Fun, free things to do in Erie County this summer
In a year where inflation on groceries and gas has taken a huge bite out of budgets everywhere, more than a few folks are probably rethinking that New York City vacation and looking for entertainment that leaves enough room for basic meals. As cheap as it is to live in Erie, sometimes "free" fun fits better into those long weeks between paychecks.
We dug up 10 of our favorite things to do in the area that cost exactly nothing, and just might tickle Erieites' fancy just as much as that Broadway show folks are not going to get to.
Tour of Erie region's public art
On beautiful days in the Erie region, it's hard to miss all the public art scattered around, including murals, sculptures and more.
Try finding all the frogs and fish statues left over from the 2001 and 2004 community art projects, and find as many murals as you can.
Don't miss “Flotsam,” the mural on the base of the Bicentennial Tower, by Rafael Gerlach, known as SatOne.
Check out the celebration of Erie's proud industrial heritage on the side of the U-Haul at 337 W. 12th St.
For days when the weather isn't the best, you can check out the lovely Erie Art Museum at 20 E. Fifth St. It's $10 to get in most days, unless you have a membership and then it's free. On the second Sunday of every month, entry is free for everyone and it's open from 1 to 6 p.m.
Walk the Bayfront Promenade
Find a great view of sunsets from the Bayfront Promenade, which runs along the bluff above the Bayfront Parkway. It leads into Bayview Park on W. Second and Walnut St., which features a splash pad installed in 2019.
Go fly a kite
Watch people flying kites at Sunset Point or "the kite beach," which is just west of Beach 10 at Presque Isle State Park. Or pick up an inexpensive kite and try it yourself. The wind, if there is any, is perfect there.
Erie's Black history
Discover "A Trail of Shared Heritage," a 29-stop tour of African Americans in Erie County that has been 10 years in the making. Many of the stops are free, and all you need is a fold-out brochure that contains a map and extensive descriptions of why each site is included. The driving tour encompasses both existing structures as well as locations where physical evidence of the past is long gone. The tour includes a marker outside the Erie Maritime Museum, a trip inside the Heritage Room at Blasco Library, the Pennsylvania Soldier's and Sailor's Home, the Harry T. Burleigh homestead, Vosburgh Mansion and Barber Shop, New Jerusalem, Bayview Park and many others. Find the tour, an audio presentation and much more at sharedheritage.org. The brochure is pictured in full at sharedheritage.org/index.php/driving-tour/. They are also available in the Heritage Room at Blasco Library.
Super slides
Go down the Griff Slides at Frontier Park over and over until you're dizzy, and then walk over to the labyrinth and take time for introspection, or a thoughtful conversation.
Hiking in Erie County
The trails on Presque Isle: Walking, riding or running along the Multi-Purpose Trail is always a great way to get a new perspective on life. But there are also several woodsy, sandy, grassy hiking trails on the peninsula that invite quieter walks and rewarding destinations. Find descriptions and difficulty levels of many trails at bit.ly/PISPtrails.
Wintergreen Gorge: 3399 Cooper Road between Station and Shannon roads in Harborcreek Township is a hidden gem on the east side of Erie, near Penn State Behrend. It's great for hiking, bicycling and dog walking. The 1.2-mile trail offers spectacular views of Four Mile Creek and Gorge Overlook. Visitors can access the trailheads from either the Prischak Educational Building or the Ohio Hall parking lots on the Behrend campus.
Erie Bluffs State Park: According to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the 587-acre Erie Bluffs State Park lies along the Lake Erie shoreline 12 miles west of the City of Erie. It features a mile of shoreline, 90-foot bluffs, overlooking Lake Erie, Elk Creek ― a shallow stream steelhead fishery ― plus several endangered plant species, forested wetlands and much more. For more information, visit bit.ly/eriebluffs, or call 814-833-7424.
Perry Square fountain
When it's really hot, throw on your bathing suits and take everyone to play in the fountain in downtown Erie's Perry Square.
Visit Shades Beach Park
Yes, the beaches at Presque Isle are amazing. But so is this less-traveled public park in Harborcreek. The park is located at 7000 East Lake Road, and it features hiking trails, woods, play areas, picnic grounds, the beach itself and a boat launch. You can reserve one of two picnic facilities with kitchens, restrooms, a shared playground and horseshoe courts. For more information, visit harborcreek.org/departments/parks/shades-beach or call 814- 899-3171.
Go to a free concert
It's astounding how much free live music is available in Erie. More evenings than not, there's a place somewhere in the region featuring regional and traveling musicians of all flavors, shapes and sizes.
Free summer music: Grab your lawn chair and pick a place to hear an outdoor concert
Sunrise, sunset
It's been said Erie has the best sunsets anywhere. That's kind of hard to prove, but they sure are spectacular when the weather is right and you can see an unlimited number of them from any local beach without paying a dime. What you might not know is that Presque Isle Bay and most nearby beaches offer a pretty darned good look at sunrise as well, if you feel like getting up early. Check for sunrise and sunset times at https://bit.ly/accuweatherErie.
Contact Jennie Geisler at jgeisler@timesnews.com. Or at 814-870-1885.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: 10 fun, free things to do in Erie
