Tag Archives: Things to do in Erie PA

Pressed Books and Coffee

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Pressed Books and Coffee

We love supporting local, and when we started this website we set out to showcase as many of the locally owned businesses in Erie County that we could. One local business that we’ve frequented is Pressed Books and Coffee. It is a bookstore, gift store, and coffee shop all rolled into one.

Location:

Pressed Books and Coffee is located at 1535 West 8th Street, Erie, PA 16505 in Greengarden Place. It is sandwiched right in between Donatos Pizza and PopLuck. There are two large signs above the two entrances into this book and coffee shop in Erie, PA.

View from the parking lot

Property Description:

This bookstore and coffee shop is set up as two separate locations that are connected by a set of sliding doors inside. We love that you can browse the bookstore and then go hang out in the coffee shop without having to step foot outside.

Bookstore into Coffee shop

We love the atmosphere inside of this tastefully decorated store. We’ve talked about it several times, and we agree that this is a place that both men and women can feel comfortable in. We love the dark stained wood and how it plays off of the black and white, the patterned floor in the middle of the transition between the coffee shop and the bookstore, the white bricks, and the lighting. Honestly, it’s just a really cool space. It feels “homey.” Is that the right word? We think it is.

What to Do:

We can’t help but absolutely love the children’s bookstore inside of Pressed. It is decorated to perfection, and includes an adorable hollow tree that the kids can sit inside. They have a wide selection of books for kids of all ages, babies through teenagers. Fair warning, we can’t walk into this room without leaving with some sort of treat for the kids; whether it’s a book, puzzle, or soft and lovable plushie, we always find something either educational or adorable at Pressed.

Children’s Bookstore

They had a story time for kids which we have attended in the past, but we recently checked and there are no current events such as this coming up. If you would like to know when events like this pop up, follow them on social media to get the scoop! If you’re looking for a great local children’s bookstore in Erie, PA, you’ll find it at Pressed.

The coffee shop at Pressed never disappoints; they have great drink concoctions and yummy treats to go with them. They have espresso, latte’s, coffee, teas, and even milkshakes. There’s literally a drink for every member of you family on the menu. They even have treats like cookies and macaroons; but if you’re looking for something more solid, you could grab an English muffin or a bagel.

We definitely recommend asking about seasonal specials, because you never know what they are going to have. With fall quickly approaching, they are currently offering drinks such as dark chocolate and mint, pumpkin and white chocolate, and pumpkin spice.

  • Iced Stroopwafel Coffee
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie
  • September Drink Specials

Who Can Go:

Pressed is a great place to bring the whole family. As we mentioned above, the Children’s Bookstore is a great place to bring the kids, but the rest of the bookstore appeals to adults of all ages.

  • Children’s Bookstore Room
  • Pressed Bookstore
  • Pressed Bookstore

We think that the coffee shop makes for a great location if you’re looking for places to study in Erie, PA. Although it’s not completely silent (remember, kids come in, too), the atmosphere is great for just kicking back and relaxing while getting your work done. Not only are there tables set up in the coffee shop, but a lounge area as well. There’s also a lounge area in the bookstore itself.

We also think Pressed makes a great place for a day date or early evening date in Erie. Start off by looking at books together, then head over to the coffee shop to grab a drink and a snack. Pick out a high top or have a seat in the lounge area in the coffee shop and talk while you enjoy your food and drinks.

Final Thoughts:

Pressed Books and Coffee is a wonderful place for the whole family. If you’re looking for a great locally owned bookstore and coffee shop in Erie, PA, we believe Pressed should be on your list of places to check out. They are open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m..

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with Pressed Books and Coffee 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.]

Twisted Elk Brewery

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Twisted Elk Brewery

Do you appreciate sitting in a calm, relaxing outdoor setting while enjoying a delicious meal and a cold beer? We do; and Twisted Elk Brewery in Lake City, PA is the perfect place to do that. This local brewery is a wonderful go to on a summer evening.

Location:

Twisted Elk Brewery is located at 10139 West Lake Rd., Lake City, PA 16423.

The Twisted Elk Brewery is super close to Creamland and Lake Erie Community Park. If you’re headed out for a date night in Erie County, especially in the summer, let us plan it really quick for you. Dinner and drinks at the Twisted Elk Brewery, ice cream at Creamland, and sunset viewing at Lake Erie Community Park.

Property Description:

The outdoor setting is pretty cool, with your choice of a table and chairs or picnic tables to enjoy your food and drinks at. You’ll see it right when pull into the parking lot as it is right off of the lot.

