Tag Archives: local vendors Erie PA

5 Coffee Shops for Studying in Erie, PA

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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

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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.]

Wooden Nickel Buffalo Farm

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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!

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[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.

Pumpkintown at Mason Farms 2021

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Pumpkintown at Mason Farms 2021

One of our favorite things to do in the Fall is to visit Pumpkintown at Mason Farms. We have so many childhood memories from Mason Farms, and there’s just something about a country oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Peninsula Drive.

Before you dive deep into the fun of Pumpkintown, we want to let you know that this post is specifically about Pumpkintown. To learn more about Mason Farms in general, click here to be directed to our last wandering to this location as Summer 2021 was rounding out.

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Location:

Pumpkintown at Mason Farms is located at Mason Farms Country Market, 839 Peninsula Drive, Erie, PA 16505. You won’t miss it, it’s a much different atmosphere from the rest of Peninsula Drive. From the road, you’ll see cornstalks, mums, pumpkins, and everything Fall.

Pumpkintown is open 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Property Description:

The outdoors of Mason Farms Country Market is transformed into a giant Fall Fest for Pumpkintown! If you go into the entrance of the large store as normal, you can continue your way through the store and into the greenhouse. Once you get inside the greenhouse, go into the center aisle and turn left. Continue until you have exited the back door. There you will see a farm themed petting zoo straight ahead, and if you turn to your left again you will head towards the snack and ticket stand, which is right after a Paw Patrol pumpkin display. Once you pass the stand, you will see a photo opp set up, and beyond the photo opp, you’ll see several inflatables set up, as well as a corn maze and picnic table eating area.

What to Do:

There are so many fun things to do at Pumpkintown! First and foremost, you can pick out some pumpkins! There is a large selection of pumpkins available, whether you want them untouched or painted. Several colors and sizes are available.

We know that picking out pumpkins isn’t going to be the most fun thing for the kids to do, as clearly our littles couldn’t wait to get to the fun that awaited them in the inflatables! There are several different types of inflatables for the kids to play on, including a massive slide, a smaller mountain with smaller slides, an obstacle course, a smaller course, and a bounce house! Oh, and make sure you bring socks with you (or your kids are wearing them when they leave the house) in order to go on these inflatables, because they will have to take theirs shoes off!

Let’s talk Mason Farms Pumpkintown ticket prices. Each inflatable will cost you a certain amount of tickets to enjoy, or you can purchase an all day pass or season pass. $11 will get you a strip of 10 tickets. A Ride A Rama is $12 after 1:00 p.m., and $30 will get you a season pass! For us personally on this trip in particular, we chose the the 10 ticket strip, because we had limited time and multiple littles wanting to go on rides.

You can purchase a variety of refreshments at the concession stand, including little souvenir bottles of apple cider. This was a hit with out littles, as one of them would not let go of the bottle the entire time we were there. They also have slush puppies, water, popcorn, pepperoni balls, candy apples, hot dogs, brownies, pretzels, and much more!

Another fun thing that the littles love about Pumpkintown at Mason Farms is the petting zoo! We love the animals that are there this year, each one was super sweet and good with the kids! We saw llamas, goats, sheep, and even two little black pigs! You can feel free to pet them and to feed them. There are feed machines near the pen and it will cost you a quarter to give them a pretty decent amount of food. With one quarter, our littles got about 7 turns to feed the animals. We put the food in their hands from the big pile we got from the machine, and gave them a smaller amount than what would be a handful for them.

A tradition we’ve always remembered from Mason Farms is looking at all of the pumpkin displays! From the three little pigs to Paw Patrol, they have such a great variety of scenes to check out this year! And don’t forget to find Granny, she’s somewhere in Pumpkintown!

Who Can Go:

What we love about Pumpkintown is that it is definitely for everyone, people of all ages. Even if you’re simply young at heart, you can enjoy all of the displays and Fall feels. On our trip, we saw a few wheelchairs being pushed, and the smiles on faces as they looked at displays were priceless.

