Tag Archives: presque isle state park

VisitErie’s ‘Ultimate Sunblock’ eclipse campaign wins national award

The April 2024 eclipse keeps paying off for Erie, Pennsylvania.

VisitErie, Erie County’s tourism marketing and promotion organization, received the U.S. Travel Association’s 2024 Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations Destiny Award for “Integrated Marketing and Messaging Campaign: Overall DMO Marketing Budget less than $1 million” for its “The Ultimate Sunblock” eclipse campaign.

The organization was presented the award Aug. 13 at the U.S. Travel Association’s 2024 Educational Seminar for Tourism Organizations conference in Columbus, Ohio.

“I am so honored to have this campaign recognized by an organization as prominent as the U.S. Travel Association, allowing us to share it with industry peers nationwide,” Emily Biddle, VisitErie’s director of marketing and research and leader of both the campaign and Erie’s regional planning committee, said in a statement. “From the minute our team heard the idea from our creative agency, Red House Communications, we knew we could have a lot of fun with ‘The Ultimate Sunblock’ — and we did. We are so appreciative of the Erie community embracing this campaign during the eclipse. This award makes us all the more eager to keep pushing boundaries with our marketing to inspire travel to this spectacular region.”

VisitErie and Red House Communications submitted a summary of its eclipse campaign.

Erie was Pennsylvania’s only city in the eclipse’s path of totality on April 8. VisitErie estimates that more than 100,000 people traveled to Erie that weekend. With nearly a 100 percent hotel occupancy, VisitErie says that the eclipse weekend likely represents the largest visitation weekend in Erie history.

Waldameer to make $7 million splash into 2023

Waldameer Park & Water World will make a big splash in 2023.

The park that sits along the Lake Erie shore near Presque Isle plans to invest between $7 million and $8 million by way of a new water slide.

Tentatively named RocketBlast, the new slide bucks traditional slides that use gravity and water to move riders downhill.

Waldameer’s addition will use water jets to blast riders uphill in some sections of the ride.

The new slide will be twice as long as any other slide at Waldameer and will intertwine riders throughout the park’s existing slides.

The slide is built by Canadian-based Proslide.

Waldameer’s slide is expected to open in May.

Best spots to see Tall Ships Erie’s Parade of Sail

These are the best spots to watch the Parade of Sail, which begins at 4 p.m. Aug. 25.

  • Perry Monument at Presque Isle State Park. Follow signs for Tall Ships Erie parking areas.
  • East Pier at Presque Isle State Park. Follow signs for Tall Ships Erie parking areas.
  • North Pier at Presque Isle
  • Foot of Holland Street
  • Liberty Park along the Bayfront
  • Lampe Marina at the foot of the Port Access Road
  • Bayview Park near West Second and Cherry streets
  • East Avenue boat launch
  • Lakeside Recreational Area in Lawrence Park

Helping to keep Presque Isle clean

Presque Isle State Park attendance jumped to almost 5 million people in each of the last two years.

With all of those visitors, unfortunately, not everybody cleans up after themselves.

It could be as simple as leaving your milkshake cup or a chips bag behind.

But with the increase in visitors comes a greater increase in people wanting to keep Presque Isle clean.

Jeff McCullor, the co-founder of Erie Ale Works, organized a recent cleanup.

“The beach over the summer takes a pounding from just a lot of heavy traffic use and we feel like it’s an important asset to the community and we just want to keep it that way,” McCullor told Erie News Now.

What are beachgoers littering Presque Isle with?

“The biggest item that we see are cigarette butts and just plastics of any sort. It’s plastic stuff like plastic bottles, plastic bottle rings, the caps — things that people may not be aware that are leaving behind,” McCullor told the television news station.

You, too, can take part in cleaning up Presque Isle.

How?

  • If you’re a visitor, be sure to take everything you brought back with you.
  • Place trash in the proper bins located throughout the park.
  • It’s usually windy at Presque Isle. So, use rocks or other heavy items to keep items in place.
  • Be alert of children with plastics, food wrappers, drink containers, toys, etc.
  • Try to pack using reusable containers that often are heavier than plastics.
  • Bring a bag with you to clean up other people’s messes. Don’t just walk over the trash, pick it up.

Remember: Leave Presque Isle better than you found it.

Giant pretzels at The Plymouth in Erie

Where to eat around Tall Ships Erie 2022

If you’re coming to Erie for the Tall Ships Erie 2022 festival, you’re going to need some food.

Check out some of our recommendations for other things to do, places to eat, things to see.

Where to eat?

Along the Bayfront, near the tall ships

Elsewhere in Downtown Erie

Pizza, pizza!

Outside of Downtown Erie
(There are many places, but these are some popular ones)

Dessert?
Ice cream and more!

Made to order

  • Wegmans: 6143 Peach St. near Millcreek Mall; and 5028 W. Ridge Road near Erie International Airport
  • Sheetz: 750 Peninsula Drive, 24/7; other nearby locations
  • Country Fair: Multiple locations, hours vary

Is Presque Isle State Park worth visiting?

Yes, Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, is worth visiting.

Beaches along Lake Erie.

Presque Isle offers 11 miles of hiking trails.

The peninsula has a 13.5-mile multipurpose trail for biking, walking and cross-country skiing.

Presque Isle offers swimming at guarded beaches between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Presque Isle State Park is consistently rated among the top places in the country to bird-watch. The peninsula is located along the Atlantic Flyway, making it an excellent place for birds to stop on their migration across Lake Erie. At least 339 species of bird have been identified on Presque Isle.

Presque Isle’s Gull Point is considered the peninsula’s most ecologically dynamic area. Gull Point is the most fragile area of the peninsula, and many plant species there are threatened or endangered in Pennsylvania.

