This is a lovely hike in Chautauqua county. There's a very small parking lot to access the hike…read more The trail is wide and well groomed. Even after some rain recently, there isn't really any mud on the trail. The trail takes you up to loop hike where you get some nice view with the gorge.

Beach Ten in Presque Isle State Park is probably the best of all the beaches they have to offer…read more It does take a little longer to get to once you enter the park, but it is worth the wait, and travel. The view is spectacular, even on an overcast day. It is relaxing to sit in the sand and just soak up the sun. With Beach Ten being probably the nicest beach, it does get a lot of use out of it as well. There is enough space to stretch out, but do be mindful of the other people that may be there. Pros: Ample parking Picnic tables for use Lifeguard on duty most times Shower/changing amenities Cons: None There is a concession stand area if you find you want a snack while you are here. But you have to be mindful. The concession stand is not always open. There are eleven beaches I believe and each beach has this area available. They do kind of a rolling rotation of which stand(s) are open on what day. If the concession stand is not open a note will be posted to inform you what stand is open if you feel the need to get a snack. This area also offers vending options as well as a telephone to call for emergencies. A place to rinse off your feet after being in the sand. The restrooms are located here as well.

Sort of like how the saying goes that pork is the other white meat, Erie Bluffs State Park is very…read moremuch the "other one" in the local vicinity compared to Presque Isle. Where as Presque gets millions of visits annually, Erie Bluffs is still fairly new only having joined the PA state park system in 2004. The benefit is that the bulk of the coastline along Lake Erie is developed and this 500+ acre parcel represented the last large acreage that was still untouched. The basic premise is that the park is about 12 miles south of Erie proper in Lake City, PA. There is a small single sign along West Lake Road and there is only a single parking lot/entrance for the park (technically there is a small secondary entrance and parking area if you're going to be fishing/kayaking Elk Creek which is slightly up the road from the aforementioned main entrance). You've got some fishing/boating/off-season hunting allowed and about five miles of walking trails. I'm not going to say hiking because in reality none of the trails here that we saw should be thought of as hiking. We did a box loop by walking the start of the Transition Trail - turned left to the Black Oak Savanna Trail - right to the other half of the Transition Trail - right to the Lookout Trail - over to the Fisherman's foot path - up Wildflower Way which leads back to the Transition Trail. Now there are three points with this park worth noting: 1. The trails are not marked. Is that a big issue? Not really as everything loops/links into each other and if you have any sense of direction you should be able to figure it out although in principal you could take a wrong turn and go a few miles over to the other side of the park by accident. 2. Maybe the western side of the park further away from the parking lot has better views, but the side we (and most of the people visiting the day we were there) were on doesn't offer much. Very heavy foliage and tree cover with only limited vantage points where you can appreciate the bluffs/view of Lake Erie. 3. Another reason that it's hard to appreciate the bluffs is that part of the trail nearest them (Bluffs Edge Trail) is gone due to erosion. Supposedly the bluffs are being gobbled up at the rate of a few feet per year by Lake Erie and even though the official park map lists that trail, it's very much not fully there. With all this said, parks like these are my favorites within the PA system. Meaning I enjoy the smaller C-List places without all of the touristy junk attached to them. Just give me some solid trails with good views and especially here where it means more open space versus homes or condos and I'm all in. www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20032316.pdf

Super chill lowkey beach that is perfect for a day out on Lake Erie or a super cool spot for a…read moremellow picnic! So on my travels I randomly stumbled upon this incredible beach as I was in desperate need of some mellow time and that's exactly what I found here as it has a interesting little path with a steep incline to get down to where the beach it self was so if you have trouble with stairs then this might not be the spot for you! The beach has some parking spots at the end but not a lot so I dunno if it gets busy here but plan accordingly. Also please keep the beach beautiful and pack out your trash just like the sign asks for! This was a beautiful beach and if I lived in the area this would be my go to spot as it's nice and shady and just breathtaking beautiful it's for this and all of the other reasons that I hope to make it here again someday!

Office was closed for the day, but called Colin and he was very helpful. He got us a campsite for…read morethe night, and was willing to let us in the store if we needed anything! He offered to help us with anything we needed! The world needs more Colins!! CAMPGROUND well maintained, peaceful, and nice size sites!!

Best campground around! We have been visiting yearly for the last 7 years and always book ahead for…read morethe next year. Smaller campground on Findley Lake with the nicest owners, Todd and Jen that we ever met. Always accommodating and friendly. Well kept campground. Seasonal campers are very friendly and never make you feel like an outsider. Great activities and we love renting the pontoon boat.

The Reserve includes 2.5 miles of lake front -- the longest stretch of undeveloped shoreline on the…read moresouthern shore of Lake Erie. The David M. Roderick Reserve is a 3,600-acre natural area on the Lake Erie shoreline, adjacent to Erie Bluffs State Park. Prior to becoming a nature reserve, the property was owned by Andrew Carnegie and, later, U.S. Steel Corp. Forty-nine percent of the site is wetlands. Aspen, American Beech, White Oak, Sugar Maple, and Silky Dogwood make up a majority of the forested area. Red and Silver maple grow vigorously in wooded swamps. Increasingly surrounded by development, the site will likely become more important in the future as an "island" of habitat. It is considered by the Audobon Society as an important and significant bird area.

Still a good time considering there is a pandemic. Some rides only open for small portions of the…read moreday. Understaffed but getting by. We were happy we decided to visit regardless but we skipped the water park. Water Park looks expanded and fun - maybe next time. One surprise was the gifts shops were very affordable. Didn't eat at Park but played a couple games with kids. Certain games kids are guaranteed to win - thank goodness.

Waldameer is a great amusement park for the young and the young at heart! Admission is free to…read morewalk around, you can either buy a day pass or pay for each ride ($3-5 per ride) individually. They even let you bring in your own food, and have plenty of picnic tables and pavilions! Great place to have a birthday party!

This square is cute. It is home to a lot of homeless people but no one bothers you. Our kids…read moreenjoyed the fountain.

Bounded by French and Peach Streets and named in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, hero of…read morethe War of 1812 and the famous naval Battle of Lake Erie it constitutes the very heart of what is downtown Erie, known as the "Flagship City," dividing it between its east and west sides. It's really one of the most lovely and useful of small downtown city parks to be found and a walk through it with its various memorials and dedications is not only pleasant but educational as well.