Erie Between Lake Erie, Nature, and Maritime History

The 3,200-acre Presque Isle peninsula is completely flat and surrounded by water on three sides. It makes a striking natural feature of a trip to Erie. Other planning options include trails and coastal scenery, maritime history, wildlife watching, and regional wine culture.

Presque Isle: Water and Activity

Presque Isle State Park offers swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, and inline skating. The Karl Boyes Multi-Purpose Trail is 13 miles long, paved, and runs around the entire park; it is suitable for walking, jogging, and biking. Alongside a range of activities, it provides a clearly defined loop route for planning. The park and the Tom Ridge Environmental Center are accessible via PA 832; visitors can also reach the park by boat.

Cliffs, Wetlands, and Forest

Erie Bluffs State Park is located on the shore of Lake Erie in western Erie County. Its 90-foot-high cliffs offer views of the lake. Asbury Woods covers 234 acres of wetlands, forests, meadows, streams, and historic buildings. The Greenway Trail at Asbury Woods is 2.2 miles long and crosses Walnut Creek. The two natural areas offer different highlights: the lakeside cliffs define the scenery at Erie Bluffs, while Asbury Woods brings together several types of landscape.

Maritime History on Lake Erie

The Erie Maritime Museum is the home port of the U.S. Brig Niagara. Its exhibits cover the 1813 Battle of Lake Erie, the USS Michigan/Wolverine—the U.S. Navy’s first iron-hulled warship—and Erie’s maritime history. The U.S. Brig Niagara is a faithful reconstruction of the relief flagship that Oliver Hazard Perry used during the Battle of Lake Erie.

Erie Land Lighthouse was built in 1818 and was the first lighthouse commissioned on the Great Lakes. At the Hagen History Center, the “Story of Us” exhibit focuses on the history of Erie County. Spanning 3,000 square feet, it traces the story from the roots of Indigenous peoples to the ethnic groups that built the area’s neighborhoods, churches, schools, industries, businesses, and social clubs. The Hagen History Center grounds also include Frank Lloyd Wright’s original San Francisco office.

Wildlife Watching and Special Insights

At Erie Zoo, the “Animal Training Experiences” let visitors watch live training sessions and learn how positive reinforcement supports the animals’ health, enrichment, and daily care. “Animal Connections” includes behind-the-scenes looks, guided tours, and close-up encounters with animals. The two offerings provide different ways to explore: watching training and getting a closer look at other zoo experiences.

Wine Country and Choosing a Hotel

Lake Erie Wine Country covers 30,000 acres of vineyards and includes more than 20 independent wine-growing operations and commercial wineries along a 50-mile stretch of Lake Erie shoreline. North East is the starting point of Lake Erie Wine Country in Erie County. This gives trip planning a clearly defined regional wine focus alongside nature and culture.

When looking for a hotel in Erie, you can start by deciding what you want your stay to focus on: nature and outdoor activities, maritime and regional history, or wine country, with North East as the starting point.

Discover more destinations: Erie, North East, Edinboro, Corry, Montgomery, Jefferson County, Wyoming County, Sullivan County.

For the overview of the wider region: Pennsylvania.