Tag Archives: parks in erie pa

Wintergreen Gorge 51622

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Wintergreen Gorge Update May 16, 2022

We have a lot of favorite spots in Erie that we wander to several times; Wintergreen Gorge is one of them. Here’s a quick update on the Gorge and some tips on one of our favorite trails from our trip out there on May 16, 2022. If you want more information about Wintergreen Gorge, click here to read our full blog post.

We arrived at Wintergreen Gorge around 6:45 p.m. and started at the Prischak lot trailhead. If you enter this way, be careful as you will encounter a slightly steep hill to go down (and back up on your way back to your car) very quickly. It’s not too bad, and our kids were able to walk it while holding our hands.

The trail was beautiful, the greens on the trees were so bright as the Gorge prepared for the rain showers that were about to hit within the next half hour. The trail was slightly muddy, but not enough that would make you slip and fall. Now that it has gone through a little more rain, we would imagine that today (May 17) it is slightly more muddy.

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Even though we knew it was going to rain, we decided to be extra adventurous and go down to a lower trail to admire the waterfalls. The hill we went down was steep, but tree roots provided many “steps” that we were about to take to get down. One of our littles had to be carried. Getting back up the hill was much easier than going down, as we were able to hold on to the roots for support.

If you are able to, we highly recommend walking the lower trail which runs higher but alongside the creek. You’ll actually travel back in the direction you came from, so remember where you went down. We knew where our climbing spot was because of giant cement blocks that are near a wide waterfall. Once you get down to the trail, Wintergreen Gorge boasts some absolutely beautiful views of the nature and wildlife. We saw several waterfalls along the walk, and the sounds that go along with them were music to our ears. And we love the fact that you’re higher than the creek so our littles didn’t feel tempted to go in the water.

We will say, this trail was slightly more muddy than the one that runs above it. Be careful as you will have to cross a few spots that can be slightly tricky. What is a hop, skip, and jump for an adult can be a scary situation for a kid! Keep them close to you and away from the edge as you are still walking on a cliff above the creek.

Notice how high the trail is up head compared to the water flowing below, and how close the trail can get to the edge.
Keep your littles close and take safety precautions!

As we were making our way to another waterfall view, we started to feel some raindrops, so that’s when we decided to head back. We ended up making really good time, as the rain began pouring just as we got back up that first hill by the parking lot!

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We know going for a walk in nature like this before the rain can be very intimidating as you don’t know exactly when the rain will start, but it is also very beautiful. There was a different feeling at Wintergreen Gorge last night. Everything was a bit brighter, contrasting colors really stood out, and the rushing waters of the creek were a sight to see.

Don’t forget, this is a dog friendly environment! Just make sure your pup can handle the slight climbing you’ll have to do if you want to walk the trail above the creek that we described!

And one thing we want to add is that you should always remember to check for ticks after walking in the woods this time of year! After we got home, we found one on one of our littles.

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Pleasant Ridge Park 42322

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Pleasant Ridge Park April 23, 2022

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

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

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

With the rain, comes mud.

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

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

It’s that time of year…

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

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Get out your camera!

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

Blooming Cherry Blossom Tree
Perfect Photo Spot

Construction Vehicles

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

Parking Lot

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

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Golfing at the park…with a frisbee?

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

Frisbee Golf Hole

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

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

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

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

Presque Isle Leaves October 23 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

Now is the time to head to Presque Isle!

For more Fall fun, click here!

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

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

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

Erie Zoo Boo

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Erie Zoo Boo

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

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

Location:

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

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

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

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Property Description:

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

What to Do:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who Can Go:

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

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

Final Thoughts:

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

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

Click here for more Fall fun in Erie, PA!

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

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

Asbury Woods Scary Creature Feature 2021

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Asbury Woods Scary Creature Feature 2021

We want to start by saying we feel an urgency to bring this event at Asbury Woods in Erie, PA to everyone’s attention, as this is only a 3 day event. If you’re just finding out about it as we post it, you’ve already missed out on one day! So let us highlight one of Asbury Woods Fall events, the Scary Creature Feature!

Location:

The Asbury Woods Scary Creature Feature is located at 4105 Asbury Road, Erie, PA 16506, where the nature center is.

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Property Description:

The majority of this event is held in the woods, so the beauty of Asbury Woods will be surrounding you. You’ll want to keep that in mind, as you’ll be outdoors! Dress accordingly! You will also see the inside of the nature center, which includes a really great display of live animals for you to see.

As we walked from creature to creature, pumpkins lit our path! Each of the pumpkins were carved differently, and our littles loved pointing out the different designs and animals on the pumpkins! You are walking through the woods for most of this, meaning that you will be walking on a dirt path for roughly three quarters of the time that you are there. There are roots sticking up and bumps in the path, but we did have our stroller and found it tolerable to stroll through the event. It took some teamwork at times to get over bumps and down some curbs along the way. And we do have to say, walking through the woods at night with the pumpkins lit up made fore such an awesome atmosphere!