There is more than enough room to push a stroller or wheelchair anywhere in Pumpkintown and in the store. We actually highly recommend strollers for the little littles, as there’s a lot to get into! We actually opened the back of the car to grab ours, and realized we had forgot it at home! Always double check before you leave the house!

Final Thoughts:

Mason Farms Pumpkintown is always a favorite thing of ours to check out in the Fall. Whether you want the kids to play on the inflatables or not, we think it’s worth a visit! You don’t have to check out the inflatables to have a good time. Being there just puts you in the Fall spirit, whether you’re looking for all the Fall things or just browsing the market.

For more Fall fun in Erie County, click here!

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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.]

Godfrey Run Farm Market & Cider Mill

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Godfrey Run Farm Market & Cider Mill

We’re loving all the Fall things right now! There’s something about a farmers market and cider mill combination that gives us the Fall feels, so we decided to check out Godfrey Run Farm Market and Cider Mill.

Location:

Godfrey Run Farm Market and Cider Mill is located at 8958 Westlake Road, Lake City, PA 16423. If you know where Mason Farms Farm Stand in Lake City is, Godfrey Run is just a tad bit further west from them.

Godfrey Run is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. These hours are observed in October of 2021.

Property Description:

Godfrey Run is a really great local food shop. The front porch adds such charm to the whole store, and makes you feel like you’re entering someone’s home instead of a market. On the porch, there are a few two top tables set up if you’d like to enjoy some of your food outside while you’re there.

There are also some picnic tables to the right of the building. There is also a great little hay and corn stalk display, and we’re sure if you wanted to take some photos by it, you absolutely could!

The inside has a general store feel, but with a lot going on! Your eyes will be pulled in several directions because of the many good items sold at this farmers market in Erie, PA.

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Because one of their claim to fame’s is their apple cider, it smells like apple inside and trust us, that is not a bad thing! Your senses will be on overdrive as you walk in because there are so many yummy things to look at and smell!

What to Do:

While here, you’re definitely going to want to shop! Inside of the market you will find local produce, but mostly many different kinds of apples.

You’ll find several items to stock up your pantry while you’re looking around! They have a ton of different jarred foods; you can get relish, pickles, apple butter, peppers, salsa, and much more! With delicious items such as hummus dip, black licorice, and popcorn, you can stock up on snacks!

They also have Penn State Berkey Creamery Ice Cream for sale, and not just by the cup! They have several different flavors to choose from. You can get a pint or quart of ice cream during your visit, and you can also join a pint club! For $99, you can get 6 pints of ice cream per month for the months of October, November, and December. If you do decide to get some ice cream, you can enjoy it outside by sitting at one of their smaller tables on the patio or one of the picnic tables (to the right side of the building if you’re facing it).

One thing we were very surprised to find was a small wine tasting room with several bottles available for purchase! They also have hard cider!

Who Can Go:

Bring everyone to this farmers market in Lake City! We didn’t bring ours in, but we think it would be rather easy to maneuver a stroller or a wheelchair. The floors are cement, so it’s a very easy surface to push anything with wheels on.

Final Thoughts:

We really enjoyed our trip to Godfery Run in Lake City, PA! Shopping local is so important, and here you will find a variety of things to add to your kitchen stash! Whether you’re looking for apples and other produce, jarred jams and butters, ciders, wine, or something sweet, Godfrey Run Farm Market and Cider Mill can offer you a plethora of options!

For several fun Fall events in Erie County, click here!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Godfrey Run 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.]

Mason Farms Farm Stand in Lake City Fall 2021

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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.]

Autumn Fest in Cambridge Springs

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Autumn Fest in Cambridge Springs

Today is a great day for an Autumn Fest! The sun was shining this morning (partially), there’s a slight breeze, and Fall is in the air at Autumn Fest in Cambridge Springs! We’re bringing you this wandering as quickly as we can, simply because you only have this weekend to enjoy it!

