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.)
[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.]
We’ve shown you a few ice cream stand locations on the west side of Erie County towards Ohio, such as Castle Ice Cream, and even though we’ve been east at the Double Dipper, we decided to head even east even more towards New York, and we ended up at The Straw Hat in North East, PA. And we have to say, it is a really cool place to visit with some great ice cream treats! With over 50 years of service to the North East community, this sundae shop is pretty impressive!
Location:
The Straw Hat is located at 207 South Lake Street, North East, PA 16428. It is right on the main street of town, and very easily accessible.
Property Description:
The Straw Hat is an ice cream stand that is outdoor only for patrons. The area where you order is covered, which is the first we’ve seen of this in the Erie area! You actually feel like you’re indoors because it is covered so well, with overhead lighting included. There are picnic tables outside for you to enjoy your food at.
We found parking across the street, but we think you may also be able to park behind the building as well.
View from the side
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What to Do:
The Straw Hat in North East, PA is home to not only Perry’s Ice Cream, but ice cream from the Penn State Berkey Creamery as well! Between the two, we counted well over 30 flavors of ice cream! We tried the Grilled Stickies ice cream, and it was so, so yummy! They also have milkshakes, root beer floats, and soft serve ice cream.
Bubble Gum
Pumpkin Pie in a Waffle Cone
Chocolate Mint
Grilled Stickies over Pumpkin Pie in a Waffle Cone
Some of the many flavor options!
We also love that The Straw Hat has dairy free options, for those who are lactose intolerant or vegan. They also have dairy free shakes!
We found something here that we have never seen before; the Straw Hat has a Mighty Fine Donut ice cream sandwich! We had to try one, and of course it was all sorts of delicious! This insanely good donut sandwich is filled with soft serve ice cream. Fair warning, one might not be enough to fill you up, and in our case took a lot less time to eat than an ice cream cone!
Mighty Fine Donut Sandwich
We also found several “Instagram-able” spots if you enjoy taking photos. On the side of the building, there’s a sign with a giant ice cream cone on it, as well as a vintage Straw Hat sign with a chicken on it. In the very front, near the road and within the picnic tables, there is also a giant rooster statue to take photos with as well.
“Instagram-able” Ice Cream sign
Who Can Go:
We love that this ice cream stand is easily accessible by anyone who wants to stop by. We also really appreciate the covering over the front, which makes it so that you can always get your ice cream, even when it’s raining!
Final Thoughts:
This is a really cool place! We love the amount of seating, the covered ordering area, and the yummy donut sandwiches!
We appreciate the variety of flavors between Perry’s Ice Cream and Penn State Berkey Creamery. If you’re a Penn State alumni or if you live in the Erie area and you’re looking for Penn State ice cream without traveling to State College, this is a great stop for you!
They are open from 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 12 p.m.-10 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Straw Hat Sundae Shop 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.]
We love a great Italian restaurant and pizzeria, and we’re sure you guys do as well! Our quest to eat local brought us to Mike N’ Dangelo’s in Girard, PA, and they did not disappoint!
Location:
Mike N’ Dangelo’s is located at 137 West Main Street, Girard, PA 16417. It’s right on the main street of town, and it’s easily accessible by anyone who works in the buildings on Main Street.
Outside view
Property Description:
When you walk into the restaurant, you will see a counter with a cash register straight ahead. The kitchen is right behind that, and you can see into it by looking through an open cutout window behind the counter. On the counter you’ll find chips and other snacks, and to the right of the counter are two large refrigerators full of drink options, such as iced tea and bottled water.
Front Counter with view of the kitchen
If you continue past the refrigerators, you’ll find a set of French doors that leads in a dining room. Currently, the dining room is closed. They also have a lottery ticket dispenser machine, and a small area to wait for your order.
French doors to dining area
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What to Do:
Mike N’ Dangelo’s has several pizza combinations to choose from, such as philly steak, mexi melt, veggie supreme, m&d’s nightmare, and maui! There’s something about their pizza, we can’t quite put it into words. It’s has the perfect amount of crunch in the crust. The cheese is melted to perfection, not to mention the texture is great. And you know we’re not here to review, just to describe. It just has that awesome homemade, local pizza taste to it, if you guys know what we’re talking about! You can’t get that taste at a chain pizza place, it just doesn’t happen!
