Erie Guidebook

Sarah
Erie Guidebook

Signtseeing & Entertainment

Home of the Erie Seawolves, the AA team of the Detroit Tigers. The stadium is great with awesome food, and the game is fun, too.
6 locals recommend
UPMC Park
831 E 10th St
6 locals recommend
Home of the Erie Seawolves, the AA team of the Detroit Tigers. The stadium is great with awesome food, and the game is fun, too.
Find the best in local and regional art here. Independently owned and operated by friendly, knowledgeable staff.
7 locals recommend
Glass Growers Gallery
10 E 5th St
7 locals recommend
Find the best in local and regional art here. Independently owned and operated by friendly, knowledgeable staff.
See world-class basketball, hockey, music, and more at the Erie Insurance Arena all year ‘round.
8 locals recommend
Erie Insurance Arena
809 French St
8 locals recommend
See world-class basketball, hockey, music, and more at the Erie Insurance Arena all year ‘round.
Plays on most weekends. Visit their website to see what's playing. Erie has amazing local talent!
6 locals recommend
Erie Playhouse
13 W 10th St
6 locals recommend
Plays on most weekends. Visit their website to see what's playing. Erie has amazing local talent!
An educational center dedicated to teaching visitors about the unique 3,200 acres of Presque Isle and the many different forms of life that inhabit the peninsula. While some facilities along the Great Lakes offer environmental education and others do research, none offer research, education, and visitor services in one place, making TREC a unique destination for learning, wonder, and fun. TREC is open year-round and offers free admission to its interactive exhibits, glass-enclosed tower, and orientation movie.
24 locals recommend
Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle
301 Peninsula Dr
24 locals recommend
An educational center dedicated to teaching visitors about the unique 3,200 acres of Presque Isle and the many different forms of life that inhabit the peninsula. While some facilities along the Great Lakes offer environmental education and others do research, none offer research, education, and visitor services in one place, making TREC a unique destination for learning, wonder, and fun. TREC is open year-round and offers free admission to its interactive exhibits, glass-enclosed tower, and orientation movie.
A Polynesian-themed indoor waterpark that is approximately 80,000 square feet. It features seven water slides, two hot tubs, one large activity pool, and a children's area.
52 locals recommend
Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort
8091 Peach St
52 locals recommend
A Polynesian-themed indoor waterpark that is approximately 80,000 square feet. It features seven water slides, two hot tubs, one large activity pool, and a children's area.
Casino and horse racing track with over 1,500 slots, 32 table games, 7 poker tables and 50 BetAmerica sports betting kiosks.
43 locals recommend
Presque Isle Downs and Casino
8199 Perry Hwy
43 locals recommend
Casino and horse racing track with over 1,500 slots, 32 table games, 7 poker tables and 50 BetAmerica sports betting kiosks.
A great place to take the family! Lots of fun for the little ones. Large enough to enjoy and small enough to walk in a few hours.
50 locals recommend
Erie Zoo
423 W 38th St
50 locals recommend
A great place to take the family! Lots of fun for the little ones. Large enough to enjoy and small enough to walk in a few hours.
A great, recently renovated, modern small art museum that is well worth the visit.
30 locals recommend
Erie Art Museum
20 E 5th St
30 locals recommend
A great, recently renovated, modern small art museum that is well worth the visit.
Go play at the children’s museum. Lots of fun for the whole family!
18 locals recommend
Experience Childrens Museum
420 French St
18 locals recommend