Location:

Autumn Fest is located at 24225 Blystone Road, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403. Although Cambridge Springs is considered Crawford County, it is within extremely close distance to Erie County and the Edinboro area. In 2021, the dates and times for Autumn Fest are September 25 and 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days.

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Property Description:

This Autumn Fest in Crawford County is situated around a small store called Tobin’s Country Style Gifts. There is a sign for a grass parking lot when you approach the festival, you will drive between the ropes and it will lead you to the parking lot. This parking lot is across the street from the actual festival, but also located near the tractor rides and pumpkins/mums for sale by local farmers. Once you cross the road, you will see many tents set up as vendors from the area showcase their crafts, food, and brands.

What to Do:

There are so many tents to visit at this Autumn Fest near Erie, PA! You can find jewelry, decor and other things for your home, Scentsy products, Thirty-One, chocolate candy cups, other delicacies, and so much more! It’s a pretty decently sized outdoor craft fair, and we had a really good time walking around and talking to all of the vendors. One thing we would recommend is bringing cash with you. While many vendors do take credit cards, a lot of them do not. Also, the service is not the best and we actually had a vendor try to swipe our card but couldn’t because of the lack of service in the area. So definitely stop by an ATM before you head out to Cambridge Springs!

You can also go into the store, Tobin’s Country Style Gifts. There are several things available for purchase inside, including decor and different types of cider and juices. Outside of the store, there is a pumpkin decorating contest going on, and you can take a look at all the pumpkins and see which one you like best! You can even enter one in, if you’d like!

Skeltontown Bible Church was there and provided a great opportunity to not only encourage the children to have fun while their parents are browsing, but also for parents to visit as many vendors as they could and truly experience what the festival offers. They are in the second tent to your right as you walk in, right after the Scentsy tent. You will be handed a sheet for your child to collect stickers on. Each vendor has stickers, and may give each child one sticker. Once they collect 10 stickers, they can come back to the tent and collect a prize, get a treat, and do a craft. We’ve never seen anything like this before at a festival, and we really liked this idea! Our littles got books, a sucker, and made a magnet after collecting all of their stickers! Herdsmen puppets was there putting on puppet shows, and a clown was making balloon animals for the kids!

There are also several inflatable decorations set up and Halloween scenes, with many spots to take pictures at! The kids loved Mike and Sully from Monsters Inc. and the Winnie the Pooh set up.

There is a good amount of food available, with Frank’s Fries being our favorite stop! They serve some very yummy fries that are made in peanut oil, and we highly recommend that you try them! At the Frank’s Fries stand, you can also purchase tickets for a tractor ride that is located across the street near the parking lot. The tractor ride tickets are $1 per person. We also tried a massive chocolate cake pop from Tasty Bakes. Our littles loved it; they described it as “so yummy” and ate it right up! And while at the Chocolate Candy Cups tent, we tried some excellent peanut butter cups and coconut cups! We also noticed many homemade pies for sale, chicken sandwiches, baked goods, and a cart out front selling soft pretzels.

There was also live music, as a stage was set up with chairs in front of it for people to relax and sit down. That area is also a great place to eat, along with the tables that they had set up in random places, such as the picnic table near the skeleton display.

Who Can Go:

This Autumn Fest in Cambridge Springs is welcoming of everyone and accessible to anyone. Please note that it is all located on grass, so if you’re pushing a stroller or a wheelchair, you may run into some rough patches or some mud here and there. We did not bring our stroller, and I think that was the right choice for us. However, we’re feeling the repercussions of that decision (holding our children at times) as I type this!

Final Thoughts:

This was a great fall festival in the Erie area to attend! We spent about 2 hours there; we enjoyed walking around and talking to vendors, and the kids actually had a lot of fun! We would recommend stopping by as something to do this weekend, especially if you like to support local vendors in the community!