Presque Isle offers kayaking, canoeing, boat ramps and countless fishing spots.

Surfing is permitted in three spots at Presque Isle: Areas near Beach 1, Beach 10 and North Pier Light. More details here.

From a quiet spot under a tree or at a picnic table to pavilions for up to 200, Presque Isle offers many areas for picnicking.

Walk on water (well, ice) in the winter. While the state does not monitor ice thickness, visitors regularly find ice fishers and other winter activity enthusiasts out on the ice. Take a walk across the bay if it’s thick enough!

Watch the sun set. Nobody knows where it started, but allegedly, Presque Isle is considered to have the third best sunset in the world? Even if it’s not based on a real survey, sunsets are gorgeous here all year.

If all of that isn’t enough, simply sitting in your car reading a book or sipping a milkshake can be great. Drive to Sunset Point when it’s storming, stay in your and watch the waves whip around.

There’s so much to do at Presque Isle!

Celebrate Erie is back!

Erie’s biggest Downtown celebration returns.

Celebrate Erie is back!

The three-day festival is designed to celebrate all things Erie — food, business, art, culture and family.

Check out the 40 vibrant chalk displays along State Street.

Along with local and regional music acts, Celebrate Erie will feature a number of national musicians:

  • X Ambassadors, 8 p.m. Aug. 19
  • Mýa, 7:15 p.m. Aug. 20
  • Ja Rule, 8:30 p.m. Aug. 20
  • Jimmie Allen, 8 p.m. Aug. 20

For more information, visit celebrateerie.com.

Erie named a top Pennsylvania city for young professionals

No surprise here!

Erie has been named among the top Pennsylvania cities for young professionals.

Livability said Erie is “one of the state’s best-kept secrets.” Obviously.

Presque Isle State Park, the relatively low cost of living and opportunities for business are among the reasons Erie was named to the list.

Also on the list were Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Scranton.

Read more here.

What to know about taking your dog to Presque Isle

Presque Isle State Park in Erie, Pennsylvania, is the perfect spot for your pooch.

With 3,200 acres, Pennsylvania’s only seashore offers a great experience for you, your family and your dog.

With all of the fun, though, there are some things you should know and prepare for before heading to Presque Isle with your dog.

  • Dogs must be leashed at all times on leashes of no more than 6 feet.
  • Dogs are not permitted at guarded beaches in the summer. Dogs can walk and be in the water at unguarded beaches.
  • At guarded beaches, dogs are only allowed along the tree line.
  • Harmful algal blooms can kill your dog. More information is below.
  • Dog owners must properly clean up after their dogs.
  • Ticks are prevalent at Presque Isle.
  • Presque Isle is home to a variety of animals. Caution should be taken at all times.

Harmful algal blooms

The Erie County Department of Health regularly tests water from beaches for swimming safety.

Advisories are issued by the health department to help protect people and their pets from risks of contracting waterborne diseases from contaminated waters, including exposure to toxins found in harmful algal blooms.

The thresholds for dogs are lower than for humans because dogs tend to drink water when they swim.

The advisory map is updated regularly from late May to the end of October.

The Erie County Health Department site details more information about what harmful algal blooms look like and the damage they can do.

Locations

There are many locations along the shore for your dog to have fun.

Some popular shoreline spots include:

  • Sunset Point (Kite Beach): Located west of Beach 10
  • Between Sunset Point and Beach 9
  • Between Barracks Beach and Beach 6
  • East of Beach 10 to Gull Point
  • Shoreline near North Pier Lighthouse to Beach 11

Other popular spots for dogs include:

  • Any of the trails throughout the park
  • Picnic areas
  • Perry Monument area

For more information, call the Presque Isle State Park office at 814-833-7424.

Experience Erie: Summer family getaway!

Build a castle with the kids at Presque Isle, ride the Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer Park and make a splash at Splash Lagoon!

There’s so much to do in Erie, Pennsylvania, with your family!

The perfect family getaway is in Erie.

Going for the weekend, a few days or the week? Here are some of the must-do family getaway activities!

Go beaching, biking and build a sandcastle at Presque Isle

No family summer trip to Erie is complete without a trip to Preque (pres-k) Isle. It’s almost an island (literally, presque in French means almost and isle in French means island.)

Here are the top family-friendly things to do at Presque Isle!

Hang out at the beach!

Seriously, beaching is the biggest draw to Presque Isle. The state park offers miles and miles of Lake Erie beaches.

There are several guarded beaches where visitors can swim during guard hours. Visitors are not permitted to swim at unguarded beaches or outside of guard hours.

Pack food, stop at Wegmans or Sheetz for hoagies, pick up snacks at Beach Zero and spend several hours under an umbrella and on a towel. The kids can play in the sand, and you can walk the beach or read a book.

If you don’t want to waste the day being a beach bum, Presque Isle offers so many other activities.

You can rent bikes, water trikes, surreys and rollerblades from the Yellow Bike rental company inside Presque Isle.

Presque Isle offers an array of hiking trails — ranging from 0.2 miles to 13.5 miles. Take a hike to Gull Point for the wildlife and serenity!

Go fish! Literally. There are many great spots along Presque Isle to cast a reel. Have a boat? Even better.

Go kayaking! Drop the kayaks in the water from a number of locations throughout the park.

Go birding! Presque is home to many bird species. And many more use the peninsula as a rest stop during migration season.

Tour the Presque Isle Lighthouse!

Plan ahead and take part in programming offered by the state Department of Natural Resources. Find events on this page — nearly all events are free but many require registration.

You could spend two hours or all day at Presque Isle!