Go play at the children’s museum. Lots of fun for the whole family!
This is a historic reproduction of the original Brig Niagara that fought in the Battle of Lake Erie. Commodore Perry flew his standard that said, "Don't give up the ship!" The Niagara sails in tall ships festivals all over the world, so she is not always in port.
9 locals recommend
Flagship Niagara League
150 E Front St
9 locals recommend
This is a historic reproduction of the original Brig Niagara that fought in the Battle of Lake Erie. Commodore Perry flew his standard that said, "Don't give up the ship!" The Niagara sails in tall ships festivals all over the world, so she is not always in port.
Homemade apple cider! And, real bacon and maple frosted cream doughnuts that are so good! This little gem serves a variety of delicious baked goods made fresh onsite, specialty cheeses, and other general store type items.
Fuhrman's Cider Mill-Bakery-General Store
8270 Peach St
Homemade apple cider! And, real bacon and maple frosted cream doughnuts that are so good! This little gem serves a variety of delicious baked goods made fresh onsite, specialty cheeses, and other general store type items.
Home to the larger-than-life sculptures made out of recycled metal and automotive parts. Great way to spend some time outdoors with the kiddos!
Schaefer's Auto Art
3705 Hershey Rd
Home to the larger-than-life sculptures made out of recycled metal and automotive parts. Great way to spend some time outdoors with the kiddos!
The Regional History Museum, which is located on the 2nd and 3rd floors while the 1st floor interprets Victorian furniture and décor.
Watson-Curtze Mansion
356 W 6th St
The Regional History Museum, which is located on the 2nd and 3rd floors while the 1st floor interprets Victorian furniture and décor.
For anyone who wants to experience a new dining experience, energetic happy hours, or family-friendly, picnic-style fun, all while taking in the exquisite views of Lake Erie, go aboard Erie’s only authentic paddle wheeler, The Victorian Princess.
11 locals recommend
Victorian Princess Cruise Line
1 State St
11 locals recommend
For anyone who wants to experience a new dining experience, energetic happy hours, or family-friendly, picnic-style fun, all while taking in the exquisite views of Lake Erie, go aboard Erie’s only authentic paddle wheeler, The Victorian Princess.
Down at the pier @ 1030 West Bay front Parkway & State Street, Erie, PA. Take a walk on the dock, ride the ferry around the bay, fish off the dock, climb the Bicentennial Tower to catch a fantastic view. Or, take a romantic & scenic dinner cruise on the Victorian Princess paddleboat where you can enjoy a brunch, lunch, dinner, or take a happy hour cruise.
8 locals recommend
Dobbins Landing
Dobbins Landing
8 locals recommend
Down at the pier @ 1030 West Bay front Parkway & State Street, Erie, PA. Take a walk on the dock, ride the ferry around the bay, fish off the dock, climb the Bicentennial Tower to catch a fantastic view. Or, take a romantic & scenic dinner cruise on the Victorian Princess paddleboat where you can enjoy a brunch, lunch, dinner, or take a happy hour cruise.
Film Grain is a dinner and a movie series at the Bourbon Barrel in downtown Erie. The Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania curates the program and runs the event. Check out filmsocietynwpa.org for screenings.
The Bourbon Barrel
1213 State St
Film Grain is a dinner and a movie series at the Bourbon Barrel in downtown Erie. The Film Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania curates the program and runs the event. Check out filmsocietynwpa.org for screenings.
Historic theater where you can see all sorts of world-class entertainment coming to Erie.
15 locals recommend
Warner Theater
811 State St
15 locals recommend
Historic theater where you can see all sorts of world-class entertainment coming to Erie.