Unfortunately, we had no reason to go inside of the brewery, so we can’t detail the indoor atmosphere for you. We are still trying to limit time spent indoors at locations, and with this location we were able to stay outdoors the entire time.

Outdoor Seating

Because we chose to sit outdoors, we did not have the opportunity to go inside on this trip. However, we know that you can grab some beer to go inside of this brewery, and there is also more seating.

What to Do:

We really enjoyed the food here. Our table had plenty of plates to try out, and went for antler fries and pretzel fries, en elk burger, a grilled cheese, and buffalo nachos. Everything we ate was super good, and even the kids ate well!

  • Antler Fries and Pretzel Fries
  • Grilled Cheese, Chips, and Pickle
  • Elk Burger

The beer list was vast and plentiful, and we just had to try at least one of them. We went with the Kona Dream, and it was definitely pretty dreamy! A perfect blend of vanilla and coffee in a stout beer.

Kona Dream

If you still want to enjoy a beer or two, but don’t have time to relax at their location, you can get your beer to go! With beer choices such as Country Blonde, Elk Creek IPA, and The “Gudge” Stout, you’re sure to find something you’ll enjoy. You’re not going to want to miss out on these!

This is an amazing location to enjoy with friends, coworkers, family, or on a date. They have live music outside on select dates, and plenty of space for their patrons to sit. Check out their website at Twisted Elk Brewery for more information!

f you’re not going on a night that they provide live entertainment, they do have music playing outside to add to the atmosphere.

We would also recommend arriving at the Twisted Elk Brewery roughly an hour to thirty minutes before sunset. We timed our trip perfectly so that we had just finished our meals as the sun was setting, and we caught a beautiful glimpse of the sunset from our table outside. Pretty romantic, if we do say so ourselves.

Great place to be as the sun is beginning to set!

Who Can Go:

As far as the vibes outside, we really feel like this is a restaurant the whole family can enjoy. We felt like we were in a very casual environment, and it was easy for everyone to enjoy their meal and the surrounding area. We had plenty of room to pull our stroller up to a table outside, and we think that it would be very easy for a wheelchair to do the same. As we mentioned above, this is also a great location to meet up with friends at to enjoy dinner and drinks (or even just drinks), or to enjoy a date night.

Final Thoughts:

If you appreciate a good beer, and you’re looking for local breweries in Erie County, put the Twisted Elk Brewery on your list and go there!

And fun fact, the Twisted Elk Brewery is a member of the Lake Erie Ale Trail, which celebrates local breweries in Erie! For more info on the Lake Erie Ale Trail, click here.

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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.]

The Straw Hat Sundae Shop

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The Straw Hat Sundae Shop

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.]

Mason Farms Country Market: Summer 2021

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Mason Farms Country Market: Summer 2021

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!

Mason Farms Pickle Picking

Mason Farms Strawberry Picking

Mason Farms Raspberry Picking

Location:

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.]

5 More Places to Watch the Sunset in Erie, PA

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5 More Places to Watch the Sunset in Erie, PA

If you’re looking for even more places to watch the sunset, we’ve got you covered! Here are 5 more places to watch the sunset in Erie, PA. And if you haven’t already, check out the first 5 locations we visited by clicking here.

Shorewood Beach

Shorewood Beach has open beach access with sand and pebbles.

Click here for more info!

Elk Creek Access

Elk Creek Access has open beach access with lots of pebbles and rocks.

Click here for more info!

Chautauqua Park

Chautauqua Park has benches to sit on. Beach access is available, but is harder to get to because you do have to go down steep steps made by roots and dirt. This area does have a cliff as well, so please be cautious.

Click here for more info!

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Lake Erie Community Park

Lake Erie Community Park has benches to sit on and a picnic pavilion. Please be careful at this site because you’re right on a cliff.

Click here for more info!

Freeport Beach

Freeport Beach has a good amount of beach access with sand leading into rocks and pebbles before the shore, a lot of benches, a playground, a volleyball court, and a picnic pavilion.

Click here for more info!

Again, if you’re looking for even more places to watch the sunset, check out 5 Places to Watch the Sunset in Erie, PA.

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[Editor’s note: Please be aware that we are not affiliated with any of these parks 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.]

Patti’s Pizza

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Patti’s Pizza

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 Pizza
Turkey 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.]

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.]

Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf

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Castle Ice Cream and Castle Mini Golf

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.]