German Heritage Fest

German Heritage Fest

Do you have German ancestry? Do you like German food? Do you enjoy having a beer or two with friends and family? If any of these apply to you, head on over to German Heritage Fest in Erie, PA and have yourself a fun filled afternoon! This festival in Erie, PA is put on by DANK Chapter 71 of Erie and Lake Erie Fanfare.

Location:

German Heritage Fest is held at St. Nick’s Grove, 5131 Old French Road, Erie, PA 16509.

Property Description:

This property is huge, and has several tents set up as well as picnic table seating. There is ample parking on the grass right next to the festival. Parking is free, but admission is not.

The cost to get into the festival is $5 per person, and children 12 and under are free. If you would like to attend the festival on both Saturday and Sunday (Sept 3 and 4, 2022), you can get a discount ticket for $8. The festival is open from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Please note that pets are not permitted at this festival unless they are service animals.

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What to Do:

There are many activities to enjoy at this festival in Erie, PA! First and foremost, let’s talk food! There are several places to grab a bite to eat, including Lake Erie Regiment, Viennese Cafe, Lombardo’s Concessions, Connie’s Ice Cream, Little Doug’s Kettle Corn, and Helmut’s Strudel. IF you head to the Lake Erie Regiment booth, you’ll find bratwurst, hot ham and cheese pretzel sandwiches, German potato salad, fries, and hot dogs. Helmut’s boasts various types of strudel including apple, cherry, cheese, apricot and almond, as well as spinach puffs and broccoli puffs. We tried the spinach and feta puffs, and they were absolutely delicious! We also had bratwurst, fries, and a braided pretzel stick with beer cheese.

We also enjoyed some beer, because it’s German Fest! We had a grapefruit beer and the Oktoberfest. There are several beer options to choose from, and price ranges from $4 to $5 per glass. In order to buy beer, you do have to get beer tickets first, so keep that in mind! The beer tickets are right next to the beer, making that quite convenient!

This is a family event, so there are plenty of activities to keep everyone busy! Balloon animals were made, faces were painted, and there were some swings toward the back of the festival grounds. Lemonade and funnel cakes were also available, and we may have gone through that line one or two times for our kiddos! There’s also a gift shop located in the main walkway of the festival, and it is under a tent. They have a lot of cool German clothes, hats, and other ethnic things, as well as dachshund socks and baltic amber jewelry! There’s also live music to enjoy, including The Mad Bavarian.

Another cool booth we came across was P.J.’s coins! If you like foreign currency, you’ll enjoy stopping by this booth to check out the different types of German currency. You can also grab a mystery envelope of coins for $2! We ended up getting 2 envelopes of mystery coins, and got coins from the Czech Republic, Jordan, Canada, Belgium, Newfoundland, France, United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Netherlands, Japan, Great Britain (not a Euro), and a Euro. Stop by their booth for some fun, or visit their shop which is located right across the street from the fairgrounds at 5152 Old French Road, Erie, PA 16509. They are open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays. In talking to the people running the booth, we also found out that they sell Christmas trees, starting after Black Friday! So if you’re looking for a live tree, check out their selection this holiday season!

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Who Can Go:

Anyone can enjoy the German Heritage Fest! Handicap parking is available, and the festival is easily accessible when pushing a wheelchair or stroller.

Final Thoughts:

We really enjoyed the German Heritage Fest in Erie, PA! We ended up staying for about 3 hours, as we met up with family and enjoyed a few beers! We think this is one of those must attend summer festivals in the Erie area.

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Pleasant Ridge Park 42322

Pleasant Ridge Park April 23, 2022

What do blooming cherry blossom trees, construction equipment, frisbee golf, and muddy trails have in common? You can find all of these things right now at Pleasant Ridge Park!

Weather reaching up to 70 degrees brought us to Pleasant Ridge Park for a little stroll. Even though it rained early Saturday morning, we decided to grab the dog and head to the park; clearly we were hoping it wasn’t too muddy throughout the woods.

FYI: Because this is an update on a previous wandering, we’re linking the article with general information on Pleasant Ridge Park here. With that in mind, check out how our visit on April 23, 2022 went!

With the rain, comes mud.

Currently, the park is pretty muddy. On our walk, we went through several areas of thick, wet, “your shoe will stick in this” mud. The kiddos had a really hard time getting through some of it and had to be picked up. The dog needed a bath when we got home. Our shoes are all being washed. If you don’t like mud, don’t plan a walk here for at least a week. If you don’t mind mud, head on over!