Nature Parks

The best park in Erie! This natural sanctuary is actually an arboretum so it’s educational, too. Great for walking, biking, exploring. Can catch events, arts, performers here as well during warmer months at the outdoor theater. Take a stroll and enjoy this gorgeous refuge in the city.
10 locals recommend
Lake Erie Arboretum at Frontier
1501 W 6th St
10 locals recommend
The best park in Erie! This natural sanctuary is actually an arboretum so it’s educational, too. Great for walking, biking, exploring. Can catch events, arts, performers here as well during warmer months at the outdoor theater. Take a stroll and enjoy this gorgeous refuge in the city.
Great outdoors & woodsy walking, running, hiking, and biking trails. Great for getting your dose of nature and exploration... and free! Also excellent for snowshoeing, cross country skiing (both available to rent at the nature center in the winter).
26 locals recommend
Asbury Woods
4105 Asbury Rd
26 locals recommend
Great outdoors & woodsy walking, running, hiking, and biking trails. Great for getting your dose of nature and exploration... and free! Also excellent for snowshoeing, cross country skiing (both available to rent at the nature center in the winter).
Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200-acre sandy peninsula that arches into Lake Erie. As Pennsylvania’s only “seashore,” Presque Isle offers a beautiful coastline and many recreational activities, including swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling, and in-line skating. Thanks to the many unique habitats, Presque Isle, a National Natural Landmark, contains a greater number of the state's endangered, threatened, and rare species than any other area of comparable size in Pennsylvania.
87 locals recommend
Presque Isle State Park
64 Old Lake Rd
87 locals recommend
Presque Isle State Park is a 3,200-acre sandy peninsula that arches into Lake Erie. As Pennsylvania’s only “seashore,” Presque Isle offers a beautiful coastline and many recreational activities, including swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling, and in-line skating. Thanks to the many unique habitats, Presque Isle, a National Natural Landmark, contains a greater number of the state's endangered, threatened, and rare species than any other area of comparable size in Pennsylvania.
Amazing hiking in a beautiful gorge, very close to the city.
11 locals recommend
Wintergreen Gorge
3399 Cooper Rd
11 locals recommend
Amazing hiking in a beautiful gorge, very close to the city.

Wineries

Erie’s first winery. Beautiful atmosphere, friendly staff, variety of products. The strawberry lemonade hard cider is a favorite summer drink!
18 locals recommend
Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co
11727 E Main St
18 locals recommend
Erie’s first winery. Beautiful atmosphere, friendly staff, variety of products. The strawberry lemonade hard cider is a favorite summer drink!
Great wines, beautiful Lake Erie view, relaxing and comfortable atmosphere, friendly staff. A great experience every time.
22 locals recommend
Noble Winery
8630 Hardscrabble Rd
22 locals recommend
Great wines, beautiful Lake Erie view, relaxing and comfortable atmosphere, friendly staff. A great experience every time.
A fun and family-friendly stop where you’re able to enjoy wine surrounded by thousands of acres of grapevines, right along Lake Erie’s coastline. Tastings and self-guided tours of the winery available year-round. During the summer, there is the Music in the Vineyards concert series with a variety of local artists and food features.
16 locals recommend
Penn Shore Winery and Vineyards
10225 E Lake Rd
16 locals recommend
A fun and family-friendly stop where you’re able to enjoy wine surrounded by thousands of acres of grapevines, right along Lake Erie’s coastline. Tastings and self-guided tours of the winery available year-round. During the summer, there is the Music in the Vineyards concert series with a variety of local artists and food features.
Craft winery with historic tasting room, fantastic wines, and refreshing hard ciders. Local beer served on draft as well. Enjoy it all with a beautiful vineyard backdrop. Tasting room closed January through March.
6 Mile Cellars
5727 Firman Rd
Craft winery with historic tasting room, fantastic wines, and refreshing hard ciders. Local beer served on draft as well. Enjoy it all with a beautiful vineyard backdrop. Tasting room closed January through March.
Make and sell mead and Honey-Wine. Erie's only meadery, bringing Old World quality and taste to the New World.
IronStone Meadery
2890 Copperleaf Drive
Make and sell mead and Honey-Wine. Erie's only meadery, bringing Old World quality and taste to the New World.
Favorite winery on Lake Erie. Easy to find, lots of parking, beautiful location. Friendly, well-informed staff. Excellent prices and fabulous selection of wine, whiskey, cheese and wine lovers gift items. Great tasting experience and many award winners to chose from.
36 locals recommend
Johnson Estate Winery
8419 W Main St
36 locals recommend
Favorite winery on Lake Erie. Easy to find, lots of parking, beautiful location. Friendly, well-informed staff. Excellent prices and fabulous selection of wine, whiskey, cheese and wine lovers gift items. Great tasting experience and many award winners to chose from.
Unpretentious winery showcasing a wide range of varietals, with tastings offered 7 days a week.
12 locals recommend
Courtyard Winery
10021 W Main St
12 locals recommend
Unpretentious winery showcasing a wide range of varietals, with tastings offered 7 days a week.
Historical wine cavern, sister winery to Mazza Vineyards with its own unique line of wines, including an array of sparkling wines.
16 locals recommend
South Shore Wine Company
1120 Freeport Rd
16 locals recommend
Historical wine cavern, sister winery to Mazza Vineyards with its own unique line of wines, including an array of sparkling wines.
Family-run winery producing a variety of wines. Mediterranean architecture, inspired by the family's Italian heritage. Tours & Tastings available 7 days a week, year-round.
26 locals recommend
Mazza Vineyards
11815 E Lake Rd
26 locals recommend
Family-run winery producing a variety of wines. Mediterranean architecture, inspired by the family's Italian heritage. Tours & Tastings available 7 days a week, year-round.