What to Do:

First, you can park your car in one of the numerous spots available to you in the parking lot. After parking, walk towards the nature center. Check in with one of the people waiting at the admission kiosk. You’ll give them your name, and they will verify your time slot. Then, you’ll head back to the area with benches, right in front of the entrance to the nature center. If you’d like, take some pictures of your kids in the Fall decor while you wait!

Once it is your allotted time slot, you’ll follow your guide through the tour. It starts with story time, then continues on to a tour through the woods meeting different creatures that come out at night. Although these creatures are not actual animals, they did a great job keeping the kids engaged and teaching them about the individual animals they were representing. We learned many different facts about several animals including owls, salamanders, spiders, bats, moths, and even skunks! Some asked questions about animals we’ve already seen, or hinted about animals up ahead, making this a very cohesive and interactive experience.

After your tour of creatures through the woods, you will enter a pavilion with a roaring fire place. Inside, you can make a bag full of goodies for woodland creatures at your house, filled with things such as seeds and corn. Our littles were super excited to have the ability to put out food for the chipmunks and birds at home! On the other side of the pavilion is a mad scientist, performing experiments every 15 minutes for the kids to watch. There’s also a huge wall of string lights, which makes for a fun background if you want to grab a picture or two of the kids!

Following our fun in the pavilion, we enjoyed some time in the nature center, looking at all of the real animals inside. We saw a bunny, turtles, frogs, and more!

We also went in the gift shop, which is open during the event. You’ll find a ton of natural products and animal trinkets and plushies, including birds that make real bird sounds when you press their bellies. They also have beautiful hand crafted jewelry, finger puppets, bath cakes, bags, and children’s books, to name a few more of the many items available. We recommend stopping in and looking around! Maybe you’ll find something great and be able to support Asbury Woods in the process!

The whole event was very interactive and entertaining for the kids! They had so much fun! They loved learning about each creature, and were eager to answer questions when asked by the creatures!

Who Can Go:

Bring the whole family to this event! And feel free to bring your kiddos in their Halloween costumes! We saw so many adorable littles walking around in their Halloween costumes, and even some adults!

Final Thoughts:

We had such a great time at this event that brings fun for the whole family! We recommend going, as this is not only super fun for the kids but educational as well!

In 2021, Asbury Woods in Erie, PA is offering the Scary Creature Feature on October 7, 8, and 9 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m., with the last time slot at at 7:50. There are several times slots available to attend, which occur every 10 minutes. Fair warning, a lot of them are filled and others are filling rapidly! The price to attend is $9 per person, and kids 2 and under are free. If you’re looking for your chance to go, click here to be directed to their scheduling site! Don’t hesitate! And grab your spot now! Please remember to register before you go; this is not an event where you can just show up! And if you’re reading this too late, we highly recommend putting this in your calendar for next year!

For more Fall fun, click here!

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Asbury Woods 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: Presque Isle Lagoon Area Picnic Spot

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Site Highlight: Presque Isle Lagoon Area Picnic Spot

Entrance Sign

We recently found a great spot at Presque Isle State Park, and wanted to share it with all of you!

Lagoon Viewing

In searching for a place to enjoy our dinner at the beach, we found an incredible location we just have to tell you all about it! This area is serene, romantic, and truly majestic. The sounds of nature fill the air like music, and the peaceful tranquility of the lagoons of Presque Isle will leave you with a calming feeling.

Kayaks

There are plenty of picnic tables and a viewing deck for the lagoon, which has benches for you to relax on. You could even set up a great picnic on the viewing deck, if you wanted to.

One of many picnic tables

We picnicked at the table right by the viewing area, and enjoyed watching kayaks and small pontoons travel through the waters.

Boats passing through

There is ample room for parking in the designated lot, and plenty of picnic tables stationed throughout the area. Charcoal grills are provided if you would like to use them.

Ample Parking

We’ve included a map below, to try and give you an idea of where the Lagoon Area Picnic Spot is located. If you search “Evening Lagoon by Pontoon” in Google Maps, it will take you to the general area.

Location

Again, we really enjoyed this spot. Having grown up in Erie and been to Presque Isle so, so many times, this outing was the first time we had ever seen this area! If you’re looking for places to eat at Presque Isle, this could be a great spot for you! We hope you check it out and love it just a much as we do!

[Note: This is a Site Highlight post, a short and sweet yet informative look at a place within a place.]

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

Ice Cream and a Sunset in Erie, PA

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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.]

Erie Zoo

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Erie Zoo

The Erie Zoo is easily one of our favorite places to go in Erie. Whether you’re looking for something to occupy your whole day or even just an hour, this zoo makes it easy to do either. From observing and learning about the animals, to getting some exercise, going on a few rides, and getting some yummy treats, the Erie Zoo provides the perfect outing for anyone in Erie, PA.

