Monthly Archives: July 2020

Upcoming Charity Events: July 31, 2020 Edition

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I hope you’re all doing well! We wanted to do something different today and give you some information on upcoming charity events in the Erie area! All the information was taken from Facebook and the nonprofit’s websites! Please support local causes! And if you know of other events we missed, please comment below!

Bark and Brunch

Join the Erie Humane Society on Saturday, August 8, 2020 for Bark & Brunch! They will have Tuxedo Dogs selling food, Sundae selling vegan treats, and bubbly refreshments made available by the Erie Humane Society. The first 100 dogs will receive a free doggy brunch bag. Admission is $10. Doggy activities include a Doggy Agility Contest, Puppy Pool Time, and a Pupsicle Stand with Pupsicles for donation.

Childrens activities include Popcorn, Slushies-for donation, Cotton Candy, and a Craft Station. There will also be a Bad Art Show! This is how it works: A $5 donation a portrait will be painted of your pet. A volunteer will paint a portrait of your pet within 15 minutes. There will also be a Shelter Pet Toy Box where you can purchase a $5 toy to help provide each shelter pet residing at the Erie Humane Society a new toy for their kennel (There are 124 Kennels).

There will be a 20% Discount on all pet adoptions from 10AM-1:30PM (August 8, 2020 only).

Open Air Craft Fair

Orphan Angels Cat Sanctuary is having an Open Air Craft Fair! Stop by 12pm – 4pm on August 9! After you’re done stop in to meet our adoptable cats and kittens!

Erie Gives Day 2020

It’s the tenth year of Erie Gives! Join us to top off a decade of amazing generosity and community support. Nonprofits – register at ErieGives.org! Members – access the Erie Gives toolkit now at YourNPP.org! The minimum gift is $25. There is no limit to the amount of money you may give. There is no limit to the number of organizations you can donate to in a transaction. Credit Cards: Only Visa, MasterCard and Discover will be accepted. Checks: Donors can write a check for their Erie Gives donation. Prorated Match: The Erie Community Foundation and our sponsors will enhance donors’ gifts by providing a prorated match to each gift made to a nonprofit. Your Receipt: You will receive an email receipt of your gift, which you should retain for tax purposes. Unless you choose to remain anonymous, your donor information will be sent to the appropriate organizations. Questions about #ErieGives2020? Contact Khristina Bowman at kbowman@eriecommunityfoundation.org

2020 Grady’s Golf Tournament

The Annual Graden Vincent Smith Golf Tournament is held every year in August at Whispering Woods Golf Course in Erie, PA. The tournament is structured as a four person scramble. Both men and women are welcome to play in the tournament. At the tournament, prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 23rd, and last place teams. Proceeds from the tournament will help us continue our vision of assisting NICU families in need of support. They will take requests for tee times as they will not do a shotgun start this year. You can request early morning, late morning, early afternoon, and late afternoon teebtimes.  They also will be taking 9 hole tee times. They  only have room for the first 40 foursomes, so register today!

FUROCIOUS 5K Run/Walk and Children’s Fun Run Virtual Race

NEW DATE: RUN NOW UNTIL AUGUST 31, 2020. The Ashtabula County APL FURocious 5k Run/Walk & Kid’s Fun Run is now a VIRTUAL RACE. ONLINE REGISTRATION:

https://www.gcxcracing.com/furocious PACKET PICKUP: SEPTEMBER 3rd-6th during open hours@ Ashtabula APL 5970 Green Rd  Ashtabula, Oh 44004 SOME FAQ:

1.  What is a Virtual Run? You register for the event and run 3.1 miles wherever you want between NOW and August 31st. 2. What do I do after I complete my run? Email raceinfo@acapl.org or text (440)413-9250 with your name and 5k finish time.  To be included in awards, you must submit your name and time by September 1st. 3.  How do I pickup my shirt and medal? Stop by the APL on the days listed under packet pickup. Only 5k participants registered by 8/22 get a shirt. You must email or text your results in order to be included in the medals/trophies.

No Fleas Market

NOW COLLECTING DONATIONS for the NO FLEAS Market Purrista Yard Sale Fundraiser!

