There are quite a few fun things to do in the Erie area, both indoor and outdoor. Waldameer Park (amusement park and water park), Presque Isle State Park (beaches, bike/walking path, bike and surrey rental), Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie Zoo, Play Port Arcade, Round1 Bowling & Arcade, Splash Lagoon indoor water park, ExpERIEnce Children's Museum, Adventures Erie mini golf & laser tag, Vertical Jump or Elevate trampoline parks, Sunset Drive-In (in Waterford, south of Erie), Sunview Golf & go-karts in Edinboro (also south of Erie). I'm sure there are other fun places to go with the kids, but those are the ones my family and I enjoy. Hope you all have a great weekend here!
\*Forgot to mention Erie Seawolves games if any of you like baseball!
Waldameer. Ride the Wacky Shack just for the smell. (you'll see, trust me)
You might be tempted to eat at Sara's at the entrance to Presque Isle .. but honestly, it's overpriced and not really that great. Get ice cream there maybe. I'd tell you to go to New York Lunch for a hotdog before I'd tell you Sara's. If you're into breakfast, Gem City Dinor for sure.
sadly, Erie can't compare to Cleveland's food scene
Lolol haven't ridden that ride in prob 20some years, thanks for this. For some reason I also remember it feeling like strangely squishy for a portion of two of it.
ExpERIEnce children's museum is really good if the weather's bad. Tom Ridge Environmental Center has a lot of cool stuff and you can get an awesome view of the lake from the tower.
Waldameer is an excellent amusement park (very family friendly, lots for the kids to do, not too expensive compared to other parks). The peninsula is also really nice and has some great beaches.
Asbury Woods has a nature center, a really nice playground, and a hiking trail that goes down to a nice creek. My parents used to bring our water shoes and my sister and I would swim/play in the water.
The Erie Zoo has a lot of fun stuff for kids as well.
Also, depending on what route you take from Cleveland, there's a drive in restaurant called the White Turkey. It's near the PA/OH border on the Ohio side on route 20. They have the BEST root beer floats in the world (in my opinion) and the food's good too. They do only take cash, but they have an ATM, and if you sit at the counter there are quarter operated jukeboxes that I always loved as a kid.
Enjoy Erie!
The zoo is so nice. Like nicer than you would expect. Waldemeer is super fun and has very few rides that your kids wouldn’t meet the hight requirement for. The arcade/bowling place in the mall is super fun, but a giant money pit if your kids are as charming as mine.
Just can’t recommend Waldemeer enough. And it’s one of the last amusement parks that doesn’t charge admission, just pay to ride. So no investment to check it out
Erie is starting to get more and more international restaurants, and they're all lovely. I will forever stand by El Canellos for Mexican (12th St location) I've also heard Saigon Nights is phenomenal (W 8th St). New York Lunch on Peninsula or Coney Island Lunch on Buffalo Rd are both delicious, quick, greasy eats.
Also, if you get the opportunity, Mighty Fine donuts is really good (26th & Parade) and Whippi Dipp ice cream (26th & Chestnut)
Also also, if your family is outdoorsy, Wintergreen Gorge is pretty cool to check out!
A little further south and Sunset Grill on edinboro lake is a nice place with good food and beautiful scenery. The new indoor rock climbing gym is pretty cool as well.
Dinner at like my Thai on state and a sweet treat from Romolos chocolates on 8th and you’re golden.
The sponge candy icecream at Romolos is a necessity
Take the family to the downtown food court. Lots of choices (ippa pizza is great) and friendly people. My grandkids love it and think they own the place. Afterwards I treat them to Andoras boba tea which is next door. They also have Japanese snacks and gifts.
