Waterfront

Waterfront in Erie

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.

Bayfront District Attractions

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. At the museum, learn about Erie's rich nautical history, role in the War of 1812, and get hands-on and up-close to Erie's Flagship. 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. During the warmer months, live local bands can be found entertaining crowds at Rum Runners, The Cove or Oliver’s Beer Garden. In the fall and winter when the weather turns cooler, the party moves inside to local restaurants such as Oliver’s Rooftop, the Bayfront Grille and Smugglers Wharf.

Bicentennial Tower

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 first Tuesday of each month from April to October (excluding holidays and weather permitting).

Hours:
September and May: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (seven days a week)
October through April: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday only)
Memorial Day through Labor Day: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. (seven days a week)

Waterfront Dining

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, Woody’s Backwater BARge & Grill (Erie’s only floating summertime hotspot!), Oliver's Beer Garden or Rum Runners, known for its chill vibes and live music. The new Bay House Oyster Bar and Restaurant features a unique wood-fired Argentine grill, and operates as Erie's only oyster bar. For outstanding marina views, dine on one of two decks overlooking the water at Jr's on the Bay, The Sloppy Duck Saloon. Enjoy spectacular views year-round at waterfront restaurants like the world-class Bayfront Grille (inside the Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel), or the Shoreline Bar & Grille (inside the Courtyard by Marriott Erie Bayfront Hotel).

Presque Isle State Park

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, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, fishing, and ice 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. Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC) is the gateway to the park and is an educational facility designed to teach the story of how the peninsula formed from glaciers and ice melt. This fascinating (and free) attraction features hands-on, educational exhibits, a glass-enclosed observation tower, and orientation theater.

On the Water

Sightseeing boat tours of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie are available May through October aboard numerous vessels such as a narrated 90-minute sail on the Lady Kate, dinner and sunset cruises aboard the Victorian Princess, or a swashbuckling pirate voyage on Scallywags Pirate Adventures. Private and public day or evening sails are available May through September aboard the majestic sailboat at Your Sailing Adventure. Learn the art of traditional seamanship on the U.S. Brig Niagara or the Schooner Lettie G. Howard. Day and sunset sails on both historic vessels are available from late spring to early fall, weather permitting.

For those that don’t have their own personal watercraft, Erie offers a wide variety of opportunities to get out and enjoy the waters of Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie. Small and large watercraft such as, jet skis, pontoon boats, motor boats, canoes, paddle boards, kayaks and more are available for rent throughout the summer months at Port Erie Sports, Presque Isle Boat Rental or Hidden Harbor Boat Rentals.