Plot your summer vacations, schedule fall outings, cure those winter blues or make it a spring fling. Whatever the reason or season, make your escape to Erie for entertaining, affordable and family-friendly fun!
The enduring joy of shared traditions and timeless activities make Erie the ideal setting to create new memories and pass down moments from generation to generation. At Waldameer Park and Water World, iconic rides such as Wacky Shack, Pirate’s Cove, and Dodgem Cars greet park guests with their whimsical décor and that nostalgic amusement park scent. In addition to its long standing status as a family summer destination, Waldameer offers free parking and admission, all while continuing to update and expand rides. Water World offers a perfect remedy to beat the heat with more than 30 slides, a 500,000-gallon wave pool, and two dedicated family areas. Home to more than 400 animals in a compact and streamlined design, the Erie Zoo is a refreshing departure from sprawling metropolitan zoos, allowing visitors to explore its array of exhibits and wildlife in a couple hours, perfectly suited for young children and limited attention spans. The Zoo hosts several annual events including ZooBoo (October), and the Egg-Venture Easter Egg Hunt (March). The crack of a bat and the eruption of cheers from a home run resonates through UPMC Park when the Erie SeaWolves take the field. The SeaWolves are the AA affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. The SeaWolves' season (April – September) is filled with special promotions, and family fun, including frequent fireworks nights and a designated Kids Fun Zone.
Escape from the ordinary as you explore Erie’s variety of indoor attractions. Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park is a tropical oasis for families craving more thrills and less chills, especially in the colder months. Consistently ranked one of the Top 10 Water Park Resorts in the country by USA Today’s Readers’ Choice, Splash Lagoon features nine dynamic water slides, a 200,000-gallon wave pool, FlowRider surf machine, arcade, food court, and a newly renovated Tiki Tree House complete with a giant tipping coconut! Splash Lagoon’s newest attraction is the Froggy Family splash pad featuring a zero-depth pool, fun water sprayers, and colorful frog figures. The feeling you get when your team slips a puck past the goalie is unforgettable, especially when shared among family, friends, and a crowd of like-minded fans when the Erie Otters take the ice at Erie Insurance Arena. Erie’s minor-league Ontario Hockey League team has a major following, with home games from October through April that entertain crowds both on the ice and in the stands with fun family promotions and giveaways.
Here in Erie there are a multitude of ways to spend time outside and discover Erie’s natural side. Nature and recreation come together seamlessly at Asbury Woods where families can explore more than five miles of winding trails set among 216 acres of lush fields, forests, and wetlands. Asbury Woods Nature Center has interactive educational programs complete with animal exhibits, a gift shop, and annual family-forward events such as Maple Festival (March), Scary Creature Feature (October), and Winter Wonderland (December). Set in the scenic foothills of Clymer, NY just across the Pennsylvania border, Peek’n Peak Ski Resort’s picturesque setting and wide range of activities is a great spot for families seeking relaxation and excitement in one location. From downhill skiing, tubing, and snowboarding in the winter to giant zip lines, aerial ropes course, swimming, and mini golf in the summer, the Peek is a year-round destination for outdoor recreation. With a charming rural farm setting, Port Farms is a delightful place to take the family for a variety of farmed-themed activities and seasonal attractions. From picking pumpkins, and winding through corn mazes to horse-drawn holiday carriage rides and visits with Santa, Port Farms provides a wholesome environment for everyone. Their newly opened Poverty Knob Farmhouse Ales serves locally hand-crafted beer made with regional ingredients, including some from their own farm!