*PLEASE NO broken items.  NO clothing WITH stains OR rips.  NO OLD electronics, TVs, VCRs, or computers. ITEMS THEY WANT/NEED: (They are looking for items that you would sell at a garage sale): Tools, Books, Clothing, Kids Toys, Baby Gear, Home Décor, Small Furniture, Anything Vintage/Antiques, and any items in decent or gently used condition that you are looking to donate or get rid of. When you donate your used goods to the Purrista Sale, your donation has the potential to help find cats their forever homes.  Items sold at The Purrista No Fleas Market will help raise start-up funds for the opening of Purrista Cat Café. DONATION DROP OFF DATES & TIMES: Every other Saturday starting July 18th from 11am-2pm (JULY 18 | AUG 1, AUG 15, AUG 29). Contactless Drop-Off will be behind the Bastion Studios … you can just leave your items by the back door. Someone will be there to get them into the studio for storage. VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY:

If you can volunteer the morning of the sale, Saturday, September 19, please let then know!  They will need help setting up and “cashiers”. Email: PURRISTACATCAFE@GMAIL.COM with the subject of “Volunteering” … would love to have your help! About the event itself: Join them for an open-air NO FLEAS Market fundraising event behind the Bastion Studios (back parking lot) September 19 8AM-2PM!

You will find a variety of gently used, old, and new goods to check out. Come sip some coffee and walk around in a safe, open market environment (with plenty of sanitizer and wipes). The NO FLEAS Market will open at 8AM sharp. From 1PM – 2PM, they will have a $10 bag sale; you pay $10 for a garbage bag & fill it, they will provide you with the bag.

Pets at the Pub

Erie Humane Society is offering a re-vamped, special Corona Edition of Pets at the Pub (formerly known as Pints for Paws) this year on September 6 from 3-7. The event will be held at the Erie Humane Society, on the 3 acres of green space behind our Pet Wellness Clinic. The ample space will allow attendees to enjoy this event outdoors with plenty of room to comply with CDC guidelines, as we will have two large tents set up, with seating available. Beer will be available for purchase from Erie Ale Works, and wine will be sold by EHS. Food will be available for purchase from Tuxedo Dogs, and Sundae will have vegan dog treats for sale. Take a chance on a themed basket in our basket raffle or try your luck in a 50/50 raffle. Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome and encouraged to attend. Tickets are available for purchase at the Erie Humane Society. Cost is $10.00 and includes a free pint glass. Still have questions? Feel free to contact the shelter at 814-835-8331.

Lions Tigers and Beers

On October 3 Small Town Rollers will be performing at Erie Zoo’s Lions, Tigers, & Beers Festival, in Erie, PA!!! Enjoy sampling craft brews while listening to our acoustic grooves! Gates open at 6P and proceeds go to the Erie Zoological Society!

Emma’s Footprints Virtual Memorial Walk

Emma’s Footprints Memorial Walk is going VIRTUAL! While we are certainly disheartened that we will not be able to meet at an event location, we want to offer you a chance to be with your friends and family, taking steps to remember your baby in a social distance atmosphere. Emma’s Memorial Walk offers friends and family grieving pregnancy and infant loss the opportunity to gather and remember the lives of their babies. While their life on this earth was far too short, their memory and impact live on forever. Please join them virtually on Thursday, October 15th – October 18th. Stay tuned for more details! Family Fundraising is back!! What does this mean?! No registration fee! Without a registration fee, they hope you’ll be able to build your team, gather more support than ever, and walk in memory of your baby for free!

Serverie Soiree

Join them for a night out on October 16th from 7-10 to celebrate ServErie and help support future Erie community initiatives.  Enjoy the Erie Art Museum after hours, as well as, numerous food tastings from several local restaurants!  All this and more while enjoying music from one of Erie’s local talent. You won’t want to miss this event!

Keep checking the blog for information on upcoming charity events in the Erie area! We’re bringing you this information before the events so you can attend them! Hopefully we will be blogging a few of them!

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Park Bingo

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We love exploring local parks, so when we found out about Erie County Park Bingo, we gathered up information and wandered some parks so we could let you guys in on the fun!

