DIGITAL GLOBAL TRAVELER FEATURING ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Ten Outdoor Activities to Do This Summer
Some clearly obvious ones, some unique, and others not so obvious
Out of all of the things I’ve grown to dislike about Erie, one of the great things that I can say is that I absolutely love the number of outdoor activity options there are in the city and county. The activities listed here are universal but at times I will refer specifically to Erie County. The lush and vast landscape of the county leads to a lot of outdoor activities for people of all ages. I’m going to list some here for everyone to enjoy and check out.
Camping
This is one activity my partner and I have already done in our camper/mobile tiny home. We plan to do more of this over the course of the summer as the shade provided by tall trees and the proximity to water make this a very attractive outdoor activity, especially during the hotter days.
You can bring a tent, use an RV, a truck, or a camper for this activity. The level at how primitive you want your experience to be is up to you.
Geocaching
I don’t know if any of you have heard about this one. It’s like an outdoor scavenger map that you can use your navigation tools on your phone to do. The website linked to the story will provide you with your local and closest geocaching experience. This one can be super fun, almost like a treasure hunt, and is great for those who are more physically active. Here’s editor, Sandra Jasionowska’s story about it back in February here on Digital Global Traveler.
Letterboxing
Similar to geocaching, letterboxing is also going outdoors and finding things. Instead of GPS to track down your hidden treasure though, you use clues and a compass to find your way to what you’re looking for. If you want to learn more about it, you can read about it here. My editor friend, Sally Prag, just wrote a fascinating story about it.
Hiking
Hiking is relaxing and good exercise any time of the year but summer is a popular and excellent time to find a great spot and go hiking. Make sure you stay on the trails and respect nature and animals and you will be just fine. I used to love doing this activity a lot when I was physically able to. Here are stories from Jillian Amatt - Artistic Voyages and Mary Louisa Cappelli, MFA, JD, PhD for starters.
Swimming
If I hadn’t included swimming in my list, you would’ve thought that I was nuts. Erie has some great swimming areas, especially along the Bay on Presque Isle State Park peninsula, and along the lake all over the County. I grew up swimming back in California. I’m sure many of us love to swim when the temperature gets hot.
This will always be a summer favorite!! I won’t include any swimming stories from Digital Global Traveler here but it’s definitely an experience you can read a lot about.
Fishing
There are plenty of beautiful spots to go fishing in Erie County, as long as you pay the $45 seasonal license to do it legally. I know that there are plenty of people doing it illegally but if you’re not wanting to face a fine, why would you run the risk anyway? And Erie is such a great place to fish in the United States.
Take advantage of this beautiful weather that only comes for less than six months out of every year. Pull out that old fishing pole or buy a new one. There are so many great places in the world to go fishing. I recommend you consider this as an outdoor activity this summer.
Baseball
I could’ve put any sport here but I just had to choose America’s Pastime. Baseball has been a part of the summer tradition in America for well over 100 years. Who doesn’t remember going to the game with your dad, mom, or other parent or guardian growing up? My first game was a Giants game in San Francisco in 1989.
Erie has the Seawolves and I’ve even been to a game there. The atmosphere is electric at a baseball stadium. If you’re curious, the Seawolves won that day. Play baseball. Go to a baseball game with the family. Summer is great for all of these events.
Cruises
I was originally thinking about this one. Well, don’t only old people and the rich go on cruises? Most likely. And if you are in one or both of these categories, feel free to be out on the open water in the summertime to enjoy one. For the rest of us, I mean booking one of those lake, bay, or ferry cruises.
The weather is great and it’s a great time to book one of these short cruises looking out on the water. Lake Erie has a pirate-themed tour boat cruise theme. That itself is worth checking out and is friendly for the whole family. Most of these tickets are very affordable and are a fun way to do a staycation in your own city.
Golfing
Sure, you could bunch this in with all of the other sports I had mentioned earlier before ultimately picking baseball. I classify golf as more of a leisure activity than an athletic and competitive one. Sure, there are people who take the sport so seriously, but it doesn’t matter what level of athletic activity you’re at when playing golf.
It doesn’t matter how good or bad you are at the game. Are you having fun? Great. I’ve watched the oldest people out at the links and they definitely look like they’re having fun. Here’s a guide for Erie County: https://www3.erie.gov/parks/golf.
Concerts and Festivals
Despite the Coronavirus pandemic continuing throughout the world, there is still a large number of concerts and festivals this year. Erie County even has the June 14th celebration downtown. Music, food, family, and fun have always been a large part of the tradition in Erie, especially. There are also many cultural festivals held every year in the summer in the County, including the Asian, Greek, German, Polish, Italian, and so many more. These are a great way to enjoy the weather, spend time with the family, and be out in the community.
Of course, this isn’t a comprehensive list but just a brainstormer and a starter, especially for the lovely residents of the beautiful city and county of Erie, Pennsylvania. Of course, you can apply these universally. If you enjoy stories like this and other stories about Erie and many other places around the world, check out the publication, Digital Global Traveler, where this story and some of the others linked in the story are available to read, only on Medium.