Location:

The Erie Zoo is located at 423 W 38th St, Erie, PA 16508. It’s conveniently located near the Glenwood YMCA, the NWPA Pet Emergency Center, Flo Fabrizio Ice Center, and J.C. Martin Golf Course.

  • Zoo Entrance
  • Right outside of the Main Building

Property Description:

The zoo has 7 main areas that house animals such as mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and insects. The zoo is 15 acres; to give you an idea of how big it is, the zoo website suggests to plan for a leisurely stroll to take about 2 hours, but our time frames at the zoo have varied from 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on what our goal was for the day and who we went with.

Zoo Map

There is a gift shop that is located at the entrance to the zoo, with many different types of fun things to take home to remember your trip to the Erie Zoo.

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What to Do:

There’s so much to do at The Erie Zoo! We love walking around, looking at and learning about all of the different animals! There are over 400 animals to discover! You can enjoy watching the big cats, llamas, and even walk through a kangaroo exhibit and aviary!

Tiger

The zoo is also home to 11 gardens located throughout the property. Some of these gardens help in creating a habitat for the animals, while others display specify plants or have a theme. They are absolutely beautiful, providing an added abundance of color to your trip to the zoo. They also attract many insects that are not official members of the zoos internal family of animals, such as butterflies.

There are a few food and beverage stands throughout the zoo. The Children’s Zoo has the only current indoor location, with food available such as popcorn, pizza, animal cookies, and cotton candy. If you’re thirsty, you can get a slushie (with a souvenir cup or not) or a soft drink. Other stands are located near the train and by the porcupines. The stands that are open vary, so be sure to ask upon entering which locations are serving on that particular day.

  • Children’s Zoo Food Stand
  • Animal Crackers
  • Pizza
  • Popcorn

There are two rides at the Erie Zoo, the train and the carousel. The train ride takes roughly 10-15 minutes depending on what the animals near the creek are doing, and the carousel rides vary, but we would estimate about 3-5 minutes. Both rides require additional cost to admission; both the train and the carousel are $3 for nonmembers and $2 for members. The train is located at the front of the zoo, and the carousel is located in the Children’s Zoo.

Carousel
Train

There is also a wooden playground located inside of the Children’s Zoo for the kids to get out that extra pent up energy!

Bridge to Children’s Zoo

The zoo also hosts several themed days, such as equipment day, throughout the summer and a special Zoo Boo in the fall.

Who Can Go:

Anyone can enjoy the Erie Zoo. It’s easily accessible by stroller or wheelchair, and you can rent either of these at the gift shop, strollers ranging from $7-$8.

And although you can’t bring your own animals to the zoo, they do allow service dogs.

Keepers and caretakers of the animals walk around the zoo throughout the day in order to do their job. We have spoken with them on a few occasions, and they were happy to answer any questions we had and tell the littles all about the animals they take care of. If you’re truly interested in learning about an animal, please do not hesitate to ask a keeper any questions you have!

A zoo educator talks about Toby, the Eurasian Lynx, and how he’s trained by the keepers.

We think that often times people just think a zoo is a place to stare at the animals, when in fact, it can be a place to have a true learning experience and understand how these animals are being cared for and protected.

Llamas and Alpacas

Final Thoughts:

We absolutely love and appreciate the Erie Zoo. The care that we have seen the keepers give to animals there has always been very loving and we can tell how much they truly adore the animals.

The Erie Zoo is currently fundraising for what they’re calling Wild Open Spaces. The goal is to raise $10,000,000 to offer more wild open spaces for the animals and to help them better take care of the animals and plants at the zoo. They also want to expand the zoo, creating a new giraffe building and yard and a new bear exhibit. They also plan to add a new indoor concession area providing amazing views of the zoo and surrounding property. We think everyone in Erie is super excited about this addition, as the Erie Zoo is a beloved part of Erie County. If you feel called to donate to the zoo, please click here to learn more and to donate.

And one fun fact for you guys about an Erie Zoo native; Dugan, formerly Spike, is a rhino that was transferred to the Erie Zoo in 1998. He lived at the zoo for 20 years until 2018 when he was transported to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where he is part of the AZA Species Survival Program and has had two offspring (that we’re aware of) since he got there. [ source: https://www.worldrhino.com/spike-dugan-1080/ ]

Find out more about the Erie Zoo at www.eriezoo.org.

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Kangaroo
Warthog
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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Erie Zoo 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.]

Freeport Beach

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Freeport Beach

Have you ever gone somewhere assuming it’s one thing, but being completely surprised by what you find there? That’s what happened to us when we went to Freeport Beach in North East, PA.