A section of the trails through the woods
“Your shoe will stick in this” mud

It’s that time of year…

Another thing we would caution you about is to check yourself and your dog for ticks. We found 2 on our pup when we arrived home. This shouldn’t deter you from going as it is to be expected in the woods this time of year, but be aware of it and make sure to check your dog any time they spend long periods of time outside.

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Get out your camera!

On another note, the cherry blossom trees are starting to bloom and they are absolutely gorgeous. If you’re a fan of pink trees, head to the park and get some photos as they have 2 on the outskirts of the parking lot, across from the sports fields.

Blooming Cherry Blossom Tree
Perfect Photo Spot

Construction Vehicles

Upon entering the parking lot, you’ll see several construction vehicles currently parked (or at work, depending on when you visit) on the edge of the lot by the fields. They were simply parked during our visit as it was a Saturday afternoon, so we were unable to tell exactly what they were there for. From the looks of the parking lot and the vehicles, our guess is the parking lot refurbishment. If you know what’s going on, please drop us a comment!

Parking Lot

No matter what reason they were there, we had fun looking at them. The littles loved seeing the big vehicles. If you head to the park be sure to take a peek, but remember to keep a safe distance; we kept about a 15 foot distance. It’s important to let kids know this is a “looking” experience and not to touch them. If they look forward to seeing construction vehicles up close and personal, Equipment Day at the zoo is scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, 2022.

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Golfing at the park…with a frisbee?

Walking around, we saw several “holes” (they look like big metal and chain baskets) set up as we went on our walk, and noticed several signs warning you to watch out for flying discs. Pleasant Ridge Park now boasts a disc golf course throughout their 80 acres of park. If this is something you’re interested in, you should definitely go check it out. Although we didn’t play ourselves, we did see other people playing.

Frisbee Golf Hole

We never saw a flying disc or feared getting hit by one, so don’t let this stop you from coming to the park. There are strict rules the disc golfers must follow, signs posted throughout to let you know where you could run into someone playing the sport, and pathways to walk as they play the course.

For more information about disc golf, specifically at Pleasant Ridge Park, please click here.

Final Thoughts:

Although very muddy, we still managed to have a lot of fun on our visit! The mud is not bad at all in the grass near the cherry blossom trees, so if you just want to visit those and play at the small playground, you won’t end up with soaking wet shoes like we did after venturing through the trails. If you do want to venture through the trails, in its current state after the rain, we would recommend visiting the open areas before you head into the woods and get muddy.

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On this trip, we were thankful to be wearing our Vessi shoes. Our feet were completely dry because of our Vessi’s yet again! A walk in the wet, sticky mud never felt so dry! Vessi makes 100% waterproof sneakers that we highly recommend. We have an exclusive code for $20 off your first purchase of $100 or more. Click here to be directed to Vessi’s website to browse and use our code!

[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

This post contains affiliate links for a product. If you buy something, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

5 Coffee Shops for Studying in Erie, PA

5 Coffee Shops for Studying in Erie, PA

We know what time of year it is. Finals week is quickly approaching and end of the semester projects are due. Knowing there are many colleges in the Erie area, we wanted to highlight a few coffee shops students may want to stop by to have a cram session or work on a project while taking in some much needed caffeine, and maybe even grab a bite to eat!

Pressed

If you’re looking for a place to not only grab a coffee and study, but do a little shopping for books and gifts too, Pressed is a super cool place to visit. Head into the bookstore first and pick up some new reading material (or bring your own) and then walk through the doors into the coffee shop to grab a drink and a snack to enjoy while you read. Hightops, tables, and a couch provide different locations for you to relax while you indulge (in studies or coffee, or both). You can also sit outside, right in front of the shop. This is a great option for Gannon and Mercyhurst students, as it isn’t a very far drive from either. Open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturdays, and 10:00 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sundays, convenient for those of you who may have evening classes.

Above: Seating in Coffee Shop
Interested in more info? Click the picture above.
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The Crick Coffeehouse & Eatery

Although it is a small drive from most colleges in the area, we think The Crick is worth it. With seating indoors and outdoors, you can choose your atmosphere. This is a great place to go if you’re looking for a place to study while eating breakfast or lunch. The Crick is great for students who enjoy studying earlier in the day, as it is open from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. every day except Monday, when they are closed.

