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.]

Franks Farm Market and Bakery

Frank’s Farm Market and Bakery

Fall is not complete without a trip to Frank’s in Erie, PA! This amazing farmers market provides food that will satisfy any appetite, including a rather large bakery for anyone with a sweet tooth!

Location:

Frank’s Market is located at 5880 Sterrettania Road, Fairview, PA 16415. It is literally right across the street from Walnut Creek Middle School, and conveniently located near Browns Farm. We highly suggest grabbing a treat from Franks and heading over to Browns Farm for a little picnic or walk through the trails! It’s also a great place to stop for an after school snack!

Property Description:

Frank’s Farm Market and Bakery is such a lovely country store and bakery. Park anywhere in the parking lot surrounding the shop, and enter through one of their doors. When we went, the doors were propped open to let in the fresh air. Take a look at the produce and products outside, then walk inside and enjoy the wonderful country atmosphere while you shop!

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What to Do:

There are so many unique finds at Frank’s! First and foremost, because we are doing this post in the Fall, we have to mention that you can get pumpkins here! They also have a beautiful selection of mums surrounding the building and in front of the greenhouses.

You will have an abundance of choice if you’re looking for fruits and vegetables! While browsing, we saw potatoes, onions, apples, carrots, celery, spinach, peas, plums, and pears, just to name a few!

And if you’re looking for other staples, grab some eggs, milk, cheese, and bread while you’re browsing the store for locally grown produce!

One thing you must check out while you’re there is the bakery! Frank’s Farm Market offers a plethora of sweet treats. Everyone with us found something that looked yummy to them behind the glass. And trust us, when we sat down to enjoy those treats, they were just as yummy as we expected!

They also have plenty of ornaments for your lawn and garden, or to adorn the site a loved one is buried at. They also have decor for inside of your home, such as signs and plaques to put around your house.

Who Can Go:

Come one, come all to this farmers market in Erie, PA! The little one’s will especially love it because, well, bakery items!

Final Thoughts:

Save yourself a trip to the grocery store by heading out to Franks! No, you’re not going to find name brands and random pantry items that you don’t really need, but you will find fresh fruit and vegetables and locally made food! Shopping local is so important, now more than ever! If you’re looking for more farmers markets in Erie, PA to add to the list that you frequent, we suggest adding Frank’s Farm Market and Bakery to that list!

If you’re looking for Fall fun in Erie, PA and the surrounding area, click here!

And for other farmers markets in Erie, PA, click here!

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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.]

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.]

Fedei Farms October 2021

Fedei Farms October 2021

We’re on a search for the perfect pumpkins in Erie, PA; or in this case, the search for the perfect unique pumpkin. We’ve been to several places lately that sell pumpkins, but this one was different.

Location:

Fedei Farms is located at 7785 Maple Street, Fairview, PA 16415.

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Property Description:

This farm stand is mostly outdoors with no cover. When you pull up to the property, you’ll park in their circle driveway. Walk towards all of the pumpkins, but check out the produce available to your left. The check out stand will be to your right; make sure to say hello to the people who run the stand!

Continue forward and you’ll see pumpkins of all kinds! Set up in rows, these pumpkins mostly differ from each other. Several other Fall gourds are set up around as well.

What to Do:

Fedei Farms prides itself on the unique selection of pumpkins that they carry. In talking with the owner, we found out that she has a desire to provide the most differentiating selection that she possibly can. She wants to be the place where everyone can find their perfect pumpkin, and we think that is really awesome!

With that being said, this would be a great place to come get pumpkins. Walking through the rows, we found pumpkins of all sorts. You can get the original pumpkin, your basic orange, in three different sizes. They also carry white flat pumpkins, peach colored pumpkins, light brown pumpkins, and yellow pumpkins.

If you’re looking for a “warty” pumpkin, you’ll find various options. They carry a light yellow, an orange and green, and a brown “coco puff.”

And for those of you who are looking for something multi-colored, you’ll find dark green and peach, a striped yellow and orange, and a very unique orange, yellow, and green with stripes and squiggles.