Park Bingo gives you the opportunity to explore nine different parks in Erie County. These parks include Pleasant Ridge Park, McClelland Park, Eaton Reservation/Bull’s Dam, Lake Erie Community Park, Headwaters Park, 6 Mile Creek Park, Frontier Park, Corry Junction/Greenway Trail, and Asbury Woods at Browns Farm.

Each park you visit of the nine will have a wooden letter tag hanging from a tree near the entrance. All you have to do is take a selfie with each tag and email ALL of them AT ONCE to kcurrier@erieconservation.com by September 30, 2020! If you send them in, you’ll be entered into a raffle of $200 worth of local gift cards! So, let me get this straight, they want us to go have fun at some parks while exercising PLUS give us the opportunity to win gift cards?! Sign me up!

Above are the Park Bingo cards and rules. If you can’t find the letter for some reason, feel free to take a selfie with the park sign pictured on the bingo card. And if you don’t want to take selfie, that’s completely fine; you can use the same item in every photo, or even your dog if you’d like! We chose to use our hand sanitizer; we thought it was fitting for this era we are living in!

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Presque Isle | July 2020

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After spending some time at the Goodell Gardens and Homestead where we wandered through the flowers, paths, and trees, we decided it was time to hit one of the more popular destinations in Erie, Pa. We strategically planned what we thought would be a great time and day, and headed down to Presque Isle State Park. With many activities to do and many different biomes all on the peninsula, this is an interesting area to spend some time wandering.

Location

Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200 acres peninsula full of sand, woods, trails, and roads. If you go to Peninsula Drive in Erie, then just head north and you will find yourself at the park in no time at all. Because this park is literally on the water, be aware of seasonal weather. It can be more than a few degrees cooler on the peninsula than even a mile or two inland. This is a day-use only park, but there is a lot to pack in during a day.

Property Description:

There are about 9 miles of beaches, a roughly 13-mile loop for those looking to run a half marathon. The pavement is smooth as evidenced by not only cars and motorcycles driving around, but the countless bikes, rollerblades, and longboards showed an excellent place to go. There are sidewalks and paved paths almost everywhere you go, and there are also running and biking trails that cut through the woods throughout the park as well. In addition to the beaches, there are multiple spots to launch a boat, walk on short boardwalks and piers, or sit and watch the water.

Because this is a peninsula, on one side you face the city and can see all of the boats or water activity, as well as the skyline, in the harbor. And on the other side there are miles of beaches to explore where you can fairly easily find yourself in a wide-open space. In an age of social distancing, it may take a few minutes but finding space along the beach is very achievable.

It’s also important to know that this peninsula has a lot of sand. This isn’t just talking about the beach. This is important to note because if you find yourself at Presque Isle during or after a rain storm, there can be pockets of water in no time at all. We strategically tried to go in the morning following a rainstorm with the intent of discovering any beach glass, and we ended up finding potholes that contained as much as a foot of water in them.

Things to do:

There really are many activities to be done at Presque Isle. In addition to soaking up rays on the sand or heading for a swim, there are many people who just want to experience physical activity and a bit of nature. Remembering that Erie only gets a few months of summer sun, it seems like the whole county plus travelers try to pack on the beach. There are also activities like sand volleyball courts, picnic areas, and even a beach just for kites.

Throw in the inland activities and you can find anything from events, grills for cookouts, canoeing, and even big-wheeled water tricycles for rent. Speaking of items for rent, there are multiple locations either at the park or right before it where you can rent canoes and bikes.

In addition to the many people looking for exercise on the paths, there are those who run, jog, swim, and bike off of the main paths. As a word of caution, this beach is well known and gets popular for locals. We strategically tried to visit early, and despite being mid-morning on a Monday, we left slightly before noon and the cars were flooding in. Whether you are trying to run or bike without crowds, or you want to stake out a spot in the sand, going earlier means you have less traffic to fight and more space to take up.

In addition to the fun, this is an exciting place for those who love wildlife and birds in particular. Presque Isle is a national natural landmark, and they claim there are, “a greater number of the state’s endangered, threatened, and rare species than any other area of comparable size in Pennsylvania.”

