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.
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!
And if you enjoy our blog, please subscribe by entering your email below!
[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.
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.
Advertisements
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!
Did you enjoy reading this? Have we helped you at all in finding things to do in Erie, PA? If so, subscribe to exclusive email list and never miss a wandering!
[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 canbe hard.]
This post contains affiliate links for a product. If you buy something, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
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!
Advertisements
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.
[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.]
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.
Advertisements
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!
[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.]
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.
Advertisements
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!
[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.]
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.]
Like what you read? Subscribe below and like us on Facebook to be notified of new things to do in Erie County whenever we post!
[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.]
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
Advertisements
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.
Like what you read? Join our exclusive list and be notified of new things to do in Erie County whenever we post!
[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.
Advertisements
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!
Like what you read? Subscribe below and be notified of new things to do in Erie County whenever we post!
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.
Like what you read? Subscribe below and be notified of new things to do in Erie County whenever we post!
[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.]
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
Like what you read? Subscribe below and be notified of new things to do in Erie County whenever we post!
[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.]
Wander Erie 