They also carry a variety of small gourds, such as tiny pumpkins and squash, octopus squash, and little white pumpkins. You’ll also find Indian corn and mums in several colors and even hay.

While you’re there, don’t forget to take a picture in front of the photo opp spot with the Fedei Farms sign. It has a super cute set up with hay, mums, cornstalks, and pumpkins. You can even pick out your own pumpkins first and put them in the picture with you! And if you’re looking to get a picture of your whole family, they are so kind as to take a photo for you!

And don’t forget to grab some fresh produce while you’re there! We found apples, plums, pears, and several types of peppers.

Who Can Go:

This is a great pumpkin patch to bring anyone to! We think it’s great for kids, especially, because of all of the choices and colors! And for those of you who love to coordinate decor, this is definitely the place for you to choose your pumpkins!

You’ll be walking mostly on grass, which means there may be some mud, so keep that in mind when choosing your shoes. You could push a stroller or wheelchair through the pumpkins, there is more than enough room, just keep the weather in mind!

Speaking of weather and walking in rain and mud, friends don’t let friends have wet feet! Vessi makes 100% waterproof sneakers that we recommend to everyone. Here’s our exclusive code for $20 off your first purchase of $100 or more. Click here to be directed to Vessi’s site to browse and use our code!

Final Thoughts:

We really enjoyed our trip to this pumpkin patch in Fairview, PA. All of the choices made for a very fun experience. If you’re interested in choosing some pumpkins for yourself, they are open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily.

For more Fall fun and activities, click here!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Fedei Farms 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.

Mason Farms Farm Stand in Lake City Fall 2021

Mason Farms Farm Stand in Lake City Fall 2021

If you’re an avid reader of our blog, you will know that’s we’ve been to Mason Farms in Lake City quite a few times. There’s just an element of country charm to it that we absolutely love. We recently found out that this farm stand in Erie County has a new offering, and we just had to check it out!

Location:

The Farm Stand at Mason Farms is located at 8603 West Lake Road, Lake City, PA 16423. You can’t miss it, there are several floral arrangements in front of it, and you can noticeably see a fun Fall time as you drive by. With their hours being Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-6 p.m., there is more than enough time throughout the day for you to head on over to Lake City to enjoy the farm stand!

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Property Description:

This is farm stand, meaning that everything here is outdoors. Now, some areas are covered by some sort of roof, but nothing about this will be indoors. Remember to dress warm if you’re planning on going on a colder day. You’ll park in a gravel parking lot, and head to the left of the parking lot (if you’re looking at it from the road) to go to the stand. If you continue past the stand, you will see their seasonal display, along with a sunflower field behind it, for you to enjoy and take pictures of or with! We loved this!

What to Do:

Mason Farms farm stand has a ton of fruits and vegetables for you to enjoy. If you’re looking for a pumpkin, this is a great spot to grab one! They also have a ton of mums to choose from, so be sure to check out all of the beautiful flowers while you’re there. If you check out the photo slideshow below, you’ll see all of the wonderful locally grown produce you can purchase, along with some beautiful flowers! Below we’ve posted a slideshow of just some of the produce and plants available at the stand.

Although we love all of the great, healthy, local food that the farm stand provides, we are writing this blog post in particular to inform you of a “special event” they have going on right now. The sunflowers are standing tall and in full bloom, and you’re invited to take pictures with them, in front of them, and anywhere in the general area of them!

There is no cost to take photos with the sunflowers; you can literally just bring whoever you’d like and take photos! You can even pick your own sunflowers, with the price being $1.50 per stem.

They have two Fall displays set up with hay, cornstalks, and pumpkins, several bails of hay with pumpkins near them, and a pumpkin walkway going down to the display. We honestly loved everything about this. We took the littles pictures, we walked around and looked at all of the pumpkins (which, by the way, are for sale), and we enjoyed the beautiful sunflowers.

Who Can Go:

Everyone is welcome at the farm stand! Quick note, you will be parking on gravel and walking on gravel and grass, so dress accordingly and make sure you’re able to push a stroller or a wheelchair if you need to.

Also, we are super excited to tell you that we’ve recently seen photos on Mason Farms Facebook page with DOGS in them! So bring your furry friends and get them in your pictures, too!

