Erie, PA
Erie is just two hours to the north on I-79. The Erie area has something no other place in Pennsylvania has: miles of beaches. That alone makes it worth the trip, but there's plenty more that you can do.
Presque Isle--Presque Isle State Park is a peninsula that juts out into Lake Erie. The park is an enormously popular attraction, and on a nice day, you'll find that the many sandy beaches are filled with people who are playing in the waves, picnicking, flying kites, and attending family reunions. Presque Isle has certain beaches that are more family-friendly than others and many have concession stands, bathhouses, volleyball courts, picnic areas and playgrounds. Know that in the past, Presque Isle beaches have had E. coli advisories posted at times, although recent drier summers have lessened those advisories.You can rent bikes and ride around the park near the shoreline. It's a flat paved trail and the scenery's gorgeous. You can also rent paddleboats, go on boat tours, and fish, camp, and hike.
Remember--Erie's weather is often 5 or 10 degrees cooler than our weather. If you like it to be HOT when you hang out on the beach, be sure to check the temperature before you leave!
Erie Zoo--This zoo, while not on the scale of the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, houses more than 400 animals, including giraffes, penguins, tigers, gorillas, and zebras. There is a children's area within the zoo that has a petting zoo and play yard. There's also a carousel ride and train ride.
Splash Lagoon--Splash Lagoon is the closest indoor water park to Beaver County. It has tons of tube and body slides, a lazy river, several pools and whirlpools, a tree house, an arcade and activity center. A wave pool is also being constructed. You can stay at a hotel (with a free breakfast) that is connected right to the water park.
Family First Fun Center--Across the street from Splash Lagoon is this park, which offers miniature golf, bumper boats, go-karts, and rock climbing. Inside, at the arcade center, there are lots of inflatables to bounce in.
Waldameer Park--Waldameer, located right before Presque Isle, is an amusement and outdoor water park. There are rollercoasters for the older kids and kiddie rides for the younger ones in your group. Plus, the water park has 16 different slides! A ticket to both the amusement and water park is only $22 for adults and $18 for kids under 48 inches.
ExpERIEnce Children's Museum--This "please touch" children's museum has plenty of interactive exhibits to keep kids busy, including a bubble machine, water table, corner store, and bedrock cave.