Outdoor Seating
Some Indoor Seating
More info? Click the photo above.

The Mainstreet Cakery Cafe: 2 Locations

Either location (Fairview or Millcreek) of The Mainstreet Cakery Cafe would be great for studying while grabbing a bite to eat. While both locations offer indoor and outdoor seating, you will find a wonderful atmosphere to dive into your studies while enjoying a coffee, eating a meal, or even indulging in a bakery treat or some ice cream. The tables are spaced well, and it’s a great place to meet up with a group for dinner as you dive into your studies. Open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m. every day except for Sunday, this is for studiers at any time of day.

Outdoors: Fairview Location
Indoors: Millcreek Location
Want more info? Click the picture above.
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Javamango’s Outpost

A quaint coffee shop and small eatery as a pass-through inside of an office building, Javamango’s Outpost offers a few tables and a hightop bar that are perfect for posting up while hitting the books and enjoying some much needed caffeine. Enjoy the calm atmosphere of a quiet space while you get your study on. Open from 6:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays, this is for morning and early afternoon studiers.

Want more info? Click the picture above.

Romolo Chocolates

Studying while drinking coffee in a candy store? Initially, it sounds like a bad idea, and quite unattainable. But if you’ve ever been to Romolo Chocolates, you would understand why it’s a good idea. With a quiet atmosphere in the ice cream and coffee shop, you’ll find couches and tables set up for social interactions or some time to yourself. If you’re more of an outside person, you’ll find several tables outdoors in front and to the side of the building, and even heaters available to warm you in the colder months. Enjoy the provided scenery of a fictional alleyway well lit with many Instagram worthy spots to snap a picture in between cramming for your classes. And added to all of that, you can induldge in some amazing sponge candy! Romolo Chocolate is open from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturdays, and 10:00 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays.

Above: Seating inside of the shop
Beside: Seating in front of the shop

[Editors Note: We know there are several other coffee shops in Erie, some we have yet to visit and post on our site. We are not trying to be selective, simply offering choices from our current blog posts. If you have any suggestions of other places we could visit and highlight, please comment and let us know! We want to make sure we mention as much of what Erie has to offer as we can! All business hours are current as of 4/18/2022, please check the hours on their Facebook pages or Google Search if you are reading this at a much later date.]

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with any of these businesses in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Legacy Hydroponics Fundraiser

Legacy Hydroponics Fundraiser

Many of you may have noticed we’ve included Legacy Hydroponics and their events in our previous articles, as we plan to also keep telling you about them in future posts. They are an organic and hydroponic farm loacted in Waterford, PA. All of their produce is ripened on the vine and harvested daily to bring it fresh to your table. They provide the community with several seasonal events on their property, and these events are always a great time.

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We were recently informed that while they were in Florida with their CBD business in January, their main greenhouse collapsed due to a heavy snowstorm. Unfortunately in Pennsylvania, insurance will not cover greenhouses. The estimate given to them was over $30,000.

Their wonderful customers, vendors, family, and friends are throwing a Bingo Fundraiser to help provide funds to fix the greenhouse. The event will take place on April 24, 2022. It will be held at the old McLane Church, as it’s now a Bingo Hall and Event Center, located at 2319 West 38th Street, Erie. Doors open at 1:00 p.m., and at 2:00 p.m. Bingo will promptly start. TIckets for Bingo are $30 if purchased before the event and $35 at the door. All extra Bingo cards will be available at the door for $15. Anyone that reserves their card early will receive a special Bingo card for a special game.

They will have food, drinks, a 50/50, a lottery/gardening raffle tree, pull tabs, tip boards, and a basket raffle. Vendors will also be set up with all of theri wonderful items available for purchase.

If you have any questions about this event or if you would like to make a donation, please contact Legacy Hydroponics through messenger on Facebook. You can purchase your tickets by clicking HERE. You can also support their event page for the fundraiser on Facebook by letting them know that you’re coming!

All money collected by this event will go toward rebuilding their greenhouse.

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Presque Isle Leaves October 23 2021

Even though the weather wasn’t very nice, we decided to take a walk at Presque Isle on Saturday, October 23, to check out the trees and see if the colors of Fall have reached the shores of Lake Erie.

We did, indeed, find more color on the trees.

However, we were surprised to see the amount of color below the trees! Colors of all kinds were found in blooming flowers along the water.

If you’re missing Spring and Summer, be sure to take a walk and enjoy looking at these beautiful flowers!