Final Thoughts:

Mason Farms farm stand is a really great place to swing by for some quick Fall fun! If you’re looking for a free Fall Instagramable photo spot in Erie PA, you’ll find it at Mason Farms Farm Stand in Lake City! And be sure to grab some yummy fresh produce at this farm in Erie County.

Be on the lookout for our post on Mason Farms Pumpkintown information! Mason Farms always provides a good time for the kids in the Autumn season, at any of their locations. If you’re looking for Fall family fun in Erie, PA, you’ll find it at Mason Farms.

Click the HERE for more Fall fun in Erie County!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Mason Farms 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. And in the case of this post, we went during a time when crowds were extremely low.]

Ice Cream and a Sunset in Erie, PA

Ice Cream and a Sunset in Erie, PA

To celebrate our 50th blog post (Yes, this is number 50!) and Summer 2021 coming to an end soon, we’ve paired some great ice cream stands with our favorite places to watch the sunset, so you can enjoy the close proximity and won’t have to drive all over Erie to plan a fun evening!

Whether you’re looking to have fun on a date night in Erie, enjoy time with friends, spend an evening with family, or take some me time, this list will bring you some pretty wonderful ice cream and sunset locations.

We even included a map and directions from the ice cream shop to the park, so you can visualize it before you go! Click the name of each location to find out more! (Side note: We haven’t posted our blog about Dairy Oasis yet, but we will link it when we do.)

The Double Dipper and Shorewood Park

Castle Ice Cream and Elk Creek Access

Whippy Dip and Chautauqua Park

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Dairy Oasis and Lake Erie Community Park

The Straw Hat and Freeport Beach

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

Mason Farms Country Market: Summer 2021

Mason Farms Country Market: Summer 2021

We couldn’t let the summer season in Erie, PA end without a trip to Mason Farms on Peninsula Drive before they turn over to Fall. The beauty of the flowers, the smells of the fruits and vegetables, and the merchandise in the greenhouse all provide a great transition from summer to fall.

Outside View

Mason Farms is not only a country market with two locations; one on Peninsula Drive and another on Old French Road, but also has a farmstand on their farm for pick your own, and many satellite locations. We’ve been to “Pick Your Own” several times, and we’ll provide the links here if you’d like to check those out so you can go as well!

Mason Farms Pickle Picking

Mason Farms Strawberry Picking

Mason Farms Raspberry Picking

Location:

As a market, they have two different locations, but the location we visited is at 839 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505. Currently, they are open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Inside the Market

Property Description:

Mason Farms Country Market is a very cozy, farmhouse style shop with a greenhouse and several outdoor areas. Their tagline is “Bringing Country to the City” and they truly succeed at this in their market space, especially considering that it is located on Peninsula Drive, which gets a ton of through traffic.

Outside of the Entrance

There is ample parking in the parking lot to the left of the building (if you’re looking at it from the street), and very wide sidewalk like concrete spaces to push a cart, stroller, or wheelchair through the outside walkways. Indoors, it is easy to get around while pushing a stroller as well.

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What to Do:

Inside the market, you will find a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. The produce here is plentiful and plenty yummy! Mason Farms has over 350 acres of farmland in Lake City where they grow over 100 varieties of fruits and vegetables that they sell in this store. They also have candy, treats, goat’s milk fudge (we recommend chocolate peanut butter), baking supplies, jams, jellies, maple syrup, cider, and so much more!

Inside the Market

The outdoor area is beautiful, and overwhelms you with flowers of every color, available in hanging baskets and pots. It’s a great place to walk around as you shop. The outdoor area transforms with the seasons, and soon it will be filled with pumpkins and gourds of all sizes and everything fall. We will definitely do an update post so you can check it out and decide if you want to go for yourself!

Greenhouse

Inside the greenhouse you’ll find a plethora of merchandise. You can find ornaments for your garden, fertilizers, different types of pots, Halloween decor, Christmas decor, and much, much more. Honestly, there’s so much to check out when you’re in here and not only did we enjoy looking around, but the kids did as well.

