families and groups. For high-end experiences, rent a box and enjoy the game from air-conditioned comfort. You'll also enjoy an exclusive menu. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office. Parking Parking is available on site; the lots open two and a half hours before game time and close an hour into the game. Guests are welcome to tailgate, but no alcohol can be consumed in the lot. Tailgates must be contained to general parking and cannot be held in preferred parking. Food There are a lot of food options available at the park — healthy and gluten-free options are available to allow options for all visitors. Indulge ballpark classics like hot dogs and beer, or enjoy a refreshingly healthy salad. And of course, the Coca-Cola park serves Coke products. IronPigs games are budget-friendly and tons of fun with fans that are known for being enthusiastic about their favorite ball teams. Image via Flickr by @mist3ry30
Fun Spring Events in Allentown and the Lehigh Valley
Spring is an exciting time in Lehigh Valley and Allentown with the receding chilly winter giving way to beautiful sunny days. The warmer weather means there are a lot of activities and events coming to the area. Here are our two favorite spring events in Allentown and the surrounding Lehigh Valley. Fegley's Cask Beer Festival Fegley's Cask Beer Festival is a must-go for craft beer lovers. Featuring unique creations from over a dozen craft beer breweries, festival attendees can enjoy sampling both one-of-a-kind cask creations and the most popular offerings from each of the breweries. There are also live performances by Celtic musicians and an Irish food buffet. The festival is held March 10 from 3 to 7 p.m. Presale tickets start at $40. The event is held at Fegley's Allentown Brew Works, located at 812 Hamilton St. in Allentown. Easton Farmers' Market Opening Day Celebrating its 266th anniversary this year, Easton Farmers' Market is the nation's oldest continuously-run open-air market. Located in downtown Easton's gorgeous central square, this market offers everything from fresh produce to artisans baked goods to specialty items. Attending the farmers' market is a great way to support the local community while also spending some enjoyable time in the fresh spring air. The opening day is May 5, and the market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. These are just two of the events being held in the Lehigh Valley area this spring, and both are great places to get out of the house and spend some time with friends and loved ones. Image via Flickr by gmtbillings
2 Best Toyota Hatchbacks
For those who love the versatility that hatchbacks have to offer in terms of cargo space, Toyota has the vehicle to fit whatever need a driver may need. Check out the two best Toyota hatchbacks for your next vehicle purchase. 2018 C-HR The fresh look of the Toyota C-HR helps drivers stand out without even trying. The exterior boasts Vortex-styled, 18-inch sport alloy tires and a cantilevered, aerodynamic rear spoiler, making the vehicle look more like a sports car than a compact. You also can choose from a range of unique paint colors to create your C-HR to fit your personality. The C-HR provides the power and performance that sports minded drivers are looking for along with interior comforts and features such as a soft-touch leather steering wheel, optional driver, and passenger heated seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with integrated back up camera. 2018 Corolla iM The Corolla iM is the perfect Toyota hatchback choice for those looking for a compact vehicle that will give them the safety and fuel efficiency they need to conquer any kind of driving. The Corolla iM comes equipped with Toyota's standard Safety Sense which includes technology-based safety systems such as lane departure warning, pre-collision system, and automatic high beams. The interior of the Corolla iM is equally impressive with a fluid dashboard with piano-black accents and 60/40 split seats to give you the cargo room that you need. Find out which Toyota hatchback will best suit your needs and stop by your local Toyota dealer today, to take one out for a test drive. Image Via Flickr by automobileitalia
Advanced Technology in the 2018 Camry Hybrid