Engaging, hands-on activities combine entertainment and education to inspire creativity, strengthen family bonds, and make lasting memories. There’s always something imaginative, inventive, and immersive happening at the newly renovated expERIEnce Children’s Museum. The new three-story, 19,000-square-foot building features exhibits that pay homage to the Erie community: “Lake Life” celebrates Lake Erie and boasts the second-largest interactive water table in the country, featuring miniature versions of iconic Erie structures, and “My Town," a kid-sized town is packed with hands-on experiences from taking orders at a restaurant to changing the oil on a car. Inside the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC), find two floors of interactive exhibits where guests can learn about the history and formation of Presque Isle State Park as well as its inhabitants. The free facility is open year-round and also features a 75-foot observation tower offering spectacular panoramic views of Lake Erie. Located approximately 40 minutes from Erie in Jamestown, NY, the National Comedy Center uses state-of-the-art technology and interactivity to create personalized environments by way of laugh wristbands and custom Sense of Humor profiles., created via easy-to-use kiosks. Once created, begin interacting with more than 50 immersive exhibits tailored to comedic tastes as well as age-appropriate material.
Check out some of Erie's top attractions for families with Andy's Awesome Adventures!
School's out for summer! Let this playlist guide your family vacation in Erie County. For all of VisitErie's playlists, click here.
814-835-5356
4105 Asbury Road
Pet friendly (outside trails only)
Erie, PA 16506
814-392-3500
3330 West 26th Street
Village West Plaza
Erie, PA 16506
716-736-4418
5811 Welch Hill Road
Ripley, NY 14775
814-392-4785
Home field is Erie Sports Center
8159 Oliver Road
Erie, PA 16509
814-572-1407
Meets in front of Like My Thai 827 State Street
Erie, PA 16501
814-452-2744
150 East Front Street
Erie, PA 16507
814-455-7779
Erie Insurance Arena
809 French St
Erie, PA 16501
814-456-1300
Home games - UPMC Park/110 East 10 Street
Business Office - 831 French Street
Erie, PA 16501
814-864-2022
4940 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16501
814-864-4091
423 West 38th Street
Erie, PA 16508
814-453-3743
420 French Street
Erie, PA 16507
814-454-1813
356 West 6th Street
Erie, PA 16501
814-602-5846
12 East Dobbins Landing
next to Woody's Backwater BARge & Grill
Erie, PA 16507
814-461-0911
1402 State Street
Erie, PA 16501
814-453-5323
1501 West 6th Street
Erie, PA 16505
814-449-9012
150 East Front Street - Erie Maritime Museum
Erie, PA 16507
716-484-2222
203 W. Second Street
Jamestown, NY 14701
814-920-9666
130 E Front Street
Erie , PA 16507
814-824-9241
1909 Chestnut Street
East End Entrance
Erie, PA 16502
814-838-3938
Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle Canoe & Boat Livery
Erie, PA 16505
814-836-0201
Perry Monument at Presque Isle
Erie, PA 16501
814-833-3604
Presque Isle State Park, east of Beach 6
Erie, PA 16505
814-833-7424
Foot of Peninsula Drive
Erie, PA 16505
814-835-8900
Waterworks Beach area
Presque Isle State Park
Erie, PA 16505
866-3SPLASH (77-5274)
8091 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16509
814-528-5005
3728 Liberty Street
Erie, PA 16508
814-824-9241
1909 Chestnut Street
Erie, PA 16502
724-880-1283
Captain John E. Lampe Marina, Foot of Port Access Road
Erie, PA 16507
814-833-7424
301 Peninsula Drive
Erie, PA 16505
814-459-9696
Foot of State Street/Dobbins Landing
Erie, PA 16507
877-817-1009
220 Peninsula Drive
Erie, PA 16505
814-315-0940
2167 W. 12th Street
B2
Erie, PA 16506
Wolverine Park Marina
34 State Street
Erie, PA 16507
Experience 84 degrees all year at one of the top water parks in the country.
Voted Erie’s Choice Best Hospital for eight years in a row
Experience family summer fun on more than 100 great rides, slides and attractions at Waldameer!
Fill your tank, pick up fresh food from local brands, and a six-pack to go in 40 regional locations.
Find true action with slots, table games, sports book, and horse racing.
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