But if you’re ready for Fall and loving the Autumn leaves, you’ll find them by looking up.

The trees are definitely changing, and more vibrant than they were last time we visited.

Now is the time to head to Presque Isle!

For more Fall fun, click here!

Our feet were saved by our Vessi’s yet again! A walk in the rain never felt so dry! Vessi makes 100% waterproof sneakers that we highly recommend. We have an exclusive code for $20 off your first purchase of $100 or more. Click here to be directed to Vessi’s website to browse and use our code!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Presque Isle in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

This post contains affiliate links for a product. If you buy something, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Erie Zoo Boo

Erie Zoo Boo

Erie Zoo Boo is one of our favorite events of the year. There’s something about taking your own kids to events that you went to as a child; not only is it nostalgic, but you get to experience it through your child’s eyes, which is such a beautiful thing.

This great Halloween event not only provides fun for the entire family, but is also a major fundraiser for the Erie Zoo contributing to animal care and daily operations. We get to have a great time while knowing we’re helping the animals? Sign us up!

Location:

Zoo Boo is located at the Erie Zoo, 423 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16508.

When entering Zoo Boo, pay attention to signs as advanced ticket holders can head right to the tent to enter, which is not located where you normally enter the zoo, but to the right of the entrance if you’re looking at it.

This year, Zoo Boo is open as follows. Wednesday – Friday Oct. 13th-15th from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Saturday & Sunday Oct. 16th & 17th from 12 p.m.-9 p.m., Wednesday – Friday Oct. 20th-22nd from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Saturday & Sunday Oct. 23rd & 24th from 12 p.m.-9 p.m., Wednesday – Friday Oct. 27th-29th from 6 p.m.-9 p.m., and Saturday Oct. 30th from 12 p.m.-9 p.m., giving everyone the opportunity to attend one of our favorite events in Erie, PA.

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Property Description:

Think the Erie Zoo, but add everything Fall and Halloween! There are inflatables, statues, photo opportunities, and so much more! There are 10 trick-or-treat stations situated around the zoo, and they can cause a back up of traffic in some areas. (For more information on the Erie Zoo unrelated to Zoo Boo specifically, see the link at the bottom of the article.)

What to Do:

First and foremost, this is the first year that everyone is welcome to trick-or-treat at the event! When purchasing your tickets online, all you have to do is select “treater” if you would like to get goodies yourself! We thought this was wonderful and so fun, as this opens up the event as a great way to have a date night in Erie, PA! Technically you could do this previously, but being able to trick-or-treat adds that element of fun! It will cost slightly more to trick-or-treat, as a trick-or-treat ticket is $2.00 more than a non-treater. (See ticket prices in the Who Can Go section of this post.)

There are 10 different stations placed around the zoo that you can trick-or-treat at. Each station passes out candy, a drink, or other treat to take home with you. Trick-or-treat reusable shopping bags are provided for you upon entering, but you can bring your own bag if you’d like.

This event is wonderful because it allows you to view animals at night, when we wouldn’t otherwise see them. Not every animal is out, but you will see a lot of them.

One thing our kiddos loved was the music in the center of the zoo. DJ Bill Page is playing all of the popular songs at his Spooky Jukebox, and there’s a big dance floor for all the kids to let out that energy they’ve been bottling up all day!

If you like getting photos of the kids, you’ll love the Chick-fil-A photo spot in the Wild Wings Theater. There’s also a wonderful Zoo Boo entry display, and our advice is to get that photo right as you come in! We noticed a lot of people doing that, and we made the mistake of waiting until the end of our Zoo Boo fun, which had us waiting in a line to get that photo. We also had cranky littles who didn’t want to take a picture.

Don’t forget to have fun as you go through the UPMC Wellness Walk! Mimic the signs as you walk down the path and head towards the dance party!

And don’t forget to pass through troll bridge! You’ll have to answer a riddle to continue on to the children’s zoo!

If you’re hungry while there, you’ll find a GrubsHub right on the front lawn! Lombardo’s Concessions and Fowler’s Taffy provides food nightly at the event!

There are even more activities throughout the zoo, such as a giant talking pumpkin, make-a-monster contest, the train, carousel, and more! We don’t want to spoil all of the fun, so head on out and see it for yourself!

