Muhlenberg’s small, concentrated campus gives the illusion that it is in its own, secluded bubble outside of Allentown. But the campus is actually in the middle of two different sections of the city. Driving west of campus, past the freshman dorms, there is the spread-out, more suburban area where you'll find many shopping centers, restaurants, movie theaters, and malls. Some of these places, like Giant groceries and CVS, are within walking distance, but if you need to spend some quality time shopping, most students either drive or take the shuttle to places like Target and the Lehigh Valley Mall. For those late-night snack runs, there are a couple of 24-hour Wawas nearby. If you are looking for relaxing, scenic fun, there are two parks nearby—Cedar Creek Park and the Trexler Memorial Park. Cedar Creek is considered more popular because of its scenic view of the creek and its rose garden. Keep going west and you and your friends can get some adrenaline-pumping entertainment at Dorney Park. Tickets are usually expensive, but at certain times of the year, the park offers student and parking discounts.
East of campus is where students go to immerse themselves in a more urban setting. Some students complain that there is not much to do in this part of Allentown, but others take delight in seeing the Allentown Art Museum or watching a concert at the Allentown Symphony Hall. When students are looking for some rock music, they head over to the Crocodile Rock Café. In addition to entertainment venues, the downtown area also has its fair share of internship and community service opportunities. Since Muhlenberg is a member of the Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (LVAIC), students can take classes in five other nearby colleges: Cedar Crest College, DeSales University, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, and Moravian College. Even though students have access to these schools, there is very little interaction.