PHOTO: VISIT ERIE

If you’re looking for a beach vacation without making the 6-hour-plus drive to the ocean, Erie is your best bet — and there’s plenty of stuff to do there.

For example, Presque Isle State Park has numerous beaches with kid-friendly amenities, while the state of Pennsylvania offers free public tours of Presque Isle State Park’s bays and interior ponds. There also are a number of wineries around the area, plus a popular 13.5-mile scenic pedestrian/bike trail around the perimeter of Presque Isle.

Unlike Pittsburgh, Erie is home to some winning pirates. Scallywags, located at Dobbins Landing on Presque Isle Bay, runs tours for guests of all ages and there’s also the evening Wobbly Pirate cruises for guests 21 and over.

Erie’s beaches aren’t the only water play in town. Water World, located within the Waldameer Park amusement park, has a plethora of water slides, and guests may also move in between the water park and the amusement park. For rainy or cold days, Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park on Peach Street is a tropical oasis for kids and adults alike.

Of course, you’ll also need a place to stay on your beach-but-not-the ocean trip. Here are six of our favorite places for a weekend getaway.
 

On the Beach

Waterfront Cottage

PHOTO COURTESY VRBO

Nestled against the water at Kelso Beach, and just 2 miles from Presque Isle State Park, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom waterfront cottage features modern furnishings and a grill on the deck for an afternoon cookout. There’s also easy access to activities such as boating, fishing, jet skiing, or simply lounging on the beach.

Price: $352 per night
 

Chasing Waterfalls

This Place Rocks! 

PHOTO COURTESY VRBO

The three-bedroom cottage on Lake Erie features a one-of-a-kind patio carved into a bluff looking over the water. Oh, and did we mention the property is adjacent to a scenic waterfall? Of note, the cottage sits about 20 feet above Lake Erie. While that makes for incredible views, there is no fence or railing along the rock wall or bluff. Guests may access the water by carefully climbing down the natural rocks at the waterfall. The property also is close to Erie County’s numerous wineries and about 15 minutes from Presque Isle State Park.

Price: $302 per night 
 

Magnificent Views

Ranch Retreat

PHOTO COURTESY VRBO

Enjoy the stunning sunsets from the deck of this waterside ranch on an 80-foot cliff (beware, there’s no railing or barrier) above Lake Erie. The neighborhood beach at Chautauqua Park is just a few blocks from this peaceful retreat. It’s also near Erie’s downtown and the Bayfront Convention Center.

Price: $292 per night 
 

Convenient Location

The Cozy Gray Cottage 

PHOTO COURTESY VRBO

Newly restored, the 1950s-era Cozy Gray Cottage has a convenient location in a quiet residential area near Erie’s parks, restaurants, shopping, universities and hospitals.

Price: $129 per night
 

Gateway to Erie

Stylish Haven

PHOTO COURTESY VRBO

Stylish and cheerful, and with a stocked kitchen, this four-bedroom home-away-from-home is only a short walk from Avanti’s Diner, Pressed Coffee and Frontier Park. A 5-minute drive will get you to Presque Isle, the Bayfront Convention Center and Waldameer amusement park.

Price: $149 per night
 

Lakeside Classic

Chautauqua Park

PHOTO COURTESY VRBO

This lakeside retreat is a 2-minute walk to the beach at Chautauqua Park, but one of the most fun features of the classic three-bedroom home is the retro “I Love Lucy” suite housing a vintage bedroom set from 1953, mixed with a local artist’s rendition of Lucille Ball.

Price: $235 per night