Tag Archives: visit Erie

Erie Zoo’s ZooBoo

Check out the Erie Zoo’s ZooBoo, which is happening at the zoo on various days through Oct. 30.

Various events are planned on different days. Check out the full schedule here.

“ZooBoo serves as a major fundraiser for the Erie Zoo’s animal care and daily operations,” the zoo said.

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.

Why you should stay at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel

Note: A version of this review is also published as a Google review for the hotel. It has been edited for ExploreErie.com. In addition, this is not sponsored or paid — it’s my honest thoughts on the hotel.

The Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel is, hands down, my favorite Marriott property I’ve ever stayed at.

Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel

I come to Erie very regularly for weekend/extended stays to enjoy Presque Isle, etc., and I try to stay at the Sheraton as often as possible.

In fact, in the past 13 months (as of Sept. 3, 2022), I’ve had the pleasure and ability to stay in this hotel for about 34 nights.

In that time, I reached out to the staff for only one minor issue.

Every staff member I encounter is nothing but courteous and kind — from cleaning crews to maintenance workers, foodservice and guest services.

They’ve always been so great and friendly. I honestly can say I’ve never encountered an issue with the staff here and always think about how great the employee training and hiring process must be. So, hats off to the management team and White Lodging for such stellar work.

In an August 2022 stay, I was arriving late from the train and reached out ahead of time to let them know. They quickly sent me the mobile key and assured me that I’d have no issues getting to my room at such a late hour. And I had no issues.

In addition, it is the only Marriott property I’ve stayed at that successfully uses the in-app services. If I need additional towels or have a question, I use the Bonvoy app and questions/services are quickly addressed.

When friends and colleagues inquire about things to do, places to stay and where to eat in Erie, I quickly suggest the Sheraton. You could have an entire romantic getaway weekend at the Sheraton and never leave the property (or at least not venture too far).

The rooms are incredibly clean. Everything has always been in working order for me (TV, fridge, curtains, bathroom, etc).

The hotel rates are reasonable when demand is low and are high when demand is high, as one might expect.

When compared to prices at other hotels on Peach Street and considering the superior level of service and cleanliness (and the view!), there is no question the Sheraton is worth it.

A few things to keep in mind or consider when booking and staying:

  • Be kind to the staff. They are amazing. While the property certainly lives by the “Disney appearance” belief (that is, put on a great show in front of the curtain for the audience), there is no doubt they are impacted by having fewer staff members right now. Be patient and kind to them.
  • If it’s your first time, splurge for the bay view room and make sure to avoid any room ending in “02” or “04” (and maybe “24”) because the view of Erie’s Bicentennial Tower is obstructed by the building. But all bay views rooms offer a 100 percent incredible view of the bay, Presque Isle and Lake Erie (for higher floors).
  • In rooms with bathtubs, the tub area and curtain do not provide enough area for taller people or people with large arm spans. Sounds odd, but if you’re tall, you know what I mean. If you try to turn around, it could be tricky. If you can get a room with a shower only, do it.
  • Not every floor has a microwave or self-service laundry. But they’re only a few floors away if yours doesn’t have it.
  • Parking is $14 per day. I think that’s steep, especially for Erie. But we pay it because we have to. I have skipped the garage fee sometimes and parked on the street (a metered day is $10 and Sundays are free). In the winter, I prefer the garage if it’s snowing for obvious reasons.
  • The walk from the garage to the hotel is odd. There is a “tunnel” of sorts with an awning to protect guests from rain, snow and sun. It’s a long walk if you’ve got kids, are older or have a physical disability. Of course, you could do drop-offs at the main door, but, logistically, it is a bit of a pain.
  • The pool offers two hours of late-night adults-only swim. Most guests must not know this, so I’ve been lucky enough to have the whirlpool to myself. And, the pool does tend to be a little chilly. The pool area is great for reading.
  • All of the food I’ve had from the hotel is great — from the Bayfront Grille to the club lounge and room service. I do not eat meat, but friends and family who do have had nothing but praise for meat options on the menu. And the drinks! Enjoy the bar!
  • The lobby is small and can be pretty noisy and busy. It’s not a great place to hang out unless you’re waiting for others or are heading to the bar/restaurant. The lobby is gorgeous and looks so pretty when decorated for the holidays!

Anything conceived above as “negative” should not deter you from staying at the Sheraton Erie hotel.

All of that said: If you’re coming to Erie, stay at the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel. You’ll love it.

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

What tall ships are in Erie, PA?

Tall Ships Erie 2022 is set for Aug. 25-28 on Erie’s Bayfront.

What tall ships will be at the festival?

The Brig Niagara’s homeport is Erie.

The Niagara is considered one of the most historically authentic tall ships in the United States. The ship is an accurate reproduction of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s flagship from the War of 1812’s Battle of Lake Erie.

Related posts

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.

Ja Rule, Mýa to perform at Celebrate Erie

You read that headline correctly: Ja Rule and Mýa will perform Aug. 20 at Celebrate Erie on State Street in Downtown Erie.

Mýa is, of course, known for “Ghetto Superstar,” among other singles, and for her collaboration work with Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Pink and Missy Elliot on the “Lady Marmalade” single used in “Moulin Rouge.”

Ja Rule is known for a number of hits, including “I’m Real (Remix)” with Jennifer Lopez and “Always on Time” with Ashanti.

On Aug. 21, country musician Jimmie Allen performs.

Check out the Celebrate Erie schedule to see musicians scheduled to perform.

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.