Breweries

Love an IPA? The Dulachan is one of the best local IPAs in town!
12 locals recommend
Lavery Brewing Co
128 W 12th St
12 locals recommend
Love an IPA? The Dulachan is one of the best local IPAs in town!
Excellent craft beer, definitely a local favorite. No wait staff though so be sure to take your order to the bar to be helped.
9 locals recommend
Voodoo Brewery Erie
101 Boston Store Pl
9 locals recommend
Excellent craft beer, definitely a local favorite. No wait staff though so be sure to take your order to the bar to be helped.
Great brews, great owners, backyard fireplace with plenty of seating.
Black Monk Brewery
3721 W 12th St
Great brews, great owners, backyard fireplace with plenty of seating.
Jeff and Steve are your brewers and bartenders. They serve up awesome and experimental craft beers in a garage. Trust us, it’s very cool.
Erie Ale Works
416 W 12th St
Jeff and Steve are your brewers and bartenders. They serve up awesome and experimental craft beers in a garage. Trust us, it’s very cool.
Brewery crafting a range of beers, with a tasting room & tours highlighting the brewing process.
6 locals recommend
Erie Brewing Co. West Side
4102 W Lake Rd
6 locals recommend
Brewery crafting a range of beers, with a tasting room & tours highlighting the brewing process.

Bars

Craft whiskey and creative liquors. Everything is made in-house. Definitely try the adult slushies! Hand-built distillery with tours available.
Altered State Distillery
1535 W 8th St
Craft whiskey and creative liquors. Everything is made in-house. Definitely try the adult slushies! Hand-built distillery with tours available.
Need a drink? Check out this local bar within a reasonable stumbling distance.
Lager Cafe
2056 W 8th St
Need a drink? Check out this local bar within a reasonable stumbling distance.
Local watering hole right next to the isle. A good place to grab a drink if you want a beach bar vibe.
6 locals recommend
Sandbar
2835 W 8th St
6 locals recommend
Local watering hole right next to the isle. A good place to grab a drink if you want a beach bar vibe.
A super casual, lively summer bar serving pub food and often has live music. At the east end of the public dock promenade, it is literally at the water's edge, where you can watch the boats go bay and see the sunset.
14 locals recommend
Rum Runners
133 E Dobbins Landing
14 locals recommend
A super casual, lively summer bar serving pub food and often has live music. At the east end of the public dock promenade, it is literally at the water's edge, where you can watch the boats go bay and see the sunset.
They have 50 beers on tap and great food to boot. Outdoor seating in summertime.
9 locals recommend
U Pick 6 Tap House
333 State St
9 locals recommend
They have 50 beers on tap and great food to boot. Outdoor seating in summertime.
This is a great bar-restaurant that has been in business for over 40 years. Nightly food and drink specials. A big place with a lively atmosphere.
9 locals recommend
The Plymouth Tavern
1109 State St
9 locals recommend
This is a great bar-restaurant that has been in business for over 40 years. Nightly food and drink specials. A big place with a lively atmosphere.
The food is great and the beer-garita is delicious! Don’t forget to ask about the old railway tunnels!
11 locals recommend
The Brewerie at Union Station
123 W 14th St
11 locals recommend
The food is great and the beer-garita is delicious! Don’t forget to ask about the old railway tunnels!
This place has a great view of the bay and the food is good. It's a kid-friendly restaurant by day, casual bar by night. Great people watching and live music on the weekends.
9 locals recommend
Sloppy Duck Saloon
726 West Bayfront Parkway
9 locals recommend
This place has a great view of the bay and the food is good. It's a kid-friendly restaurant by day, casual bar by night. Great people watching and live music on the weekends.
Enter through a hidden bookshelf and enjoy this cozy speakeasy with delicious cocktails and appetizers. Live music and a cigar room make this a unique downtown choice.
6 locals recommend
Room 33 Speakeasy
1033 State St
6 locals recommend
Enter through a hidden bookshelf and enjoy this cozy speakeasy with delicious cocktails and appetizers. Live music and a cigar room make this a unique downtown choice.