The 2018 Camry Hybrid combines the best of the popular Camry model with all the fuel efficiency of a hybrid vehicle to create a stylish yet eco-conscious car. This new vehicle includes plenty of advanced technology to please and impress the modern driver. Here are three pieces of advanced tech that we're the most excited about. Entune Connectivity Connected via the Entune phone app, drivers can hook up their phone to the Camry Hybrid to utilize their favorite entertainment apps, from Spotify to Pandora to Stitcher. Through this app, you can also use Toyota's preferred navigation service — Scout GPS Link — which is easy to access through the app and intuitive to control. Voice Control Voice control is nothing new in vehicles, but these systems have often been bulky and difficult to use. The Toyota Camry's voice system is not only easy to use, it's intuitive and easy to set up. We highly recommend you go through the speech setup process so that you can take advantage of all the extra technology. You can access most of the infotainment technology via voice, as well as place hands-free calls and set navigation destinations. Active Safety The Camry Hybrid comes with a full litany of active safety features. The Camry comes standard with adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and automatic braking. Drivers can upgrade to intelligent clearance sonar, rear cross-traffic alert with emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring. These systems are all fully integrated and easy to understand. This vehicle comes fully loaded with advanced technology and these are only a few of the many reasons to love the 2018 Camry Hybrid. Image via Flickr by Carsfera.com
Why You'll Love Driving the 2018 Toyota Camry
For the 2018 model year, Toyota has debuted a completely new Camry. The angular front fascia gives it an aggressive new appearance, and practically every aspect of the midsize sedan has gone through a major update. These changes have made the car more comfortable and modern, and they also make it even more fun to drive. The Powered-Up Engines The base engine of the 2018 Camry is still a 2.5-liter I-4 engine, but while the 2017 model managed 178 horsepower, the updated design gets 203 horsepower while still getting 39 highway mpg. It also keeps the V-6 3.5-liter upgrade, but while the old model could only get 268 horsepower, the new V-6 has 301 ponies under the hood. The New Transmission Both engines come with a new eight-speed automatic transmission that gives the 2018 Camry a smooth, efficient acceleration. This transmission also comes standard with a drive mode selector with Sport and ECO options, plus some models give you easy manual control with a pair of paddle shifters. The New Platform Toyota builds its new 2018 Camry on the TNGA platform, an adaptable design that lets the company emphasize different priorities depending on the model. For the Camry, that means less weight, better performance, and a smooth ride. The new Camry design improves on the old model in just about every way, making it one of the best options you could buy this year if you're looking for a new midsize sedan. Test drive one today to find out what you're missing. Image via Flickr by Carsfera
Where to Eat Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner in Philly
Philadelphia is famous for its cheesesteak, but there's more to eat in the City of Brotherly Love than grilled steak on a sub. Philly is a giant East Coast city, and it has unique local restaurants that can feed a visitor from Allentown for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast: The Hungry Pigeon Start your day off nice and early at the Hungry Pigeon on South 4th Street. It's a popular spot, so it's good to go in early at 7 a.m. whether you want something light, such as a croissant or something bigger, such as a breakfast bowl with avocado and kimchi. Lunch: Front Street Cafe When noon rolls around, head to the Front Street Cafe (on Front Street, of course). The meals here are New American with a touch of the unusual, such as a kale Caesar salad and a griddled cheese with pimento. Just be sure to make a reservation or go at 2 p.m. or so if you don't want to wait. Dinner: Stock Stock is just down the road from Front Street Cafe on East Girard Avenue, and it stays open until 10 p.m. Stock offers a few different meals from Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam, but if you haven't ever had pho before then you should try one of Stock's delicious selections. Spending a day in Philadelphia can be educational, entertaining, or anything else you can imagine. But no matter what you're up to, when the time comes for your three square meals, you owe it to yourself to eat the best Philly has to offer. Image via Flickr by Terry Robinson
What Safety Features Come Standard on the 2018 Camry?