Who Can Go:

Zoo Boo is for everyone to enjoy! Make sure you bring the kids in their Halloween costumes! We love events that encourage them to dress up and have the opportunity to wear their costumes! And let us just put this out there, it’s OK for adults to dress up, too! We have been rocking the matching family costumes for a while, but our costumes tend to be very toned down from the littles.

Ticket Pricing this year is:
Advanced Member Treaters: $8.00,
Advanced Member NonTreater: $6.00, Advanced NonMember Treater: $11.00,
Advanced NonMember NonTreater: $9.00. All ticket prices will increase by $2.00 at the door. This event will not be refunded, and is held rain or shine! You can reserve your date and purchase your tickets by clicking here!

Final Thoughts:

We may be a little biased as we love this event, but we truly had a wonderful time at Zoo Boo in Erie, PA this year! Not only is it exciting to have another opportunity to trick-or-treat, but it’s really cool to see the animals out at night. We would recommend this event to everyone!

For more information about the Erie Zoo, check out our previous post about this zoo in Erie, PA on a typical day!

Click here for more Fall fun in Erie, PA!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with the Erie Zoo or any of the events sponsors in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Here is a list of this year’s Zoo Boo sponsers; you’ll find a lot of them running the trick-or-treat booths! UPMC Health Plan, Utz, Hammerlee Dental Care, ERIEBANK, Sam’s Club, Jet 24/Fox 66/YourErie, Mason Farms, McDonald’s, Gannon University, John V Schultz Furniture & Mattress, Z1023/1043 The Vibe/Nash FM 979/CBS Sports Radio Erie 96.3 1260/Classy 100, Chick-fil-A Erie, Sonic Drive-In, BOTH Studios, McCreary Roofing Co., National Fuel, The Erie Community Foundation

Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm

Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm

As we’re still focused on Fall, we wanted to go to another farm. We stumbled across Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm, and decided to head on out as we have been wanting to go there since early Summer 2021, and boy are we glad we finally went!

Location:

Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm is located at 5970 Kuman Road, Edinboro, PA 16412.

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Property Description:

This is a working buffalo farm, so you will see farm equipment, pastures, several different animals, and barns. There is a restaurant and gift shop on the property, as well as a corn maze. One of our favorite things about this property was looking out by the buffalo pastures and just seeing greenery and sky in one direction, it was really cool, especially when you’re used to being in neighborhoods or on city streets.

What to Do:

There is plenty to do while visiting Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm in Edinboro, PA. First, you can walk in the gift shop and take a look at everything they have to offer inside. You can purchase anything from novelties, like buffalo and donkey plush animals, to actual buffalo meat.

We took a look around the store, and after much persistence from one kiddo insisting a plush donkey was coming home with us at the end of our trip, we walked up to the register to purchase some feed to take to the real animals in their petting zoo. Each cone of food will cost $1, and if you would like, you can bring your cone back up for a refill for only 50 cents. When you’re done with refills, you break up the ice cream cone and the animals will eat that as well. We can tell you from experience that the donkeys love it, but there was also a goat that butted in to claim some as well.

Speaking of donkeys and goats, clearly you will find them in the petting zoo yard. You will also find ducks and chickens. All of the animals are very friendly. You can’t go inside of the yard, as it’s fenced in, but the animals will get very close to you to enjoy the food that you have for them. We noticed the donkeys and goats are especially friendly, and one of our littles even developed a new love for donkeys! Fun fact, two of the donkeys are babies; one was born in July and the other in August.

We were excited to find out that they have a big corn maze set up for their guests to enjoy. We went on a muddy day, and with the littles we decided that the maze would be a little too difficult for us, so we opted out. However, we would love to do it on a day that the weather was a little better and the ground less wet. The corn maze is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. from October 1 until November 7, 2021. The corn maze will cost you to go through; ages 5-54 is $8, ages 55+ is $5, and ages 4 and under are free!

The next thing we did after the petting zoo was walk around the property and look for the buffalo. We found them decently close to the petting zoo area, and all in a large pack. They were grazing, but we did get to see a few running and playing. Be sure to stay away from the fences. There is no feeding or petting the buffalo, as they do not enjoy that.

After enjoying our walk around the pastures, we visited the petting zoo again. Our littles just love the animals, and we couldn’t help staying around these ones just a bit longer because they were just so sweet! After, we headed back into the gift shop to purchase some souvenirs from our visit. We also decided to try some food, so one of us got a buffalo burger, and the other some fries to share with the kids. We also got some apple cider to drink. Everything was very good, as neither of us had ever tried bison before. They even offer a great seating area for you to enjoy your food at.

