Corry, PA Itinerary: Where to Eat and Explore in Erie County’s Small Towns
Tuesday Sep 9th, 2025
Estimated Read Time: 4 minutes
Tucked along scenic Pennsylvania Route 6 in southeastern Erie County, Pennsylvania, Corry is a small town that blends historic charm with newfound energy, offering a welcome reprieve from city life. Known for its outstanding antique and vintage shopping, the area lends itself well as a home base to explore the region.
Where to Stay: Cobblestone Inn & Suites, Corry
Day One: Antique and Arts on Center Street
Spend the Day Vintage, Thrift, and Gift Shopping
Center Street in Corry, PA is just as described – the central location for spending a day in the town. Lined with well-preserved 19th century storefronts, it’s perfectly set up for a day of shopping and perusing unique and interesting items. For vintage goods, start at Whistle Stop Antique Mall, a highly-rated 7,000 square foot space with a variety of vendors all offering their own brand of antiques – from vintage toys and books to classic colored glassware and furniture. Across the street, The Village Thrift offers an additional 5,000 square feet of thrift shopping, and all sales proceeds benefit a local nonprofit. For a curated collection of work by local artists, visit Painted Finch Gallery, and then shop for artisanal and bespoke gifts at Hiram’s Marketplace, Dahlia Gifts & Goods, and Epiphany’s Emporium.
Dinner at Corner Bar and Grillz
The atmosphere at The Corner Bar and Grillz is casual, but the flavors on their menu are far from it. Rotating specials, featured wing flavors, and live music set the scene for dinner. Order the Tomato and Mozzarella Skewers with Caper Sauce for the table and ask about their pasta of the day.
End the Day with Dessert at KC’s
Round out the day with a couple scoops of homemade ice cream at KC’s Xpress. KC’s offers classic soft serve flavors, but the rotating flavors of homemade hard scoop ice cream are what sets it apart. Try a seasonal flavor on a waffle cone, or make it into a homemade milkshake.
Travel Tip: In addition to ice cream, KC’s offers homemade dairy-free sorbet in a variety of fruity flavors.
Day Two: Day Trip to the National Comedy Center
Breakfast at Gigi’s
Gigi’s Route 6 Diner feels like a familiar stop along a country road: the coffee is always fresh, and the diner classics don’t disappoint. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before hitting the road for the day. Don’t try to plan your meal ahead of time – this is the type of place where you should check the specials board and ask the wait staff to recommend their favorites.
National Comedy Center
One of the best museums in the country is a quick 35 minute drive from Corry, the perfect distance for a day trip. Recently named by TIME magazine as one of the “Worlds Greatest Places,” the National Comedy Center is truly one of one. The exhibits are interactive and modern, offering visitors the opportunity to create custom humor profiles that will cater exhibits to visitor preferences throughout the museum. More than 50 immersive exhibits span comedy through time and genres – from comic strips and prop comedy to late night television and sound effects. Nearby, the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum tells the life stories of the “First Couple of Comedy” in Lucy’s hometown, through displays of rare artifacts, wardrobe, props and more.
Dinner in a Former Library
Housed in Corry’s former public library, the Library Bar & Grill carries nearly 80 years of history within its walls. The Carnegie Building served as the city’s literary hub until 1980, when the library moved to a larger space and the historic structure was transformed into a restaurant serving casual American fare like flatbreads, sandwiches, baskets and wings.
Travel Tip: Tickets to the National Comedy Center are discounted when you purchase them online ahead of time, or in a dual pass that includes admission to the Lucy Desi Museum.
