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 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.]
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.
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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.]
If you’re in search of local pizza restaurants and want to support small businesses in the area, Patti’s Pizza might be the place you’re looking for! With locations on both the west side and the east side, this multi-generational family pizza shop has been serving up fresh pizzas, subs, and salads daily for decades.
Location:
Patti’s Pizza has two locations in Erie, PA, but the one we visited is located at 3403 West 38th Street, Erie, PA 16506. Patti’s Pizza is open from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily, but holiday hours will differ. It’s conveniently located by McDowell High School, so it’s a great place to grab a snack after school or grab an early dinner after picking up your kids, or even a late dinner after a sporting event.
Property Description:
This is a pizza and sub shop with a counter placed almost directly in front of you as you walk in. To your right, you will see a set of French doors that open into a lovely dining area, in case you would like to eat inside of the restaurant. To the left of the counter, you’ll find chips and other small snack bags, as well as cold drinks, such as grape soda and other various flavors. Patti’s has built their reputation on quality and consistency, and it’s no surprise that the recipes haven’t changed in years. They’ve found what works and they keep it simple for their patrons.
What to Do:
If you enjoy a good piece of pizza, this is the place for you. With crust that’s nice and crisp on the edges to its cheesy goodness all the way into the center, we think Patti’s boasts some excellent pizza. Their toppings include cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, onion, banana peppers, sweet peppers, black olives, sausage, meatballs, ham, bacon, and anchovies. They also offer a few specialty pizzas like chicken bacon ranch and vegetarian.
If you’re not into pizza but still want to try out Patti’s, they offer 19 different subs, 7 different salads, wings, pepperoni balls, and pizza balls. Click here to check out their full menu.
Cheese PizzaTurkey Sub
You can order your food as take out, or you can enjoy it in their dining room, which is to your right after you walk in. We love that Patti’s Pizza has a dining space; we believe it makes this a great go-to spot for anyone in the area to come have lunch or dinner.
Dining Room
Who Can Go:
Anyone can enjoy the deliciousness of this local pizza place in Erie, PA. It is easily accessible for all people. They also have a simple operation, so unless it’s something big like Super Bowl Sunday pizza you are after, you can usually call in an order for pickup and have it ready within about 10 to 15 minutes. This is why you can stand there for just a few minutes and see what feels like dozens of customers coming in for pickup orders or a quick lunch, and the food is simple enough, yet creative enough, that young and old alike can find something great to eat in Erie, PA.
Final Thoughts:
When trying to choose a local pizza place in Erie, PA, we recommend giving Patti’s a try! We really enjoyed their pizza and subs. They serve great food and are so conveniently located on both the east and west sides of Erie.
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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Patti’s Pizza 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.]
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.]
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.]
Getting ice cream at a stand in the summer is great, but pair it with putt putt and we think that’s even better! We recently enjoyed an evening at Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf in Fairview, PA!
Location:
Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf are located at 7334 W Lake Rd, Fairview, PA 16415 and 7354 W Lake Rd, Fairview, PA 16415. We wanted to provide both addresses, but please know that these are literally right next to each other and basically connected by the picnic tables and giant dragon (for kids to play on) in between.
Castle Ice Cream
Property Description:
Castle Ice Cream is an ice cream stand that also has a drive through! There is parking available right in front of the stand. There are picnic tables located in between Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf that you can enjoy your tasty treats at.
Seating Area
There is ample parking, and you can find it in the front of both the ice cream and mini golf locations.
Ice cream parking area
Castle Mini Golf is a putt putt course with 18 holes. It’s landscaped beautifully, with lots of greenery, flowers, and water features. There are many Instagram worthy photo locations throughout the course.
A great spot on the course to take a photo
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What to Do:
Castle Ice Cream offers several different flavors of ice cream, as well as sundaes, ice cream cookie sandwiches, soft serve, and smoothies. If you’re looking for something less sweet, they do offer hot pretzels, hot dogs, and chips. We really enjoyed our ice cream cones, someone went big this time and got a triple scoop! Their pricing for their ice cream is 1 scoop for $2.60, 2 scoops for $3.50, and 3 scoops for $4.10, in either a cone or a bowl. Soft serve is different, in size small, medium, and large ranging from $2.39-$3.49.
Orange Milk Shake
Castle Mini Golf is a professionally designed 18 hole course that allows you to have a friendly game or a major challenge with anyone you bring. The pricing is $8.00 for adults and $7.00 for kids (ages 5-12). Please note that adult supervision is required for kids to play. A fun fact about pricing is that the 2nd consecutive game of mini golf is 1/2 of a regular priced game! They will give you a pencil and a scorecard, so you can decide whether or not you’d like to keep track.
Practice green at the beginning of the course
Who Can Go:
Anyone can enjoy ice cream but there is a step up to get to the window in front to place your order. Also, keep in mind that you can order through the drive through if you would like.
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Castle Mini Golf is actually one of the handicap accessible putt putt courses in Erie, PA, giving anyone the ability to enjoy a round of golf. The course gives a challenge to any age; we had people age ranged in our group from toddlers to 60’s. The course was played well by both, and someone even got a hole in one!