Who Can Go:

While the specifics will depend on what you are trying to accomplish, this park is for everyone. In addition to the amazing possibilities, the paths, beeches, and different seating locations and sights are open for anyone. There is even a beach with handicap access for those who need additional assistance when walking over the sand. Throw in the fact that there is a popular ice cream and burger shop in Sara’s Restaurant right at the entrance to Presque Isle, and you can quickly see why this beach is always packed for about four months per year.

Final Thoughts:

The reality is there are multiple reasons to head to Presque Isle. There are so many reasons that we will probably be back shortly to try and document other days, temperatures, activities, and crowds. In a time period where social distancing is the norm, people continue to seek out less crowded locations where space is ample. Presque Isle is one of those places, and can offer many activities in a large area, while still being a peaceful location for the whole family.

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Goodell Gardens and Homestead

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We wanted to enjoy some of the sunshine that has been present in Erie, PA the last few weeks, so rather than checking out more trails like we did at the Girard Waterworks Park, we headed to a wide open space. We decided to wander around the Goodell Gardens & Homestead in Edinboro, PA. We not only got sun and a nice breeze, but the sights, paths, flowers, and trees provided for an excellent afternoon walk.

Location

The botanical gardens are located at 221 Waterford Street, also Route 6N in Edinboro, PA 16412. The exact location has a nice long driveway. At the front of the driveway is a park area for guests of a specific event, but if you continue to follow the driveway you will get to a parking lot.

This is a wide-open space for you to catch the breeze, so in times of social distancing or just being able to wander and look at the flowers or trees, you don’t have to worry about having anyone else right “on top of you.”

Property Description:

The property itself is known as Edinboro’s public garden. The entire property is approximately 78 acres on the Goodell family farm, but the walking area is on a much smaller footprint. While there isn’t a specific route or path to take, you will find many locations to view, many paths to walk, and many benches to just sit and relax. Other items include birdhouses, large trees for shade, bees flying amidst the many flowers, and even a giant windchime which actually works and plays in the wind.

This location is also an arboretum, which means many of the trees have labels.

In addition, there are multiple buildings. And, while a few of them appear to be closed due to the current Covid-19 issue, there does appear to space which can hold events, as well as ongoing plans to continue building and renovating the barns.

Things to do:

This specific visit was true to the wandering spirit. It was literally just a time period to walk around and look at all of the different trees, flowers, bushes, and more. The wildlife was also fairly decent in that we saw multiple species of birds. In addition, we saw bees, butterflies, and dragonflies throughout the gardens. This is definitely something teeming with activity.

The admission does appear to be a flat amount of $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens, $2 for children, and free to members of the nonprofit as well as Edinboro University students, and children under the age of five. However, there are also group tours available if you make a reservation in advance.

Finally, while the current time period is a difficult one to navigate, it does appear that there are many opportunities available for events to occur, including harvest festival, Mother’s Day brunch, the Edinboro Art & Music Festival, and more.

In addition, the site is able to be rented to private events, weddings, parties, receptions, and reunions. This rental can include the grounds, event barn, cabin, and up to 300 chairs and tables. (However, if you are interested act fast as they are already booked through June of 2021 as of the writing/recording of this!)

This is also an excellent location to take photographs at, whether you are looking for family portraits, engagement or announcement photos, senior pictures, or more.

Who Can Go:

Depending on what you want to do, this is a completely suitable event for the whole family. Anyone who wants to walk through nature, do some bird or insect watching, check out the trees and flowers, or just sit on a bench for a while in peace; this is the place.

Final Thoughts:

Finding a historic site such as the Goodell Gardens is a pleasant surprise. And to have it in your own backyard is a benefit as well.  Whether you are looking for a quick getaway into nature, or specifically trying to walk around in peace, this is an excellent location to do so. 

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Girard Waterworks Park

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After spending a few different days picking fruit, including raspberry picking at Mason Farms, we got back into the parks and trails. We visited Waterworks Park, also known as the old Girard Borough Park, in Girard, PA. This is definitely a longer trail and one with large amounts of nature, multiple elements, and not a lot of competition for space when it comes to this social distancing season.