Click HERE for more Fall fun in Erie County!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Autumn Fest 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.]

Vanco Family Farm Oktoberfest

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Vanco Family Farm Oktoberfest

Although we may not be ready to admit it yet, we are officially in the season of Fall. The weather may be getting a bit cooler, but that doesn’t stop the fun in Erie County! In fact, the fun is just beginning, especially when it comes to Fall Festivals in Erie! We recently found out about the Oktoberfest at the Vanco Family Farm, and had to check it out for ourselves!

Location:

Vanco Family Farm is located at 12210 Silverthorn Road, Edinboro, PA 16412. If you take I-79 from Erie, you’ll get off of the highway at Exit 166 and head towards Washington Township. Then make a right onto Silverthorn Road. You will find the farm in less than a mile.

Vanco Family Farm Oktober Fest runs September 24, 25, and 26 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and October 1, 2, and 3 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in 2021.

Property Description:

Vanco Family Farm is a working farm, but when you go for Oktoberfest, you’ll be focused on the shop and the area around the shop. The shop is a small building that is panted red with pumpkins, decor, and country charm surrounding the exterior. Directly behind the shop is Face Painting. To the right of Face Painting (if you’re looking from the side of the shop), you will find Funnel Cakes from Ross Concessions and Fresh Cut Fries from Larry’s Tater Shack. There are tables to the back left of the shop to enjoy your food at. If you continue walking back towards the giant barn and silos, you will find a small petting zoo area with a pony and a goat.

What to Do:

Although this is a small Fall Fest in Erie County, it is well worth coming to. There are a few things to do, and we were able to spend about an hour enjoying the property and checking out all they offered.

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First and foremost, we went into the shop. We absolutely loved the atmosphere inside of the Vanco Family Farm shop; with country flair and modern farmhouse inspired decor, it gives off such charm. You will find anything from their locally grown fruits and vegetables, to pumpkins for decorating and eating, to local honey. You can get candles, floral displays, buckets, and pots. You’ll find a plethora of small table decor and signs to hang up throughout the shop; everything is lovely and gives off farmhouse vibes. Outside of the shop you’ll find plenty of pumpkins and outdoor decor.

The face painting station was great, with a lot of different options for the kids; we saw a lot of children running around with painted faces! We decided to check out the food, and got a funnel cake with powdered sugar and a lemonade. The funnel cake was good, and served hot. And the lemonade was a hot commodity, with the littles fighting over who got to hold it!

The small petting zoo is really cute, with a pony and a goat for you to get to know while you’re visiting. Of course, this was the favorite part of our littles, and we had to go back a few times so they could get their “cute animal fix” in. And we do have to say, both of these animals are super adorable.

Who Can Go:

Anyone can enjoy this Fall Fest in Erie County. Be aware that you will be walking on grass, gravel, and wood chips, so the terrain isn’t exactly smooth. However, you can definitely push a stroller or wheelchair through the outside.

Final Thoughts:

We really enjoyed our trip to Oktoberfest at Vanco Family Farm. They have been serving the Edinboro community with fresh produce for over 100 years and if you haven’t been out to the farm, make some time to check it out! We think that this Oktoberfest makes for a great excuse to check out the Vanco Family Farm, and you may just decide to grab more produce from this farm in Edinboro, PA throughout the year!

Click HERE for more Fall fun in Erie County!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Vanco Family 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.]

The Crick Coffee House and Eatery

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The Crick Coffee House & Eatery

We are on a mission to find locally owned coffee shops in Erie County. On a random trip in the Girard area, when going through town we noticed a really cool coffee shop and parked out front. Unfortunately, they were closed at the time. We checked the hours and ventured on back to The Crick Coffee House & Eatery with hopes of getting a great cup of coffee, and they surprised us with so much more!

