With high gas prices keeping outdoor travelers closer to home these days, here is an Erie park where you can enjoy a wide range of recreational activities that you might not expect to find so close to an urban setting. And you won't break the bank getting there.
Presque Isle State Park
(814) 833-7424
There is no other place like it in the world. On Presque Isle, as botanist O.E. Jennings once said, it is possible to observe six centuries of ecological succession with three short miles. French for “almost an island,” Presque Isle is a seven-mile strip of land thrusting itself into Lake Erie. The “peninsula,” as it is known locally, is home to Presque Isle State Park and a remarkable array of plant, animal, bird and aquatic life. Named a National Natural Landmark, the park draws more more than four million people each year to swim, fish, hunt, hike, bike, bird watch and enjoy its natural scenery.
Drive around the 3,200-acre peninsula and experience seven miles of sand surf beaches, eleven miles of hiking trails and 13.5 miles of biking, in-line skating and jogging trails. Watch thousands of migratory birds, over three hundred species, fly over the peninsula as they find their way to winter and summer homes. Birder’s World magazine calls Presque Isle a birding “hot spot” with over 325 bird species, diversity of habitats, unique topography and geological location.
The victory of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s fleet against the British during the Battle of Lake Erie is memorialized here. The North Pier Light with its red flashing light atop a black and white tower guides mariners through the channel into Presque Isle Bay and the Port of Erie is a popular spot of fishermen and tourists. See the House Boats that are permanently situated in Horseshoe Pond and used as summer residences. Visit the kiosk at the Presque Isle Lighthouse, built in 1872. The private brick residence provides a great background for memorable photos. Go canoeing and kayaking in the lagoons. And a day at Presque Isle would not be complete without visiting Sunset Point, known for its beautiful sunsets. It is also a popular windsurfing and kite flying beach. Presque Isle has been designated a Natural Scenic Byway and is part of Pennsylvania’s Seaway Trail.
The sandy surf beaches at Presque Isle State Park along Lake Erie help to make tourism Erie’s second largest industry, next to manufacturing. Sailing, swimming, hiking, biking, kite flying and fishing are popular on the lake as are winter activities ice fishing, ice sailing and cross country skiing. Just outside Presque Isle is the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC), a year-round facility offering educational and interactive exhibits, theater, nature shop, observation tower and more, celebrating Presque Isle.
Tom Ridge Environmental Center
(814) 833-7424
The Tom Ridge Environmental Center is a grand gateway to Presque Isle and Lake Erie. Affectionately referred to as “TREC”, this 65,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art, “green” facility is an educational center at heart, dedicated to teaching visitors about the unique 3,200 acres that is Presque Isle State Park. TREC illustrates the many different forms of life that inhabit the peninsula by providing an inside glimpse into the natural wonders that make up Presque Isle. Exciting all your senses, TREC houses interactive educational exhibits, a park orientation film, 75-foot glass enclosed observation tower, visitor information area, cafe, nature shop/gallery, and a four-story high, 45 feet wide “Big Green Screen” theater. TREC is also home to classrooms, research labs, the regional science consortium, and administrative offices for nine environmental agencies. Free to the public and open year-round, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center is a great way for families, individuals and groups to have fun and learn a thing or two about Presque Isle.
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