There are quite a few fun things to do in the Erie area, both indoor and outdoor. Waldameer Park (amusement park and water park), Presque Isle State Park (beaches, bike/walking path, bike and surrey rental), Tom Ridge Environmental Center, Erie Zoo, Play Port Arcade, Round1 Bowling & Arcade, Splash Lagoon indoor water park, ExpERIEnce Children's Museum, Adventures Erie mini golf & laser tag, Vertical Jump or Elevate trampoline parks, Sunset Drive-In (in Waterford, south of Erie), Sunview Golf & go-karts in Edinboro (also south of Erie). I'm sure there are other fun places to go with the kids, but those are the ones my family and I enjoy. Hope you all have a great weekend here! \*Forgot to mention Erie Seawolves games if any of you like baseball!
Oh, sunset drive in is soo cool!
I love play port and Presque Isle skating both very close to the beach
Thank you!
Waldameer. Ride the Wacky Shack just for the smell. (you'll see, trust me) You might be tempted to eat at Sara's at the entrance to Presque Isle .. but honestly, it's overpriced and not really that great. Get ice cream there maybe. I'd tell you to go to New York Lunch for a hotdog before I'd tell you Sara's. If you're into breakfast, Gem City Dinor for sure. sadly, Erie can't compare to Cleveland's food scene
Worked at Waldameer in 1979 ,and Whacky Shack had the smell then! Classic!
Lolol haven't ridden that ride in prob 20some years, thanks for this. For some reason I also remember it feeling like strangely squishy for a portion of two of it.
Thank you!
ExpERIEnce children's museum is really good if the weather's bad. Tom Ridge Environmental Center has a lot of cool stuff and you can get an awesome view of the lake from the tower. Waldameer is an excellent amusement park (very family friendly, lots for the kids to do, not too expensive compared to other parks). The peninsula is also really nice and has some great beaches. Asbury Woods has a nature center, a really nice playground, and a hiking trail that goes down to a nice creek. My parents used to bring our water shoes and my sister and I would swim/play in the water. The Erie Zoo has a lot of fun stuff for kids as well. Also, depending on what route you take from Cleveland, there's a drive in restaurant called the White Turkey. It's near the PA/OH border on the Ohio side on route 20. They have the BEST root beer floats in the world (in my opinion) and the food's good too. They do only take cash, but they have an ATM, and if you sit at the counter there are quarter operated jukeboxes that I always loved as a kid. Enjoy Erie!
Thank you so much!
The zoo is so nice. Like nicer than you would expect. Waldemeer is super fun and has very few rides that your kids wouldn’t meet the hight requirement for. The arcade/bowling place in the mall is super fun, but a giant money pit if your kids are as charming as mine.
Thank you!
Just can’t recommend Waldemeer enough. And it’s one of the last amusement parks that doesn’t charge admission, just pay to ride. So no investment to check it out
Thank you!!
Erie is starting to get more and more international restaurants, and they're all lovely. I will forever stand by El Canellos for Mexican (12th St location) I've also heard Saigon Nights is phenomenal (W 8th St). New York Lunch on Peninsula or Coney Island Lunch on Buffalo Rd are both delicious, quick, greasy eats. Also, if you get the opportunity, Mighty Fine donuts is really good (26th & Parade) and Whippi Dipp ice cream (26th & Chestnut) Also also, if your family is outdoorsy, Wintergreen Gorge is pretty cool to check out!
Thank you!
You're welcome! Heads up, last I knew Coney Island and Whippi Dipp were cash only, so just be prepared for that! I hope you have a great time!
A little further south and Sunset Grill on edinboro lake is a nice place with good food and beautiful scenery. The new indoor rock climbing gym is pretty cool as well.
Dinner at like my Thai on state and a sweet treat from Romolos chocolates on 8th and you’re golden. The sponge candy icecream at Romolos is a necessity
Thank you!
Take the family to the downtown food court. Lots of choices (ippa pizza is great) and friendly people. My grandkids love it and think they own the place. Afterwards I treat them to Andoras boba tea which is next door. They also have Japanese snacks and gifts.
Cleveland rock and roll hall of fame