Cheese Pizza and Pepperoni Pizza
But Mike N’ Dangelo’s is so much more than just pizza! (Although we do have to admit that on this trip, pizza is what we got!) They have several appetizers, subs, salads, calzones, sides, wings, and desserts. This is a great one stop shop for dinner if you’re out in the Girard area (or even if you’re not)! We will put a link to their menu below if you want to check out all of their offerings!
Anyone can enjoy M&D’s, and we believe it’s easily accessible for anyone to enter. The dining area is absolutely wonderful for bringing your family out to dinner, and we can’t wait for them to reopen that space!
Final Thoughts:
Mike N’ D’s offers some amazing menu items at their pizza shop in Girard, PA. If you live in the area, or are going to be in the area, we recommend you stop by and check it out!
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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Mike N’ Dangelo’s 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.]
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!
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.]
In realizing that the Erie summer is quickly coming to an end, we wanted to do something “summery.” We heard good things about Lakeside Beach Bar in Edinboro, PA and we really wanted to check it out, so we did! They are open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday- Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays. They are closed on Mondays.
Location:
Lakeside Beach Bar is located at 220 W Plum St # 575, Edinboro, PA 16412. You basically pull into what looks like a simple shopping plaza, and continue on straight to the back of the plaza, where there is parking located specifically for Beach Bar. To be honest, we thought we had the wrong location at first. Don’t fret, you’re in the right place.
Parking Lot and EntranceCornhole
Property Description:
The entrance to the indoor restaurant space is right off of the parking lot. From the parking lot, you’ll see the entrance and then towards the lake you will see some cornhole games set up. We went right up to the door and got seated outside at one of the many tables, which are covered with umbrellas to block out the sun. There are regular tables and hightops located in the outdoor area. If you’d like to be outside but prefer to be under a tent, you are able to sit at one of many tables set up inside of a tent located next to the cornhole game area. Inside, there are also tables set up and a bar area.
Indoors
To walk outside from the indoor area, you will pass through little seating areas that are around fire pits, which we thought was a really cool idea! There’s also a stage set up next to this space.
Fire Pit
Lakeside Beach Bar has a perfect view of Edinboro Lake. Adirondack chairs surround the lake, providing comfortable seating and beautiful views. There’s even a dreamy archway set up, and they do offer private events! So if you love the place and you’re looking for somewhere to get married in Edinboro, PA, this location may be a dream come true!
Archway in the Background
What to Do:
If you’ve been looking for a gluten free restaurant in Erie, PA, we highly suggest checking out the menu at Beach Bar. Not only do they have chicken bites with gluten free breading on the appetizer menu, but all of their flatbreads can be substituted out for cauliflower crust, gluten free crust, or sweet potato flatbread! They also have several vegetarian options. In our opinion, that is such a win! We know that everyone has different eating preferences, and when a restaurant really tries to cater to everyone, even with a smaller menu (which we loved, by the way), we really think that’s a great thing. And don’t worry if you eat meat or are gluten tolerant, you have just as many choices, if not more.
BLT
Organic Veggie Hummus Wrap (only half, the other half removed to see the inside) with a side of Pasta Salad
Kids Grilled Cheese and Tots
Gluten Free Chicken Bites
Smith’s Garlic Ring Bologna
Garlic Parmigiana Tots
Kids Sherbet Dessert
Menu and Malt Liquor Adult Slushie
Lakeside Beach Bar is a wonderful place to hang out with many differing groups. Not only would we recommend this for a night out or a date night, but we’d also recommend bringing the whole family to this restaurant. We brought our littles with us, among others, and they enjoyed the food and had so much fun listening and dancing to the live music!
And speaking of live music, we thought going on a night that entertainment wass provided was a ton of fun. With lots of space to run around, we were able to get up and have the kids dance. And there was ample space on the outskirts of the tables to move around. If you’re looking for easy accessibility and the ability to get away from the table when needed, we would recommend sitting at one of these tables on the outskirts.
