The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Erie, Pennsylvania Now
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Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie on beautiful Presque Isle Bay—Erie, Pennsylvania is your access point to the Great Lakes. Presque Isle State Park, a peninsula with beaches and trails, curves around Presque Isle Bay.
Image courtesy of Visit Erie
Erie is Pennsylvania’s only Great Lakes port city and offers a wide range of fun, unforgettable things to do throughout any season. These are the top five reasons why Erie, Pennsylvania should be on your bucket list.
1. THE SHOPPING
Millcreek Mall is the premier shopping center in Erie, Pennsylvania, which attracts locals, those from neighboring states and Canada. Department stores incudes Boscov’s and Macy’s, with favorites such as H&M, Chico’s and Express.
Millcreek Mall in Erie, Pennsylvania
Around the Millcreek Mall you’ll also find Millcreek Mall Pavilion with Ulta Beauty, HomeGoods and Dick’s Sporting Goods—as well as Millcreek Marketplace.
2. THE ART
Founded in 1898 as The Art Club of Erie—The Erie Art Museum holds a collection, a mix of local and regional art, plus work by some of the biggest names in art history, of more than 8,000 objects, with strengths in American ceramics, Tibetan paintings, Indian bronzes, photography, and comic book art. Focusing on the museum collection, the main gallery features Everything but the Shelves; over a thousand objects hung salon-style.
Erie Art Museum in Erie, Pennsylvania
In addition to its permanent collection, the museum hosts four to five visiting exhibitions annually. A work of art upon themselves, The Erie Art Museum is tied together by five historic buildings: The Old Custom House, a Greek Revival building constructed in 1837 of Vermont marble; The Cashiers House, a Greek Revival townhouse completed in 1839; and The Bonnell Block, a Greek Revival commercial building built in 1840 that houses the museum's Holstein Gallery. Downtown Erie is filled with beautiful works of public art, from murals to sculptures designed by both locally and nationally recognized artists.
Image courtesy of Visit Erie
Take a self-guided tour of Erie's murals—explore more than 80 murals located throughout Erie County. These local muralists will inspire you. Erie is an art-lover’s mecca. The Downtown Erie Sculpture Walk features 15 sculptures in Downtown Erie and the Bayfront District, representing the work of 13 different artists from throughout the United States.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
Since The Cork 1794 debuted it has been setting a new standard for cuisine and comfort in Erie, Pennsylvania. Enjoy a sleek, state-of-the-art grand piano that delivers concert-quality, live music to match your mood. The lounge is the perfect place to unwind, with an unrivaled collection of craft cocktails curated by their mixologist or a glass of sommelier-poured wine from an expansive selection displayed in cruvinets. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the Tequila Mocking Bird—concocted with Teremana reposado, muddled jalapeños, fresh squeezed pineapple and lime juices, Triple sec, and Tajin spice.
The delicious menu, painstakingly developed by the talented culinary team at The Cork 1794, delivers everything you’d expect and much more. Each plate is crafted to be the best in its class. The chef’s table and cozy clock room provide an intimate experience, while the dining room’s banquettes and outdoor patio are the ultimate gathering spot. Favorite dishes at this refined chophouse include Pan Seared Salmon with pumpkin risotto, shaved Brussels sprouts, miso lime cream and pomegranate arils, Dry Aged 28-Day NY Strip with an array of toppings such as cognac mushroom cream, bleu cheese crust and béarnaise (including a selection of herb, bone marrow or truffle butter), King Trumpet Mushroom with cauliflower, butternut squash, cauliflower cashew polenta and pickled onions, as well as Half Brick Chicken with garlic fingerling potato, white bean purée, spinach, feta, and lemon parsley vinaigrette.
Take the time to indulge your sweet tooth and enjoy one of many decadent desserts such as their Strawbery Rhubarb Tart made with crumb topping and vanilla bean ice cream or Chocolate Mousse Layered Cake with whipped cream and macerated strawberries. Hungry yet?
4. THE GARDENS
Located minutes south of the shores of Lake Erie, the beautiful Goodell Gardens and Homestead is situated on the grounds of the Goodell family homestead. The site of the Erie County Pollinator-Friendly Demonstration Garden, home to Pennsylvania's State Champion Paper Birch Tree and a collection of native woodland plants, rare specimens and an extirpated specimen tree, this is a beautiful arboretum to spend a few hours or a day.
Goodell Gardens and Homestead in Erie, Pennsylvania
Goodell Gardens and Homestead is particularly proud to display their Paper Birch, commonly called White Birch which was planted in 1936 and is now a Pa State Champion. With a circumference of 99 inches and standing 82 feet tall, this tree is the largest Paper Birch in Pennsylvania. They also have a collection of Rhododendron, a Dawn Redwood and a specimen of the extirpated Ben Franklin Tree.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
The West Sixth Street Historic District, which functioned as Erie's "Millionaires Row" during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, is a well-preserved mansion district with relatively few intrusions. Built in 1891, the Watson Curtze Mansion features a Richardsonian Romanesque style and includes 24 rooms, filled with extraordinary architecture, stained-glass windows, mosaics, 12 fireplaces, a ballroom, and solarium. Originally built by Harrison F. Watson and his wife Carrie, a paper manufacturer, the home was later purchased by Frederic Felix Curtze, a bank president and industry leader after Carrie’s passing.
Watson Curtze Mansion in Erie, Pennsylvania
After Mr. Curtze died, the family donated the Watson Curtze Mansion to the Erie School District and it later became known as the Erie County Historical Society. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. What started out as the Erie Public Museum in 1898, later becoming the Erie County Historical Society, is now currently known as the Hagen History Center.
WHERE TO STAY IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
Welcome to your waterfront retreat on Erie's Sassafras Pier. You can expect an exceptional stay at the Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront overlooking Lake Erie's Presque Isle Bay. The premier hotel boasts breathtaking views and modern accommodations connected to the Bayfront Convention Center. The advantageous location near Downtown Erie connects you to exciting events, attractions, museums, and restaurants.