Location & Property Description:

The official park is located off of Lake Street, shortly before the high school if you are headed north, in Girard. Once you have turned to head down into the park, there are multiple access points and things to do. You first come to a pond at the bottom of the hill. This pond is suitable for fishing and includes a fishing pier, and while there you may be able to catch some wildlife here. There is also a small shelter in case of rain or wind.

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When you get to the fork, you can either head left to go down past the sewage treatment plant to find access to Elk Creek and a trail, or you can head right. By heading right, you can see one of the most popular sled riding hills in the area. This spot is always crowded in the winter. Continue driving down the path and you arrive at a one-way loop which circles around the multiple baseball/softball fields, which are popular during normal summer seasons.

If you follow the loop, you will also arrive at another access point to Elk Creek where you can fish, swim, or just take a walk along the water. There is also a picnic shelter which can be rented out by reservation, and there are bathrooms available as well.

Things to do:

Girard Waterworks park is certainly quiet. There are many acres and not a lot of crowds. It’s also important to know that they are pet friendly. You can fish (with the proper license), and in the winter individuals have been known to skate on the pond as well. (Please skate at your own risk, and verify whether the ice is completely frozen!)

In addition to the sights and activities you can do right within the park itself, it’s important to know that the park itself is the start of the Elk Creek trail. This trail follows along Elk Creek for about 1.75 miles, and makes for a peaceful jogging trail or biking trail out in nature. The other end of the trail comes out very close to Elk Valley Elementary school, where long distance runners can simply take lake street to jog back and make it a longer loop, or you can turn around and head back for a 3.5-mile run.

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While the exact amount of wildlife you will see is never predictable, there are many different birds, fish, and animals in this park. On the trails you can see multiple tracks, and there is ample evidence of nature. We saw a lot of very small frogs jumping around the stones by the water; make sure you watch your step! These guys are super tiny and easy to miss; please be careful not to hurt them!

Who Can Go:

There are some targeted activities in this park, so it really depends on what you want to do. In normal seasons, you can find organized activities like softball games being scheduled. In addition, there are spots to fish and swim. Jogging, biking, or running are also the case. And, while it makes the most sense to drive to the park, some individuals in the area will walk down as well from lake street. Keep in mind that the front portion of the park is paved and easy to navigate, but for the most part you are on a dirt and stone road. This can be great for joggers and mountain bikes, but this is not the long slow park for anyone with trouble walking or who may need assistance. Even by the water you don’t find sandy beaches, but rather many rocks. This is expected at a fishing creek or when you go swimming, but it’s probably best to be aware of this before you go.

Final Thoughts:

As long as you have a purpose to go to the Girard Waterworks park, then this is a great location to go. In addition, the park is so large that there is always space available. Whether you want to wander the dirt-paved roads, the trails, or just sit by the water, it certainly is a great location to explore. 

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Raspberry Picking at Mason Farms

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What can we say? We have been on a fruit kick lately, and a handful of the locations we have found happen to be in the west county of Erie, Pa. We just visited Ziesenheim Farms to pick cherries last week. It is 2020, and we are still obviously trying to maintain social distancing. This can be hard with young ones. In addition, it’s cold in Erie, PA for many months of the year. Finally, fruit seasons come and go, and if you miss one, then you’ll likely have to wait another year until you can go out and get it fresh. For that reason, we actually headed back to Mason Farms because a new season is in play. While picking fresh strawberries is still at the tail end of the season, picking red raspberries and black raspberries is now open at Mason Farms.

While we’ve already gone through the details of Mason Farms in Lake City, PA, there are a few items to note. For more in depth information, take a look at when we visited specifically for picking strawberries.  

Location:

Mason Farms is on Route 5 in Lake City, PA, just past Fairview, PA. The fruit and vegetable stand is located at 8603 W Lake Rd, Lake City, PA 16423. Remember that if you just want some farm fresh groceries, you can get them at the stand and don’t even need to drive back into the field to pick them yourself.