Who Can Go:

Anyone can enjoy the fun at Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm. We would caution you that you may have difficulty with a stroller or a wheelchair if it’s muddy, so if you need to bring anything on wheels check the weather before you go. We went on a rather wet day, and when walking through the fields to take a look at the buffalo we noticed that we were walking through a lot of mud and wet grass. If you’re only planning on taking a trip into the store or restaurant, you’re good to go no matter the weather.

Speaking of wet ground and mud, when walking through it our feet (and socks) stayed completely dry, nothing soaked through our shoes! Vessi makes 100% waterproof sneakers that we highly recommend. We have an exclusive code for $20 off your first purchase of $100 or more. Click here to be directed to Vessi’s website to browse and use our code!

Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm is pet friendly! Just remember to keep your furry friend on a leash! You can walk your dog through the corn maze if you’d like; this might be a fun activity to test your pups navigation skills!

Final Thoughts:

We didn’t really know what to expect as we planned to go to the Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm, but we are so glad that we went! We are even planning on going again, as we truly enjoyed our experience. From what we experienced, we believe the people that run the farm truly care for the animals and the business that they run, and that makes us feel even better about our visit to the farm. See for yourself by enjoying your own trip out to this farm in Edinboro, PA! Their normal hours are currently 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. If you’d like to come in and they are not open, just give them a call to set up an appointment, they’re very willing to work with their customers! And as their website states, if the open sign is blinking, come on in!

We truly recommend this as a fun experience if you’re looking for things to do in the Fall in Erie, PA, or any other time of the year for that matter!

Did you enjoy reading this? Have we helped you at all in finding things to do in Erie, PA? If so, subscribe to exclusive email list and never miss a wandering!

[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

This post contains affiliate links for a product. If you buy something, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Presque Isle Fall 2021: Are the Leaves Changing Yet

Presque Isle Fall 2021: Are the Leaves Changing Yet?

We went on a walk at Presque Isle yesterday, October 12, 2021.

We wanted to check out the trees and see if the leaves are starting to change colors.

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Several of the trees we noticed on our walk have just started their transition into Autumn’s vibrant colors.

However, most trees are still loaded with the greens of Spring and Summer.

Others, like this one, are noticeably transforming.

Clearly, this is just the beginning.

And the good news is you still have a few weeks to get to Presque Isle and enjoy it for yourself!

Bonus, we saw several ducks enjoying the waters of Lake Erie while we were on our walk.

Double bonus, the weather is forecasted in the 60’s and up for at least the next 10 days!

Looking for more Fall fun, places to go, and things to do? Click here!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Presque Isle in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Site Highlight: The Mainstreet Cakery (in Fairview)

Site Highlight: The Mainstreet Cakery (in Fairview)

The Mainstreet Cakery Cafe. This may sound familiar to some of you who frequent our blog, as we’ve already given you a full layout of The Cakery in Millcreek at Copperleaf. However, we recently visited The Cakery in Fairview, and we figured why not give you all a little preview of what that location of The Cakery is like.

So a lot of things are the same. For instance, the menu. The atmosphere is also very similar.

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However, outside of The Cakery in Fairview, there is a covered tent that you can choose to dine under, along with a small gazebo that houses a few two top tables. Under the tent, you’ll find heaters to keep you warm while you enjoy your food on those crisp Autumn days.

We decided to order some Fall drinks, and thought we would detail those for you. One of us chose the Pumpkin Cappuccino. This Pumpkin Cappuccino seriously tastes like you are drinking pumpkin pie. It has a really good amount of spice, but it’s not overbearing. The other drink we chose was the Blueberry Cobbler Coffee. It was good; it definitely had a blueberry aftertaste to it. Oddly enough, we put pumpkin pie spice creamer in it and it was actually very good! But you can definitely put a simple vanilla creamer in. And honestly, chocolate or hazelnut creamer would probably be really yummy in it as well.

Blueberry Cobbler Coffee
Pumpkin Cappuccino

We also wanted to show you the food we got, to give you more ideas of what they serve at The Cakery. One of us got a Mushroom and Swiss Burger with Chips, and the other got a Tuna Melt with Pickles. Both were very good!

