BEACHES

With miles of Lake Erie shoreline, the Erie region has several great beach locations for you to stretch out and relax. Erie’s top beach attraction is Presque Isle State Park, a designated National Natural Landmark featuring seven miles of sandy beaches and the only surf swimming in Pennsylvania.  The cool, refreshing waters of Lake Erie make Presque Isle the perfect place to take a dip. Presque Isle-guarded beaches are open daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  When you arrive, be sure to check the sign located just past the park’s main gate that indicates what beaches are open for swimming that day and the safety notice regarding beach status flags. These flags, colored to indicate varying levels of safety are posted on lifeguard chairs to inform beachgoers of any hazards such as winds, waves, and currents.  Complete information on all of Presque Isle’s beaches can be found here.

The Pat Crawford Beach at Edinboro Lake is a picturesque, guarded swimming beach area that is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.  Edinboro Lake also features two free public boat launches, a playground, a picnic area, and an ADA-accessible fishing pier. On the eastern shores of Lake Erie in Harborcreek, PA, Shades Beach is a popular spot for families because of its shallow waters and has great vantage points for watching one of Erie’s famous sunsets. There are also hiking trails, play areas, horseshoe courts, a boat launch, and picnic grounds. Learn more about Erie County beaches here.  

WATER PARKS

This summer, the newest attraction at Waldameer Park & Water World (pictured above, photo by Gibbens Creative) is making a big splash! The Rocket Blast is a thrilling combination of a water slide and roller coaster with more than 800 feet of flying saucer turns and uphill watery blasts. Water World also boasts The Battle of Lake Erie family complex featuring an oversized replica of Erie’s Flagship Brig Niagara and a 400-gallon tipping bucket. The park’s Kidz Zone is exclusively for children 54” and under and is equipped with playful ground sprays, dancing fountains, and eight colorful slides. If the weather is inclement due to extreme heat or thunderstorms, head inside to Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park & Resort.  The Polynesian-inspired attraction provides all the fun and thrills of an outdoor water park, inside a controlled tropical environment and consistently ranks among “USA Today Readers’ Choice” for top indoor water parks. Some of Splash Lagoon’s attractions are the Big Kahuna, Hurricane Hole, and Maui Wowie slides, the Tiki Tree House, FlowRider surf machine, and a 200,000-gallon Wild Waters Wave Pool, the largest indoor wave pool in the eastern United States.

SPLASH PADS/SPRAY PARKS

Chill out at the Bayview Park Splash Pad in Erie’s West Bayfront District, (pictured above contributed photo: City of Erie) overlooking Presque Isle Bay. The city-run water attraction uses various sprinklers, a tipping bucket, and other spritzing surprises to delight all ages. The splash pad is open daily during the summer months (weather permitting) and is ADA-accessible. Just west of Erie in Girard, PA is the YMCA Camp Sherwin Spray and Play Park, a public outdoor recreation and camping center. The splash pad area includes a whimsical four-piece spraying snake, multiple watery hoops, and a tipping bucket. Camp Sherwin also has a heated pool with an aqua climb rock wall. 

WATERCRAFT RENTALS

If you don’t have your own watercraft to get out on Lake Erie or Presque Isle Bay, no worries!  There are several places with a variety of rental options to get you playing on the water in no time. Port Erie Sports offers a selection of boats, jet skis, pontoons, kayaks, and paddleboard rentals.  They are open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day 9 a.m. to sundown. Hidden Harbor Water Rentals features 22’ or 24’ pontoon boats for rent with optional towable water tubes to help crank up the fun! Hidden Harbor Rentals is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June to September. At Presque Isle State Park, you can rent aqua-cycle water trikes at the Yellow Bike Rental Company or any number of watercraft from rowboats and motorboats to canoes and kayaks at Presque Isle Boat Rental (pictured above, photo by C. Ricchuiti). Yellow Bike is open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Presque Isle Boat Rental is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you prefer to own your own equipment, The Isle Surf and Skate Shop specializes in all things board sports and the beach, with rent and retail options for surfboards and paddle boards. The Isle is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from Noon to 6 p.m.

COOL POOLS

Turn your visit into an overnight getaway and enjoy a dip in one of the many indoor or outdoor pools found at local hotels, motels, and campgrounds. With incredible views of Presque Isle Bay, the Courtyard Erie Bayfront Hotel’s outdoor infinity pool located on the second floor of the hotel is by far one of Erie’s coolest pools. At the Holiday Inn Express & Suites North East, their indoor pool outshines your standard hotel pool. This unique pool features a splash pad, a 32’ water slide, water sprayers, tipping buckets, and a whirlpool. Both the Courtyard and Holiday Inn Express pool area are ADA-accessible. For a complete list of lodging options with swimming pools, click here and look for the pool symbol.