Property Description:

Another quick reminder that the weather in Erie is currently wonderful. It is ripe for wandering. That being said, please remember we are already passed the summer solstice. The days will already start to get shorter and the temperature will be cooler within a month or two. So, use this time now to get out and into the open under the hot sun. Being out in a field is a great way to get your steps in while also soaking up some warmth and sun rays.

Things to do:

Raspberries are great, but they are hard to come by in some parts of the country. In addition, they can be costly. A small pack at the grocery store could easily run you $5 for just a few handfuls. At Mason Farms, the price was $7 for a quart of red raspberries, and $8 for a quart of black raspberries. And the equivalency we has was right about 4 or 4.5 quarts in one cardboard basket … depending on the specific size of your basket.  

Who Can Go:

Compared to the cherry picking, this was another easy one for the full family. Berries grow a few feet off of the ground, so we didn’t have to hunch over like for the strawberries, nor did we need to climb a ladder to reach the cherries. This was one where we could all wander down the rows and grab the berries, high or low, that were within reach.

Final Thoughts:

Another great aspect we have found with wandering is once you discover a great location, remember to head back. Whether it is new sights with the season changes, new fruits and veggies to pick (or new items on the menu), or even just repeating a fun experience, we will keep bringing new locations, and great updates on old favorites, for you to wander.

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Ziesenheim Cherry Picking

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After spending time picking strawberries at Mason Farms, we wanted to continue the trend of picking our own food and enjoying the weather. Right down the road from Mason Farms is Ziesenheim Fruit Farm, which is also known as Fairplain Farm. This one will depend on the season, as there are both sweet and sour cherries available to be picked in July, as well as peaches available from mid-August until September.

Location:

Ziesenheim Fruit Farm is located at 8760 West Lake Road, Lake City, PA 16423. Their phone is 814-774-7342 in case you had questions about what is in season. This is another location right along Route 5 if you are heading west, and it’s only a few miles past Fairview. Once you arrive at the location, there are signs pointing toward the orchard and you simply drive north towards the lake. You can obtain a basket for picking at the main stand up front on Route 5, which is also where you pay when you are done.

Property Description:

The property is clearly a farm, and a large one at that. This is great from a scenery and nature point of view, and the ability to get outside and enjoy the sun in these times while maintaining social distancing is tremendous. The dozens of fruit trees at the orchard meant we weren’t even close to anyone else when we actually were picking. This was all despite the fact that there were other cars and pickers there.

Another item to be considered is this specific location’s views. You not only get the “farm,” view of vineyards and rows of crops, you also have an orchard of trees, and then on top of that there is a magnificent view of the lake.

The biggest benefit of this trip is that while it is on farmland, you don’t have to wander any farther than you want to. Pick up a basket at the front, drive to the orchard, and then when you park you are only a few feet away from the nearest trees.

When it comes to this time period of getting out of the house but maintaining social distancing and avoiding large crowds, this activity was one of the most perfect ones we could find.

Things to do:

This was another wonderful opportunity to involve the family. Compared to strawberry picking this became a little more complex as climbing a ladder is almost essential to reaching any fruit. However, this was also an opportunity as it took a little more time, allowed us to work together, and we were less in a rush of ‘gathering’ as we were able to enjoy the activity and hold the little ones as they picked some cherries on their own.

This is also something you can take your time on and select the perfect cherries at the perfect height, color, and shape, or you can grab a handful at a time and fill up your bucket. The cost was $1.50 per pound, which meant we filled up the basket half way and it only cost about $3.75. This is very affordable compared to the stores, and these are fresher fruits than what you can find on the shelves.

Another major benefit we experienced was the general tranquility. For almost the entire time we were there we barely heard any noise. For individuals in the downtown or in crowded cul-de-sacs, getting out into the country and relaxing with peace and quiet is a benefit in and of itself.

This is also a great opportunity for exercise, as the orchard is large enough to wander around and find different trees. It is easy to get your Fitbit steps in as you zig back and forth to find different trees with ladders. Or, if you are in more of a hurry and don’t want to spend all day, then just find one of the ladders available and already standing up and start picking from that tree, then just make your way down the line and go from one tree to the next as you fill up your basket.

