Erie PA Pennsylvania
Frequently Asked Questions
At the waterfront, a few minutes' walk from downtown. Ships slip in behind Presque Isle, the long sand barrier that makes Erie one of the best natural harbours on the Great Lakes.
The main waterfront pier and the heart of the call. The Bicentennial Tower rises there with its observation decks, taking in the harbour, the sand spit and, on a clear day, the lake out to the Canadian horizon.
The Bicentennial Tower at Dobbins Landing, the Maritime Museum and the brig Niagara, then the water taxi across to the Presque Isle beaches. The State Street brewery district rounds out the day.
A reconstruction of the two-masted vessel that turned the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813, when Commodore Perry sent his famous victory message. When the brig is alongside, you can climb aboard among the guns and rigging.
The sand spit sheltering the harbour, now a state park. Linked to the mainland by a causeway, it loops for about twenty kilometres, covered on foot, by rental bike or by shuttle.
Beaches, shaded trails, heron lagoons where kayaks glide, an 1873 lighthouse and the Tom Ridge interpretive centre at the park entrance. A monument to Commodore Perry stands near Misery Bay, where his fleet wintered after the battle.
Yes. The lakeside beaches at Presque Isle are among Pennsylvania's few natural sand beaches, and their sunsets draw half the county on summer evenings.
By water taxi from Dobbins Landing, in season: crossing the bay avoids the road detour and adds a pleasant sail to the day.
The Hagen History Center, in the Victorian house district, tells two centuries of regional history across several period buildings. In season, an hour-long harbour cruise aboard a paddlewheeler rounds out the call.
June through September. Migration also makes Presque Isle a noted Great Lakes birding stopover, which gives spring and fall particular appeal for birdwatchers.