Night View of the Lake
Who Can Go:
We truly believe that this restaurant in Edinboro, PA is fun for the whole family. Our kids were easily entertained and we were able to pull our stroller right up to a table for easy access to our toddler. We saw people of all ages enjoying the atmosphere.
If you are a student and looking for things to do around Edinboro University, this would be a great place for you to enjoy a night out with friends, especially in the beginning of the school year or the end of the school year when the weather is super nice.
This beach bar in Edinboro, PA is also dog friendly! We saw at least 3 dogs while we were there, and the pups were able to hang out in the shade underneath the tables as the rest of their family enjoyed food and drinks.
Final Thoughts:
We had a great time on our trip to Lakeside Beach Bar in Edinboro, PA! The food was delicious and the atmosphere provided for a fun, yet relaxing evening! Check it out for yourself before the warm weather turns to cold.
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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Lakeside Beach Bar 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.]
Mr. Shivers scoops out Perry’s Ice Cream, boasting 30 flavor choices on our last trip there! We love that this stand also has a menu that’s fit for lunch or dinner, so if you want to enjoy a meal and then go back and get some ice cream for dessert, this may be a great location for you!
This is a great place to get ice cream in Erie, PA! They serve Perry’s Ice Cream, and when we visited they had 14 different flavors, so there’s bound to be a flavor for everyone to enjoy! Along with Perry’s Ice Cream, The Double Dipper offers milkshakes, soft serve cones, dippers, build your own sundae, ice cream sandwiches, root beer floats, and slushies.
They serve fantastic soft serve ice cream! If you enjoy soft serve, this is an awesome location for you to visit. They also have shakes, snowstorms, slushies, and bakery items. And cold desserts are not their only forte, Whippy Dip also serves several savory items!
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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 the Erie area as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA can be hard.]
If you’re looking for a farmers market in Erie, PA, add Farm to Table at Legacy Hydroponics to your list of places to check out. This variety of vendors provided a very interesting and fun local shopping experience on a summer afternoon.
Location:
Farm to Table is located at Legacy Hydroponics, 1357 Lane Road, Waterford, PA 16441. From the road, you’ll turn into a driveway that belongs to a home, and look forward to your left and see an arrow pointing you towards parking down in the open clearing.
Legacy Hydroponics
Property Description:
This is a large piece of land, lined with vendor booths. Upon entering, you will see a decent sized pavilion with picnic tables. Next to and across from that are vendors. If you continue walking forward, you will see move vendors. The vendor tents loop around so that you end up back where you parked after walking around all booths.
What to Do:
This is a farmers market and local vendor market. On this trip, we found quite a few booths that interested us. We looked around a farmers market stand from Legacy Hydroponics with fruits and vegetables, fresh eggs, jams, maple syrup, and honey. We visited a lovely handmade solar light stand customized for various interests from cows to fairies. We got snow cones from a food truck. We bought some beautiful handmade bracelets from Wild Luna Co. and listened to live music while eating delicious cheese and potato pierogis.
Wild Luna Co.
It’s also important to know that there are more vendors than just what we checked out, including Stuffed Pierogi Co., Tater Tater Erie, Knockerball of Linesville for the kids (or adults), flowers from Growing Strong farm, Luminary Distilling, and more. This is an open air farmers market, so there is a lot to do and check out while still being outside. If you’re looking for outdoor eating or drinks, this could be a good stop!
Who Can Go:
Anyone can enjoy this pop-up market. It is on grass, so pushing a stroller might be a little difficult.
Realize that you are in a field out on a farm, not on a cement path or parking lot; we recommend paying attention to what’s in front of you on the ground while walking, because we did have a cute baby frog that we had to do a quick stop for as it crossed our path as we were trotting from booth to booth.
Fresh Flowers
Final Thoughts:
We really enjoyed this experience and thought it was pretty cool to see vendors from around the area at this farmers market in Erie, PA. We love shopping locally and supporting small businesses. Unknown to us, they have been having these once a month since the spring. If you’re interested in checking this out, there is one more planned for the season, on September 12, 2021. Keep up with the Legacy Hydroponics Facebook page for more information such as vendors and timing of the event.
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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Farm to Table at Legacy Hydroponics 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.]
Wander Erie 