Inside the Greenhouse

Who Can Go:

This country market is easily accessible by anyone. If you are looking for flowers or fresh and local produce in Erie, PA, this is a great place for you to check out.

Outside Flower Display

Final Thoughts:

Mason Farms is the perfect place to go if you want seasonal fun in Erie, PA. Providing a great atmosphere all year round, they never disappoint. If you’re looking for things to do in Erie, PA, Mason Farms is a stop we would definitely suggest!

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Outside Flower Display

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

Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf

Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf

Getting ice cream at a stand in the summer is great, but pair it with putt putt and we think that’s even better! We recently enjoyed an evening at Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf in Fairview, PA!

Location:

Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf are located at 7334 W Lake Rd, Fairview, PA 16415 and 7354 W Lake Rd, Fairview, PA 16415. We wanted to provide both addresses, but please know that these are literally right next to each other and basically connected by the picnic tables and giant dragon (for kids to play on) in between.

Castle Ice Cream

Property Description:

Castle Ice Cream is an ice cream stand that also has a drive through! There is parking available right in front of the stand. There are picnic tables located in between Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf that you can enjoy your tasty treats at.

Seating Area

There is ample parking, and you can find it in the front of both the ice cream and mini golf locations.

Ice cream parking area

Castle Mini Golf is a putt putt course with 18 holes. It’s landscaped beautifully, with lots of greenery, flowers, and water features. There are many Instagram worthy photo locations throughout the course.

A great spot on the course to take a photo
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What to Do:

Castle Ice Cream offers several different flavors of ice cream, as well as sundaes, ice cream cookie sandwiches, soft serve, and smoothies. If you’re looking for something less sweet, they do offer hot pretzels, hot dogs, and chips. We really enjoyed our ice cream cones, someone went big this time and got a triple scoop! Their pricing for their ice cream is 1 scoop for $2.60, 2 scoops for $3.50, and 3 scoops for $4.10, in either a cone or a bowl. Soft serve is different, in size small, medium, and large ranging from $2.39-$3.49.

Orange Milk Shake

Castle Mini Golf is a professionally designed 18 hole course that allows you to have a friendly game or a major challenge with anyone you bring. The pricing is $8.00 for adults and $7.00 for kids (ages 5-12). Please note that adult supervision is required for kids to play. A fun fact about pricing is that the 2nd consecutive game of mini golf is 1/2 of a regular priced game! They will give you a pencil and a scorecard, so you can decide whether or not you’d like to keep track.

Practice green at the beginning of the course

Who Can Go:

Anyone can enjoy ice cream but there is a step up to get to the window in front to place your order. Also, keep in mind that you can order through the drive through if you would like.

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Castle Mini Golf is actually one of the handicap accessible putt putt courses in Erie, PA, giving anyone the ability to enjoy a round of golf. The course gives a challenge to any age; we had people age ranged in our group from toddlers to 60’s. The course was played well by both, and someone even got a hole in one!

We also want to mention that because this course is handicap accessible, it’s also very easy to push a stroller through if you have a little who’s not quite ready to play yet.

Accessible Pathways between holes

Final Thoughts:

We had a lot of fun playing putt putt and getting ice cream in Fairview, PA. The course wasn’t too crowded when we went, but there were consistently people behind us coming in as we played. We would recommend splitting up your group if it’s very large to avoid backing up the course.

If you’re looking for mini golf and ice cream in Fairview, this is the place to be!

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

Creamland

Creamland

In our last post, we were “Wandering Beyond Erie” in Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, but now we’re back in Erie and wandering our hometown once again!

On a summer evening when temperatures just don’t seem to be dropping, one of our favorite things to do is search for the best ice cream in Erie, PA! And this time, our search led us to Creamland for some tasty treats!

Location:

Creamland is located at 6221 West Ridge Road, Erie, PA 16506. Being on the west side of Erie, it’s a in a great spot for those located in or planning on heading out to West Millcreek, Fairview, Girard, and Lake City.

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Property Description:

This ice cream stand is outdoor only for patrons. It has a decently sized parking lot, with room to hang out as you’re enjoying your ice cream treat. There are benches on the side of the building so you can relax while you eat, if you’d like.