#meetmeatthecrick

Location:

The Crick Coffeehouse and Eatery is located at 236 West Main Street, Girard, PA 16417. If you are planning on going to any of the other businesses on West Main Street, or if you work at any of them, The Crick is the perfect stop for breakfast or lunch. They are open from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sundays. There is parking in the front and in the back of this place to get food and coffee in Girard, PA.

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Property Description:

This coffee house in Girard, PA faces Main Street, and has a beautiful brick front facade. A sign hangs sideways over the door welcoming you into this coffee house and restaurant. When you walk in, you will see tables on the outskirts of the room, and a doorway to your left which leads into a room featuring more seating. Ahead of you will be a bakery counter and signs letting you know what the specials are for the day. If you walk past those signs, you will see the counter to your right where you can place a to-go order. Keep walking straight and the kitchen is to your right, while another doorway leading into more seating is to your left. Continue straight back to the restrooms and a door that leads to the outdoor area and more outdoor seating.

Ordering Counter

What to Do:

We have to say, The Crick in Girard completely took us by surprise. We thought we were walking in to get coffee and maybe have a few sweet treat options to check out. We were delighted to find out that you can get breakfast and lunch (as in full meals) at this coffeehouse and eatery in the west county of Erie. [View their menu here.] Now, even though we found this out, we still decided to order what we had come in for because the sweet treats looked amazing! We plan on heading back to try a full meal sometime soon!

We’re always excited to try a new cup of coffee! Upon walking up to the counter, we saw several, and I mean several, different types of syrups that they use to flavor coffee. Because we have differing tastes, as we know you all do as well, we tried two completely different coffees.

The first was a pumpkin cold brew. We ordered it as a pumpkin cold brew with almond milk and pumps of pumpkin pie spice flavoring syrup. Now, we do have to say this was unlike any other pumpkin coffee we’ve had before, and we say that as a good thing! We often find that pumpkin spice anything can be completely overbearing with pumpkin spice; that being said, this pumpkin cold brew was not. That was refreshing to us. If you’re looking for somewhere to get pumpkin spice coffee in Erie, PA but don’t really enjoy a whole lot of spice, this would be a great drink for you to try, especially if you like cold brew coffee.

Pumpkin Cold Brew

The other drink we tried was blueberry blend with cinnamon and added cream and sugar. It was a hot drink, very different in comparison with the cold brew. The blueberry gave it some goof fruity flavor while the cinnamon came in and delivered the Fall kick of spice we were looking for.

We were able to try several treats; a green monster doughnut, an XL birthday cake macaroon, gluten free coffee cake, and a cinnamon bun with frosting. Every treat we tried was flavorful and scrumptious. The macaroon tasted as good if not better than macaroons we’ve had from bakeries in bigger cities. The cinnamon bun was dripping in delicious frosting and the green monster doughnut was “good and tasty and yummy” as described by one of our littles. And we just had to try something gluten free, and the coffee cake did not disappoint! It was flavorful and had a very good consistency, a delectable dessert for those with a gluten intolerance, or those wanting to cut back for other reasons!

  • Macaroon
  • Gluten Free Coffee Cake
  • Green Monster Chocolate Doughnut
  • Cinnamon Roll

Whether you get your order to go or dine in, you have the option to sit inside or outside as you enjoy your coffee, treats, drinks, or meal (or all of the above). We had no idea that The Crick had an outdoor seating area, and one table is even under cover on this adorable porch. Day date idea in Girard, PA? We think so.

Who Can Go:

This coffee house and eatery in Girard, PA welcomes everyone and is accessible by anyone. There are a couple steps to get up to the ordering counter, so if you’re planning on coming in and getting take out, be aware of that if you are entering from the front of this Girard coffeehouse. You can, however, enter The Crick from the back (where the patio is located, there is also parking in the back) and you will not encounter any steps to get to the counter. If you are coming to dine in, there are no steps to get into the entry dining area of the dining area through the doorway to your left.