Tuna Melt
Mushroom and Swiss Burger

When you go inside of this location, you will enter and immediately see the counter and the bakery case. You can pay for your meal, as well as grab a bakery item to go if you enjoyed your food outside, in front of this restaurant in Fairview, PA. To your left, you will see an entryway into the dining room, and the kitchen behind the dining room. You can also, obviously, choose to sit inside. And if you’re just looking for a bakery item, then by all means, come on in and pick some out!

If you’re interested in a more informative article about The Mainstreet Cakery Cafe, click the photo below to go to our other blog post!

If you’re looking for more places to go, things to do, and seasonal events in Erie County, subscribe to our exclusive email list and never miss a wandering!

[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with the Main Street Cakery Cafe in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]

Penn State Master Gardeners of Erie Pumpkin Walk 2021

Penn State Master Gardeners of Erie Pumpkin Walk 2021

We’re doing our best to find unique Fall events in Erie, PA that will be fun for everyone, and we think we found a great event in the Pumpkin Walk put on by the Penn State Master Gardeners of Erie at Waldameer and Water World!

Location:

This super fun pumpkin walk in Erie, PA is located at 220 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505.

This Fall event in Erie, PA takes place October 8 and 9 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. in 2021.

Property Description:

The Pumpkin Walk in Erie, PA takes place at Waldameer and Water World, and begins and ends at the Water World entrance. You’ll be walking in various areas throughout the park, but it’s not the park rides and entertainment that you’ll be paying attention to. You’re eyes will drift towards the ground and the tops of tables as you gaze at hundreds of pumpkins!

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What to Do:

First and foremost, you’ll park in the Water World parking lot, right off of Peninsula Drive. You’ll then make your way towards the entrance and pay your entry fee. It’s $3 to enjoy the festivities, and the littles under 2 are free. You’ll get a piece of paper detailing where all of the different groups of pumpkins are located. This will help tremendously for those of you looking for the pumpkin that you entered, or a pumpkin that a family member or friend entered! There’s also a QR code that you can scan on your phone once inside, if you did not receive the paper guide.

Once inside, you’ll begin walking. Decorated milk jugs will light your way through the pumpkin walk, and you’ll see various pumpkins and displays as your walk starts out.

Soon enough, you’ll see the carousel which is up and running. If you’d like to ride, the carousel rides are $2.50 per person. This is the only ride in the park that will be operational during the Pumpkin Walk.

We were told to look for a pumpkin on our walk; his name is Pete the Pumpkin. Once you find him, take his picture and email it to eriemg@psu.edu by October 12, 2021. One randomly selected winner will win a professionally carved pumpkin! We found him, will you?

After you pass the Pete the Pumpkin information, you’ll see a table selling glow necklaces for $1 per necklace to your left.

Continue on, and you will be walking down paths through hundreds of pumpkins. These pumpkins we carved by groups all around Erie, from day cares to senior centers, high schools to WQLN and even the Erie Roller Girls. It was really cool to see the variations in pumpkin carving talent; some were even painted!

As you near about a little more than three quarters of the way through your walk, you’ll pass through a snack concession stand. You will need cash for tickets, and we believe we saw a sign that mentioned they were fifty cents a ticket.

After the concession area, you’ll see pumpkins carved for the sponsors of the event. These pumpkins were beautifully carved, with business logos and Halloween flair.

Around the outskirts of the concession pavilion, there are a few photo opp displays set up. One with pumpkins and holes in them, another with hay, mums, pumpkins, and tinsel cats, and a couple more with hay and mums. This presents a great opportunity to grab a photo or two to capture some memories of your pumpkin walk.

You will then continue on through more pumpkin displays, until your walk brings you back to where you entered.

Who Can Go:

Everyone is welcome to take a walk through the pumpkins! We will note that you’ll be walking on a few different types of terrain, including grass and gravel; however, most of the time you’ll be on cement. We found it quite easy to push our stroller for a majority of the time.

You can also feel free to dress up the kids for this event! We saw so many adorable costumes!

Final Thoughts:

This is the first time we’ve ever attended the Penn State Master Gardeners of Erie Pumpkin Walk and we loved it! The littles loved looking at the hundreds of pumpkins as we walked around Waldameer! We highly recommend attending, if you can! This is such a great opportunity for Fall fun in Erie, PA! We attended early in the evening, but we imagine that it was an even cooler experience as the sun went down! And again, don’t forget to bring cash in order to get in!

For more Fall fun, click here!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with the Penn State Master Gardeners of Erie or Waldameer Park and Water World in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around Erie as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA area can be hard.]