We also want to mention that because this course is handicap accessible, it’s also very easy to push a stroller through if you have a little who’s not quite ready to play yet.
Accessible Pathways between holes
Final Thoughts:
We had a lot of fun playing putt putt and getting ice cream in Fairview, PA. The course wasn’t too crowded when we went, but there were consistently people behind us coming in as we played. We would recommend splitting up your group if it’s very large to avoid backing up the course.
If you’re looking for mini golf and ice cream in Fairview, this is the place to be!
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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf in any way. This is true of all of our posts. We simply enjoy wandering around the Erie area as we know finding what to do in Erie, PA can be hard.]
We’re coming to find that there are many different lake access points in the Erie area, such as Shorewood Park and Walnut Creek Marina. Elk Creek Access is not only one of these Lake Erie access points, but a great spot to visit!
Location:
You’ll find Elk Creek Access at the end of Elk Creek Road, Lake City, PA 16423. We’ve included a map below to help you figure out where the destination is.
Brought to you by Google Maps
Property Description:
This is beach and water access, near homes and summer cottages. There’s not a ton of space to park, but you should be able to find a spot being that this is a pretty unfilled area when it comes to outside traffic. You’ll find a little sand, but it is mostly rocks and pebbles on the beach.
What to Do:
There is no lifeguard available, so we would advise staying out of the water for swimming purposes. We did dip our feet in, walk along the edge, and look for beach glass, and we found so many pieces! This beach was full of it, so we highly recommend coming here if collecting beach glass is something you like to do. We heard the best time to pan for beach glass is after a storm, so this may be the perfect place to come the morning after one of Erie’s nighttime thunderstorms.
Beach glass among rocks and pebbles
Our beach glass haul
We are sometimes lucky enough to view things that we wouldn’t even think of, and our trip to Elk Creek Access was one of those times. A couple of guys had brought their dog, who they were teaching how to retrieve in the water. The kids loved watching him run back and forth, and it got us thinking that this beach in particular is probably a great place to bring your dog to play because it is definitely not a busy as some of the other beaches in Erie, such as Presque Isle.
If you’re looking for the best place to watch the sunset in Erie, add this to your list of options. We did come to this beach at sunset, and noticed that although there were still people there, the actual beach itself wasn’t very busy. The people who live in the area were watching, but mainly from their own property; we saw roughly 3 groups besides ourselves on the beach.
Who Can Go:
All are welcome at this beach and creek access point in Lake City. This is definitely a cozy place for a date night in Erie, but it’s also a great place to hang out with your family and friends or bring your dog to run and play. You do have to walk across rocks, so it’s not most easily accessible place to visit if you want to get close to the water.
Be aware that there is some private property in this area, so not all points are accessible to the public.
Final Thoughts:
We really enjoyed our evening at Elk Creek Access. We highly recommend this beach if you are looking for beach glass in Erie, PA and the area surrounding the lake.
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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Elk Creek Access 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 behard.]
We’re on a hunt for the best ice cream place in Erie, PA, and The Double Dipper has us wondering if we found it! If you’re looking for great atmosphere, table seating, visual appeal, and yummy ice cream and other treats, this place has you covered! It’s nice enough to make a great spot for a quick dessert or even a great date in Erie, PA. However, it’s also a casual location for quick snacks, specializing in ice cream.
Location:
The Double Dipper is located at 5320 Buffalo Road, Erie, PA 16510. You will see the modern white and stone building from the road, along with another building that looks very similar to it. Whether you live on the eastern side of the Erie area or you’re heading over there, this is a great place to stop!
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Property Description:
This ice cream stand is decorated to perfection. Featuring fresh, simple decor, the outdoor dining area was wonderful to sit in. We honestly didn’t feel like we were eating beside such a busy road (Buffalo Road) because of the atmosphere. It’s also set back far enough that this is a quiet spot to enjoy dessert. We went just before sunset, but we look forward to visiting after the sun goes down. We’re sure the string lights bring a different ambiance in the evening as the sun disappears over the horizon. Open from 1-9 p.m. daily, you’ll be able to check it out in whichever light you’d like.
What to Do:
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.
Not all of us enjoyed an ice cream cone on this visit, as we got a slushie and a swirlie as well. It was great to mix it up, and we appreciated the various options on the menu.
Dirt Sundae and Butter Pecan
Mint-Ting-A-Ling
Slushie
Swirlie
Who Can Go:
The Double Dipper is a great place for the whole family to enjoy! They have outdoor seating (and a pup cup on the menu, with a water bowl sitting outside), so you can feel free to bring your dog! The counter and the seating area are both easily accessible.
With its atmosphere, we love that this is a great spot for families to have a seat together and enjoy a tasty treat. And with its hours and lighting ability, we also think this is a great stop if you’re looking for places to go on a date in Erie. And, make sure to get your Instagram worthy photo with the ice cream Yeti!
While you’re there, take a picture with this guy
Final Thoughts:
Although we aren’t here to review anything, we have to say that this place was pretty darn great. The atmosphere was so charming, and the ice cream was delicious. We really enjoyed our visit and look forward to another one soon!
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[Editor’s Note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with The Double Dipper 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.]
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