This is also something that any photographer would want to look into. Being able to see the different views, landscaping, and open skies is something that gives you multiple looks all from the same location. This is also something that we will probably revisit as we get closer to peach season in the late summer, and who can ignore the photogenic nature of a farm as the leaves start to change and we hit early fall?

Who Can Go:

This is a great activity for anyone. The one item to note is that you do have to go on a ladder in order to reach most of the cherries, but you also don’t have to climb up very far to be able to reach the lower hanging fruit. This may be a somewhat good exercise in patience if you are bringing younger children, as at any point that someone is on the ladder, the others are waiting.

One alternative to this is to divide and conquer. If you have multiple people in your party you can always split up into smaller groups so each individual could claim a different ladder, and so that not everyone is waiting to use the same one. Just remember to bring your hand sanitizer for use after climbing the ladders, especially during these times!

Final Thoughts:

This was another fun activity. Trying something new and letting younger (or older) ones experience something for the first time can really be fun. It’s also exciting to know where your food comes from and whether this is just to have a snack on hand, or it is for an additional activity like baking a pie, it can still be exciting. The fact that there are both sweet and sour cherries adds even more fun to the mix. And, just finding something to do that is off of the beaten path means enjoying the day in the sun, having a family activity, and even taking a drive. This is definitely something for anyone to look into trying, and even going back for more.

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Strawberry Picking at Mason Farms

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A visit to Frontier Park was something fun we were able to do while being in the city and the downtown Erie, PA area. We also know that the offerings including the trails, the water, the fields, and even the LEAF building were something to consider when you are looking for something to do in Erie, PA. However, as much fun as you can find to answer the question, “What can you do downtown in Erie?” we wanted to get a little farther out and try something off of the beaten path. For that reason, we headed out to Mason Farms Country Market to check out the fresh fruit and vegetables as well as try our collective hands at strawberry picking.

Location:

Mason Farms Country Market is located on 8603 W Lake Rd, Lake City, PA 16423. It is on Route 5 if you are heading west, and you can’t miss it, or the acres of fields behind it. It’s only a short drive and the stand and parking lot are literally right on US State Route 5. This specific activity wasn’t just the stand, so after we checked out the fruit and vegetables available up front, we drove another quarter of a mile or so back to the strawberry fields where they had everything set up for us to start picking.

Property Description:

While this property wasn’t built for our typical wandering, we do also believe wandering and taking our time was simply something inherent to strawberry picking. Deciding which specific strawberries to harvest and which to leave for more growth was one aspect. Taking our time in fields that were open and spacious during social distancing times was another benefit. And the fact that we weren’t on a set time limit, nobody was “waiting behind us,” and we even had the chance to get the little ones involved meant this was a great activity. Combine that with the fact that there was sun shining and considerable fresh air, and this was a full day.

Things to do:

We should note that everyone will certainly decide for themselves whether or not an activity such as this is something they want to do. You may not like this one, but we still recommend you try it.

Why?

First, getting out into the county means less pollution. The air quality is one thing, but the ability to find peace and quiet in the middle of a field is something to help calm you down and get back to nature.

Second, this is certainly something that not a lot of people have done. You can literally see where your food comes from. You will be picking which strawberries to pick, and ultimately choosing your own food.

Third, knowing the date, time, and conditions of your food probably has some benefits! You know that this food wasn’t sitting on a grocery shelf, in a warehouse for days, or being handled by a stranger. This is literally something you can take home, wash off, and eat for a fresh and natural food.

The walking also helps, but this tends to be more of a crouching exercise. You can take your time and stroll along the path, picking out individual strawberries as you spot them, or you can get down low and move the leaves of the plants to try and find the brightest red strawberries which were hidden from other pickers.

Who Can Go:

As we said, we were able to take the entire family. And while there could be certain ages that don’t make sense, this was the perfect activity to keep a toddler busy for about forty-five minutes or so, as the activity basically turned into a treasure hunt. Finding the biggest, brightest, and (hopefully) tastiest strawberries was something that will keep the little ones preoccupied for a while, and the activity itself is enough to tire them out and take a nap on the drive home.