Final Thoughts:

One thing we would hate to leave out of this post is how wonderful we felt the service there was. Our barista was more than willing to help us out in making our drinks the way we would like them, and offered several suggestions to us. We were checked on when dining outside even though we had just gotten our stuff to go and decided to sit outside anyway. And the “hometown charm” in this coffeehouse in Girard, PA is phenomenal, everything about this place made us want to come back.

If you’re on a search for great coffee in Erie County, The Crick should be on your list of places to try out.

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Crick Coffeehouse and Eatery 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.]

Twisted Elk Brewery

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Twisted Elk Brewery

Do you appreciate sitting in a calm, relaxing outdoor setting while enjoying a delicious meal and a cold beer? We do; and Twisted Elk Brewery in Lake City, PA is the perfect place to do that. This local brewery is a wonderful go to on a summer evening.

Location:

Twisted Elk Brewery is located at 10139 West Lake Rd., Lake City, PA 16423.

The Twisted Elk Brewery is super close to Creamland and Lake Erie Community Park. If you’re headed out for a date night in Erie County, especially in the summer, let us plan it really quick for you. Dinner and drinks at the Twisted Elk Brewery, ice cream at Creamland, and sunset viewing at Lake Erie Community Park.

Property Description:

The outdoor setting is pretty cool, with your choice of a table and chairs or picnic tables to enjoy your food and drinks at. You’ll see it right when pull into the parking lot as it is right off of the lot.

Unfortunately, we had no reason to go inside of the brewery, so we can’t detail the indoor atmosphere for you. We are still trying to limit time spent indoors at locations, and with this location we were able to stay outdoors the entire time.

Outdoor Seating

Because we chose to sit outdoors, we did not have the opportunity to go inside on this trip. However, we know that you can grab some beer to go inside of this brewery, and there is also more seating.

What to Do:

We really enjoyed the food here. Our table had plenty of plates to try out, and went for antler fries and pretzel fries, en elk burger, a grilled cheese, and buffalo nachos. Everything we ate was super good, and even the kids ate well!

  • Antler Fries and Pretzel Fries
  • Grilled Cheese, Chips, and Pickle
  • Elk Burger

The beer list was vast and plentiful, and we just had to try at least one of them. We went with the Kona Dream, and it was definitely pretty dreamy! A perfect blend of vanilla and coffee in a stout beer.

Kona Dream

If you still want to enjoy a beer or two, but don’t have time to relax at their location, you can get your beer to go! With beer choices such as Country Blonde, Elk Creek IPA, and The “Gudge” Stout, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy. You’re not going to want to miss out on these!

This is an amazing location to enjoy with friends, coworkers, family, or on a date. They have live music outside on select dates, and plenty of space for their patrons to sit. Check out their website at Twisted Elk Brewery for more information!

f you’re not going on a night that they provide live entertainment, they do have music playing outside to add to the atmosphere.

We would also recommend arriving at the Twisted Elk Brewery roughly an hour to thirty minutes before sunset. We timed our trip perfectly so that we had just finished our meals as the sun was setting, and we caught a beautiful glimpse of the sunset from our table outside. Pretty romantic, if we do say so ourselves.

Great place to be as the sun is beginning to set!

Who Can Go:

As far as the vibes outside, we really feel like this is a restaurant the whole family can enjoy. We felt like we were in a very casual environment, and it was easy for everyone to enjoy their meal and the surrounding area. We had plenty of room to pull our stroller up to a table outside, and we think that it would be very easy for a wheelchair to do the same. As we mentioned above, this is also a great location to meet up with friends at to enjoy dinner and drinks (or even just drinks), or to enjoy a date night.

Final Thoughts:

If you appreciate a good beer, and you’re looking for local breweries in Erie County, put the Twisted Elk Brewery on your list and go there!

And fun fact, the Twisted Elk Brewery is a member of the Lake Erie Ale Trail, which celebrates local breweries in Erie! For more info on the Lake Erie Ale Trail, click here.

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