Erie is Pennsylvania’s only port on the Great Lakes: it’s only natural that one of Erie’s best features is its waterfront. Whether you spend time on the water or alongside it, you’ll find an abundance of things to do set against the beautiful backdrop of Presque Isle Bay.
A popular spot in the warmer months, Erie’s Bayfront District is set between Downtown Erie and Presque Isle Bay and offers great ways to spend a family outing or a night out with friends. Explore the Erie Maritime Museum where Erie’s very own Tall Ship, U.S. Brig Niagara is berthed. Get a bird’s –eye-view from atop the 138 foot Bicentennial Tower on Dobbins Landing, or take a leisurely stroll along the Bayfront Promenade. Catch live local bands at Rum Runners or Oliver’s Beer Garden. Sightseeing tours of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie are available aboard numerous vessels: from a narrated tour on The Lady Kate, a dinner cruise aboard the Victorian Princess, or a swashbuckling pirate experience on Scallywags Pirate Adventures.
Located at the foot of State Street, the Bicentennial Tower is an iconic landmark for the City of Erie. The tower was built in 1996 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the founding of Erie and is a “must see” while visiting the area. While on the top observation deck, 138 feet above Presque Isle Bay, enjoy stunning views of Lake Erie, Presque Isle, the City of Erie and outlying areas. In fact, on a clear day it’s possible to see all the way to Long Point in Ontario, Canada, 27 miles away! There is a small fee to go to the top, however admission is free the second Sunday of each month from April to October (excluding holidays and weather permitting).
You just can’t top dinner with a view in Erie! Our waterfront restaurants offer dining by rooftop or right along the water’s edge. Set the scene for a romantic date night with dinner at Oliver’s Rooftop Restaurant or Pier 6 Rooftop Bar & Restaurant or enjoy a meal under the lush flowering canopy at Smugglers Wharf. Hidden Harbor offers some of the area’s best waterfront dining at its locations: The Cove and Flip Flops Tiki Tavern, Woody’s Backwater BARge & Grill (Erie’s only floating summertime hotspot!) or Rum Runners, known for its chill vibes and live music. Oysters it is at the newly opened Bay House Oyster Bar and Restaurant with its unique wood-fired Argentine grill.
Erie’s most popular natural playground, Presque Isle State Park, is so much more than its sandy beaches! Presque Isle is a year-round outdoor recreation destination for kayaking, canoeing, hiking, biking, in-line skating, birding and fishing. Rentals are available at the Park for bicycles, surreys (a four-wheeled carriage style bike), paddle boards, motor boats, row boats, pontoon boats, canoes and kayaks. Rental facilities are located at Waterworks Beach/Rotary Pavillion and at Graveyard Pond across from Misery Bay.
Erie offers a wide variety of opportunities to get out on the water. Small and large watercraft including, jet skis, pontoon boats, motor boats, canoes, kayaks and more are available for rent at Port Erie Sports or Hidden Harbor Boat Rentals. Private day or evening sails are available with Your Sailing Adventure from May through October, weather permitting.
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