Coffee

Excellent coffee for your morning jolt. Oat milk available, too! Muffins, pastry, etc, and vegan options. Awesome bookstore is attached so feel free to caffeinate while browsing for your next good read.
20 locals recommend
Pressed
1535 W 8th St
20 locals recommend
Excellent coffee for your morning jolt. Oat milk available, too! Muffins, pastry, etc, and vegan options. Awesome bookstore is attached so feel free to caffeinate while browsing for your next good read.
Fantastic local spot for coffee, breakfast, and lunch. Outdoor tables in summer with a relaxing scene. A great stop on your way to the peninsula.
15 locals recommend
Brew Ha Ha at the Colony
2612 W 8th St
15 locals recommend
Fantastic local spot for coffee, breakfast, and lunch. Outdoor tables in summer with a relaxing scene. A great stop on your way to the peninsula.
Seriously good coffee is served here. The shop is modern and trendy. The baked goods are delicious, too.
Ember + Forge
401 State St
Seriously good coffee is served here. The shop is modern and trendy. The baked goods are delicious, too.
Coffee & cocktail cafe. You decide which drink you’re in the mood for. Yummy treats, too. A hidden gem!
6 locals recommend
Tipsy Bean
2425 Peach St
6 locals recommend
Coffee & cocktail cafe. You decide which drink you’re in the mood for. Yummy treats, too. A hidden gem!

Desserts

Locally owned, offering delicious chocolates and the best ice cream anywhere. And it's a coffee shop, too, with live jazz on Saturday nights in the summer.
18 locals recommend
Romolo Chocolates
1525 W 8th St
18 locals recommend
Locally owned, offering delicious chocolates and the best ice cream anywhere. And it's a coffee shop, too, with live jazz on Saturday nights in the summer.
Homemade treats and desserts including cupcakes, cookies, pies, cakes, cake pops, french macaroons, and just about anything sweet! Including gluten-free options, too. Custom occasion cakes also available.
Icing On the Lake
940 W Erie Plaza Dr
Homemade treats and desserts including cupcakes, cookies, pies, cakes, cake pops, french macaroons, and just about anything sweet! Including gluten-free options, too. Custom occasion cakes also available.
This is a must-visit food attraction in Erie, PA. Only open in the warm months, if you’ve never been to Sara’s, well.. you just have to try it (and be sure to get their ice cream). Eat here before or after visiting the beach, Waldameer Park, or Presque Isle State Park.
27 locals recommend
Sara's Restaurant
25 Peninsula Dr
27 locals recommend
This is a must-visit food attraction in Erie, PA. Only open in the warm months, if you’ve never been to Sara’s, well.. you just have to try it (and be sure to get their ice cream). Eat here before or after visiting the beach, Waldameer Park, or Presque Isle State Park.
Yummmm. Hand-rolled ice cream, bubble tea, shaved ice, and many other options. It's worth checking out!
Fat Lenny's - punk rock candy and toys
443 W 8th St
Yummmm. Hand-rolled ice cream, bubble tea, shaved ice, and many other options. It's worth checking out!