Final Thoughts:

Wandering isn’t always about discovering something new in a dark corner of the county, or being first to try something out. For us, this was a great way to get out in nature, albeit a different type, and enjoy the sun and the breeze. We also enjoyed something that was both physically and mentally exciting. On top of it all, it was an excellent way to teach the younger ones about basic farming, food, and even what doing work to get a reward is.

If you’re looking for a great activity and want to try something new, check out something like strawberry picking at Mason Farms Country Market. Be sure to stop by the stand as well for fresh fruits and vegetables (that you don’t have to pick). And, while strawberry picking tends to be seasonal, there are many different seasons in the agriculture world, so we will be sure to stop back to this stand again and see what other activities are happening.  

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Frontier Park

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The Walnut Creek Marina was a way to get to a beach, enjoy the sun, and find a place a little less crowded while beating the heat. While the crowds aren’t too large, we did see a lot of people at the ever-popular Frontier Park. And while there were a lot of people enjoying different activities, there certainly is a lot to do in the downtown location.

Location:

Frontier Park is located on West 8th street, West 6th Street, and along the Bayfront Parkway. There are multiple entrance points as it takes up a handful of city blocks, but there is no “true” entrance. That being said, there is a lot to do, and this location provides a great bit of nature right in the heart of the downtown area. There are fields, paths, and a creek that runs through the middle of the property.  There is also an amphitheater with seating, tennis courts, playgrounds, and the Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier. Throw in the fact that long stretches of bike paths go around the park as well as extend deeper into the city, and you can quickly see the appeal of this park.  

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In addition to everything that the park itself has to offer, it has great proximity to many other adjacent locations. Romolo Chocolates, Donatos Pizza, and PopLuck Gourmet Popcorn are all directly across the street from the park to the south, and more locations are in the area as well if you are looking for a snack while you are at the park.

Property Description:

Frontier park provides access to walking, jogging, biking, sled riding, and more. While we were there, some student athletes were working out and playing catch. Many people were playing tennis on the tennis courts. A few dozen were walking or jogging the trails, and yet others were just sitting out enjoying the view. While there are different routes to take within and around the park, the main path around the perimeter of the park is very close to a one-mile loop (out specific route mapped out .92 miles).

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At the present time, the LEAF building is closed due to COVID 19. Under normal circumstances, however, you are able to rent the building. The building itself has capacity for 80 people with 10 tables and 80 chairs. It also has a large sink, white boards and projector screens, and an outdoor patio with restrooms and ample parking space.  

Things to do:

The park is open to the public, so it has ample space for large gatherings, activities such as frisbee, throwing a ball around and playing catch, or even participating in the various courses which are offered in the area, including yoga.

Many people in the general area use the space to avoid seeing the cars and hearing the noise from the city atmosphere. You can quickly forget you are right in the middle of the downtown area, and within a handful of steps you are not only surrounded by considerable wildlife, but you have a tremendous number of birds to listen to as well.

There are also a handful of popular spaces along the creek to watch the water, including as you cross over the couple of bridges.

This is another great location to bring a dog, but remember that they must be on a leash and you are responsible for your pet.

Who Can Go:

This is a great location for the general area. If you live close by, want to take a quick lunch break while you are working downtown, need to get in a jog or short run, or you even want to just relax and watch the birds and listen to the water, this is a great location. It is yet another place we visited to specifically get out of the house, log some steps, and maintain social distancing, and this location had many people present, but made it easy to keep distance from others.

Final Thoughts:

It all depends on what you are looking for. This park is right in the downtown and allows for an excellent walking or jogging trail, as well as a tremendous amount of space to do many different activities. While the park isn’t at it’s “full capabilities” due to the current pandemic, there are many more activities that normally occur within the boundaries of this park, such as the playground, classes, use of the amphitheater, and more.

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If you treat this location as another bucket-list item to travel to in Erie and just want to check it out once, or you come back time and again for the scenery, this is a tremendous park. It may be a somewhat hidden park as it is nestled right in the middle of the city, but with so many reasons to check out Frontier park and pass the time while being there, we fully recommend you find a reason to wander about Frontier Park soon!

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