What to Do:

Creamland is typically known for it’s delicious Perry’s Ice Cream! When we went, they had 22 different flavors to choose from! We opted for Graham Canyon, Toasted Coconut, Vanilla, and Cotton Candy, all in cones. Perry’s Ice Cream seems to be a winner every time, and we all enjoyed our cones! To go along with their ice cream, they offer sundaes, floats, and banana splits.

Graham Canyon and Toasted Coconut, each one scoop
Vanilla Kid Sized Cone

If you’re looking for something less sweet and of more substance, they do offer hot dogs, french fries, chicken strips, pizza burgers, and more.

Who Can Go:

This space is open to everyone. It is easily accessible. You can bring your dog with you if you’d like; and we actually saw two pups hanging out with their families.

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Final Thoughts:

Overall, we really enjoyed our experience at Creamland, and we thought the ice cream was delicious. If you’re looking for a place to get Perry’s Ice Cream in Erie, PA, and you’re on the west side of town, Creamland could be just the spot you’re looking for!

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

The Festival of Trees 2020

This fall, and all of life during the current COVID pandemic, has been a little busier than anticipated. The good news is we were able to get out and record as well as take a handful of trips. The bad news is we are slightly behind on those, but they will start to open up now that we are getting into the cooler weather. And besides, maybe the best time to talk about the late summer and early fall sun would be when we are seeing near freezing days over the coming weeks! Speaking of near freezing days, the event we were able to go to and highly recommend you check out was the festival of trees.

Location

The festival of trees is a fundraiser for Allegheny Health Network. Typically, this is an indoor event where individuals can actually bid on decorated Christmas trees. However, this year is obviously a different one. In fact, it’s a drive-through event in Fairview Business Park where you can stay in your car and practice being socially distant the entire time.

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Fairview Business Park is located just off of Route 98, just north of the I-90 exit. Or, you can take U.S. route 20 and then head south onto Avonia Road, just a short drive past the Fairview Elementary, Middle and High Schools. The event itself starts inside of the park, so just turning in and following Klier drive will take you where you need to go.

Property Description:

The property itself is a business park with a main road that heads back and circles around a pond. There are multiple commercial and office buildings built around the park, and one side of the road is closed so you don’t need to worry about oncoming traffic. Basically, all that you need to do is drive up and slowly drive through to see the lights, scenes and other characters at the event.

Things to do:

This is a great combination of characters, individual scenes (both fixed in place and with moving characters who are dressed up), and light displays. There are some very festive scenes, some princesses and heroes that the kids will love, and even a Santa and Mrs. Claus. While you are there, they even suggest you listen to 99.1 FM on your radio to hear the Christmas music as you drive through. The entire event will vary slightly depending on how quickly you drive (or the speed of the car in front of you), but all in all, this was about a 20-minute drive through.

Who Can Go:

Because the speed was reasonably slow (less than 20 mph), you are able to see most all of the sites. This means it’s great for children or the elderly as well. And while it may be a little bit colder, the weather allows for individuals to roll their windows down and interact with the characters who are present.

One point to note, because this event is only offered for this weekend (November 27th – 29th, 2020) from 5:00-9:00PM, it is crucially important to get there early. We pulled into the park at about 4:45, and were probably around 15 to 20 cars deep from the first car to go through. They allow the next car to go every 20-30 seconds or so, so it meant we were able to “start” at about ten minutes after 5:00, and were exiting the display area by about 5:30PM. However, as we were exiting, we saw cars more than a mile down the road to the entrance of the park.

Santa!

Final Thoughts:

Because this is a charity event, the cost is displayed on the website, but for a car with 10 or less passengers, the total cost is $20.00. It is going towards helping Allegheny Health Network build a Healthy Food Center for nutritional support. Also, it is nice to see different participants involved and sponsoring different displays, and there is even a contest to vote for which one was your favorite. This certainly is a short event for the fact it is only running three days total. But if you consider the ability to get out and let your children have fun while doing something new for the holidays, this is an event to try.

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Check out our YouTube video for some great visuals from the event! Don’t forget to subscribe while you’re there!