Location:

Freeport Beach is located at 1 Freeport Road, North East, PA 16428. Freeport Road is Route 89, so if you get off of the highway and head towards town, you literally do not have to make any turns to get to the beach. Just go straight, pass through town, keep going a bit more, and you will end up there.

Property Description:

We went to this park not knowing what to expect, and it took us by surprise! Not only does it have plenty of beach access, but also a playground, picnic pavilion, a volleyball net, plenty of benches, and public restrooms.

The beach access is simple, yet enchanting. There’s a short sand area that then melts into rocks and pebbles which the waves crash into. It’s a great combination for everyone; we had members of our group sit on the benches in the sand, some on the rocks (skipping rocks, of course), and some walking along the water.

What to Do:

Freeport Beach has something for everyone in the family to enjoy. The kids will love playing on the playground equipment right off of the beach. Adults will enjoy the benches all throughout the park as well as the ability to lay towels or blankets out on the sand to catch some rays. And the fact that there’s a bathroom within the park is a positive for everyone!

You can swim on this beach as a lifeguard is typically on duty from 12 p.m. until sunset. As with any other beach, we would not recommend swimming unless the lifeguard is present.

If you’re looking for places to watch the sunset in Erie, PA, we think Freeport Beach should be on your list. The sunset will be slightly angled here, but it is beautiful nonetheless. The benches along the beach are great for relaxing or even snuggling close if you’re on a date; not to mention you don’t have to go on the sand if you don’t want to in order to enjoy the sunset.

Who Can Go:

This is a beautifully laid out park, with space for everyone to get around. There is a mat laid out for easy access to the shore, and various areas to stop and take a load off of your feet. We did not bring our stroller, but walking on the mat that is provided made us realize that it would be easy to push a wheelchair or stroller to the end of the mat if you wanted to get a closer view of the water.

While dogs are welcome at the park in general, they are not permitted on the beach. We were kind of bummed because we actually had a pup with us, but the benches and other areas of the park gave some of our group something to do while the others were on the beach.

Final Thoughts:

Freeport Beach in North East, PA is a great place to spend the whole day at. With a few food options available up the road, we could easily see how this park could be an all day affair. Enjoy a picnic lunch, play a game of volleyball, relax on the sand, take a swim, play on the playground, and end your day with a beautiful Lake Erie Sunset.

Check out more beaches in the area here.

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

Chautauqua Park

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Chautauqua Park

Our quest to find the perfect sunst watching destination brought us to Chautauqua Park. If you’re looking for parks in Erie, PA, the simplicity and beautiful views of Chautauqua Park may be perfect for you.

Location:

Chautauqua Park is located at Lakeside Drive and Chautauqua Boulevard, Erie, PA 16511.

Great spot to watch the sun go down

Property Description:

This has a very “park like” setting, with a picnic pavilion and plenty of benches to sit on so that you can relax and enjoy the view of beautiful Lake Erie. The park is open from 8 a.m.-9 p.m. daily.

There is a small parking lot located on the edge of the park right at the meeting of Lakeside Drive and Chautauqua Boulevard, but there are not many spaces, so be aware of that if you plan on meeting up with a large group.

What to Do:

Chautauqua Park is a great place to watch the sunset in Erie, PA, and in fact, the reason we visited in the first place. However, once there, we realized that the park had more to offer.

This would be a great place to come to for a family gathering, a meet up with friends, or a simple date. Because of the picnic pavilion and tables provided, we thought it might be a good place to bring a meal, hang out, and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.

Picnic pavilion and other seating

There is a utility road with access to a creek, but you cannot get into the water. It is, however, a nice place to enjoy the views of the lake.

Creek Access

Clearly, watching the sunset from this location can be stunning. The park provides several benches that allow you to take a load off your feet and watch the beauty that is an Erie sunset. If you enjoy photography, this would be a great place to post up for the evening and capture some beautiful photos.

Sunset

Who Can Go:

We think this park is very accessible by anyone, except if you’d like to walk down to the actual shoreline. There at stairs to get down, but they are built into the earth and very, very steep. One of us was brave enough to venture down and take some photos.

Yep. This is how you get down to the beach.

If you’re looking for beach glass in Erie, this might be the perfect park for you as we found a ton of it on the shoreline at the beach. You do have to walk down steep steps, but if you’re an adventurer and enjoy collecting or crafting with beach glass, this could be a great spot for you!

Pets are welcome at Chautauqua Park, but be sure to keep them on a leash and clean up after them!

Final Thoughts:

We enjoyed Chautauqua Park, especially as an option to go to when wanting to watch the sunset in Erie, PA. This is not a place to swim, so if that’s what you’re looking to do, we would advise to steer clear of this location. It’s a park we think would be great to spend a little bit of time at, whether you want to just take in the beauty of your surroundings, or enjoy a simple meal in the picnic pavillion.

Sunset view from a park bench

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