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!
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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.]
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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.]
After heading to the Festival of Trees event at Fairview Business Park, we were excited to hear about the light event down on Presque Isle, sponsored by the Presque Isle Partnership. While the Festival of Trees was about the lights, this event was actually scaled back a lot more to focus on the nature and wildlife of Presque Isle.
In fact, Presque Isle Partnership even listed some information as a caution for those expecting this event to be full of lights, and they even say “if you’re expecting a Chevy Chase style Christmas show and all 3,000 acres lit up, your expectations are a little high. None-the-less, we’re hoping you choose to take an evening drive around Presque Isle throughout the month and appreciate all the hard work many groups and organizations have put into the event. Think of it as a nighttime scavenger hunt for lights and displays around the park.”
Location
This event begins on Presque Isle, and the hours are from 6-9PM on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until January 1st-3rd weekend. As you enter the park there will be signs, and individuals can use the right-hand lane for the distribution of programs as well as accepting donations at the 2nd parking lot. In addition, the 4th parking lot will have hot cocoa for individuals, and you should also use the right-hand lane. This is a popular event and the traffic can get pretty backed up, so if you don’t want either of these items you can stay in the left lane and continue to drive. Also, be sure to turn in to 95.5 FM for the holiday music.
Property Description:
If you’re from Erie, you’ve been to Presque Isle. Seriously. But, because of the nature of this being a state park, have you ever been down around the peninsula in the dark? There may be some wildlife (hence the reason for too many lights – as not to disturb them). In addition, there are some great views so have your camera ready. As you make your way out the peninsula you actually get great views of the bay. And on the way back you can see some excellent shots of the sky, as well as the famous lighthouse being lit up. Along the way you will also find the occasional light display, and think of this as a “scavenger hunt” where you can slow down and get a quick photo at any point.
Things to do:
With a combination of hot chocolate as well as the music, this can be a fun drive. In these times if you are looking to just get out of the house, then it certainly is a great way to break the monotony.
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We want to emphasize this so that you are aware and we set the right expectation. This is not a lights fest. Rather, this is a drive through the scenery of Presque Isle with the Christmas and holiday spirit, and expect to see some lights along the way. But this is not a “lights fest.” The only reason we point this out is because there have already been some complaints online about how this wasn’t a lights event and there weren’t enough displays, but that’s not what the event is supposed to be. If you are looking for just bright lights, you may want to go to check out some lights in local neighborhoods (in fact, that may be one of our upcoming posts … )
Who Can Go:
In addition to the music and the hot chocolate, this can be a good event for children to either look for some of the lights, or you may even let young ones fall asleep before bedtime! It could also be a great idea for a date, as there is ample time to talk. We waited in the program line, and also waited in the hot chocolate line for about half of the way before we decided to skip the drinks for taking too long. From the time we were coming down the hill (right under the Waldameer roller coaster), until the time we were heading out (again, right under the roller coaster heading up the hill), we were there for 1 hour and 15 minutes. We took our time with the lines and could have bypassed those, but it still can be a scenic drive. Other recommendations some have pointed are to bring some snacks or cookies, and even go to the McDonalds right outside of Presque Isle and get a coffee drink or Hot Chocolate there if you want to skip that time. But, all in all this could be done in as little as a half of an hour or 45 minutes, or possibly even longer if you want to park and eat, drink, or talk.
Final Thoughts:
As long as you know what you are getting into, this really is a fun event. In fact, the fact that this is being done specifically due to COVID reasons and this is the first year they are doing it, it is a great way to enjoy something outdoors in Erie in the evening. We strongly recommend you have a plan and are prepared to be patient as this is a very popular event. We also recommend you know your time limits, as we arrived slightly before 6 and the traffic was already backed up the hill. When we were leaving, incoming traffic was backed up to almost the intersection with more cars trying to turn in. But, as long as you are prepared and have realistic expectations, this was a great event to break up the monotony and get into the holiday spirit.
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After spending some time at the Goodell Gardens and Homestead where we wandered through the flowers, paths, and trees, we decided it was time to hit one of the more popular destinations in Erie, Pa. We strategically planned what we thought would be a great time and day, and headed down to Presque Isle State Park. With many activities to do and many different biomes all on the peninsula, this is an interesting area to spend some time wandering.
Location
Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200 acres peninsula full of sand, woods, trails, and roads. If you go to Peninsula Drive in Erie, then just head north and you will find yourself at the park in no time at all. Because this park is literally on the water, be aware of seasonal weather. It can be more than a few degrees cooler on the peninsula than even a mile or two inland. This is a day-use only park, but there is a lot to pack in during a day.
Property Description:
There are about 9 miles of beaches, a roughly 13-mile loop for those looking to run a half marathon. The pavement is smooth as evidenced by not only cars and motorcycles driving around, but the countless bikes, rollerblades, and longboards showed an excellent place to go. There are sidewalks and paved paths almost everywhere you go, and there are also running and biking trails that cut through the woods throughout the park as well. In addition to the beaches, there are multiple spots to launch a boat, walk on short boardwalks and piers, or sit and watch the water.
Because this is a peninsula, on one side you face the city and can see all of the boats or water activity, as well as the skyline, in the harbor. And on the other side there are miles of beaches to explore where you can fairly easily find yourself in a wide-open space. In an age of social distancing, it may take a few minutes but finding space along the beach is very achievable.
It’s also important to know that this peninsula has a lot of sand. This isn’t just talking about the beach. This is important to note because if you find yourself at Presque Isle during or after a rain storm, there can be pockets of water in no time at all. We strategically tried to go in the morning following a rainstorm with the intent of discovering any beach glass, and we ended up finding potholes that contained as much as a foot of water in them.
Things to do:
There really are many activities to be done at Presque Isle. In addition to soaking up rays on the sand or heading for a swim, there are many people who just want to experience physical activity and a bit of nature. Remembering that Erie only gets a few months of summer sun, it seems like the whole county plus travelers try to pack on the beach. There are also activities like sand volleyball courts, picnic areas, and even a beach just for kites.
Throw in the inland activities and you can find anything from events, grills for cookouts, canoeing, and even big-wheeled water tricycles for rent. Speaking of items for rent, there are multiple locations either at the park or right before it where you can rent canoes and bikes.
In addition to the many people looking for exercise on the paths, there are those who run, jog, swim, and bike off of the main paths. As a word of caution, this beach is well known and gets popular for locals. We strategically tried to visit early, and despite being mid-morning on a Monday, we left slightly before noon and the cars were flooding in. Whether you are trying to run or bike without crowds, or you want to stake out a spot in the sand, going earlier means you have less traffic to fight and more space to take up.
In addition to the fun, this is an exciting place for those who love wildlife and birds in particular. Presque Isle is a national natural landmark, and they claim there are, “a greater number of the state’s endangered, threatened, and rare species than any other area of comparable size in Pennsylvania.”
Who Can Go:
While the specifics will depend on what you are trying to accomplish, this park is for everyone. In addition to the amazing possibilities, the paths, beeches, and different seating locations and sights are open for anyone. There is even a beach with handicap access for those who need additional assistance when walking over the sand. Throw in the fact that there is a popular ice cream and burger shop in Sara’s Restaurant right at the entrance to Presque Isle, and you can quickly see why this beach is always packed for about four months per year.
Final Thoughts:
The reality is there are multiple reasons to head to Presque Isle. There are so many reasons that we will probably be back shortly to try and document other days, temperatures, activities, and crowds. In a time period where social distancing is the norm, people continue to seek out less crowded locations where space is ample. Presque Isle is one of those places, and can offer many activities in a large area, while still being a peaceful location for the whole family.
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