Thanks to Toyota's dedication to safety, the new 2018 Camry is one of the safest vehicles on the road no matter which trim level you choose. Each vehicle comes with features that go above and beyond the competition, including the following: Star Safety System The Star Safety System is a set of six electronic safety features that come standard in most modern vehicles. What Toyota has done is integrate them together so that they complement each other and work together when needed. These systems are Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Anti-Lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-Force Distribution, Brake Assist, and Smart Stop Technology. Toyota Safety Sense P Toyota Safety Sense P is a package of advanced driver assistance features that Toyota has been adding to all its new vehicles. Normally you need to get a high-end trim to expect these features, but every Camry comes with the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, and Dynamic Radar Cruise Control 10 Airbags Federal guidelines require new vehicles to come with six airbags: two for the front, two for the front sides, and two curtain bags for rollovers. The 2018 Camry has four more: two knee bags for the driver and front passenger and two side bags for the back row. Along with basic safety features such as these, the 2018 Toyota Camry also comes with features such as LATCH anchors for child safety seats, special front seats that help prevent whiplash, and a rearview camera that lets you see behind you while you're in reverse. Image via Flickr by Carsfera
- 3 Sports You Can Take Up in Allentown in 2018
Allentown, Pennsylvania might not have the most famous sports teams in the United States, but if you want to join an organized sport in 2018 you won't have any trouble finding teams or leagues to join. For instance, you can join the following sports as an amateur. Bar Games The Lehigh Valley Leagues sponsor several league competitions, including a catch-all group called " bar games." The league plays for 10 weeks in winter in teams of two, and the games include all the classics you'd find at a bar such as pool, darts, shuffleboard, and water pong. You don't have to be an athlete, but you do need plenty of skill in all kinds of games. Volleyball Several Allentown leagues exist for volleyball, including both the six-person indoor teams and two-person sand-pit volleyball games. The leagues divide teams based on skill levels, so even if you're a complete beginner you can have fun without worrying about getting outclassed. Touch Football The touch football league in Allentown is coed, meaning both men and women have to be on every team. Since it's touch football, the rules are simplified and nobody gets tackled, making it a good choice for amateurs who want to enjoy a game of football with a much smaller chance of serious injury These are only a few of the sports you can take up in Allentown in 2018. You could also play softball, soccer, dodgeball, bowling, and more. All you have to do is find out when signups open and pay the registration fee. Image via Flickr by EL SERRANO
3 Sites in Bethlehem Every Colonial History Buff Should Visit
The city of Bethlehem was formed along the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania by a group of Moravians as a mission community for the Native Americans and German-speaking Christians who were without a church. It was named for Bethlehem of Judea, the birthplace of Jesus which the founders thought was fitting. 1741 Gemeinhaus This National Historic Landmark is the largest 18th century log structure in continuous use in the U.S. It served as a home, school, church, and a place of employment in its early existence. It currently houses the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem where visitors can learn about the founders and history of this town. Waterworks Another National Historic Landmark, the 1762 Waterworks was home to a pumping station that distributed water throughout the town. This system pumped water from a spring to a tower where it was then gravity-fed to cisterns in the town. It was the first system of its kind in the U.S. The structure has remained mostly intact except for the waterwheel and the pumping mechanism, which were restored in 1972. 1750 Smithy The Smithy was built in 1750 to accommodate smiths who were responsible for making and repairing tools, utensils, and weapons. The Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites offers a Blacksmithing 101 class at this site, as well as children's birthday packages. These are just a few of the historic sites that abound in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and visiting any of these will give you an accurate glimpse into what life was like in Colonial times. Image via Flickr by Dougtone
3 Biggest Changes to the 2018 Prius
The Prius family is proof of Toyota's long-standing commitment to hybrid designs and fuel efficiency. This group of native-hybrid cars is always changing, and the year 2018 is no different. The Prius The regular Prius still has the same incredible 54 city mpg it's had since the model's latest redesign, and you can get that up to 58 mpg with the Two Eco trim. But if you decide to go for a higher trim level, you'll have the option of upgrading the central display to an 11.6-inch HD screen with a JBL audio system. You normally don't see displays this big outside of the luxury market. The Prius Prime 2018 doesn't do much to change the Prius Prime, mostly because Toyota first introduced it in 2017. The Prius Prime is a plug-in hybrid, and its stats are impressive even if 2018 didn't change them: a 640-mile estimated driving range, the 11.6-inch display now available in the Prius, and the Intelligent Parking Assist system. The Prius v You won't see a Prius v for the 2018 model year, but that's because the company is preparing for a completely new design in 2019. The frame will expand to make it an SUV, and while the Toyota Highlander already has a hybrid option, this will be the company's first native-hybrid SUV. 2018 is a quiet year for changes in the Prius family, but that's because all the big changes have just come or are right around the corner. Keep an eye on the Toyota Prius and you'll be surprised at what will happen next. Image via Flickr by mariordo59