Discovering Lake Erie with Kids
Want a Maine-esque trip without the Maine budget? Or live nowhere near Maine but you’re searching for a “it’s close enough feel?” Check out Lake Erie. Is it Maine? No. If you squint a little bit does it resemble Maine a bit? Yep. Will your little kids know the difference? Probably not. Did we have a blast at Lake Erie with our kids? You bet.
So my husband and I LOVE Acadia National Park in Maine. Before we had kids, we traveled there as many times as possible and ever since, we’ve been dreaming of taking our kids there. But right now they’re just too young to make such a long drive.
So while we were really wanting to go to Maine this summer, instead we decided to check out the shores of Lake Erie. I know. I know. When I initially thought of Lake Erie, all I could think of was the industrial waste problems it had in the 1970s. To be completely honest, I really only considered Lake Erie because it was a close drive for us and there were cheap campsites available. I had pretty low expectations. But instead- we found a gem of a vacation spot that our kids can’t wait to go back to.
Here’s what’s worth doing, what you can’t miss, and what we want to do when we go back:
Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio with Kids
What to Do
If you’re searching for a very Americana weekend getaway with kids, check out Geneva-on-the-Lake in Ohio.
They describe themselves as having a “nostalgic beach-bum charm” and it’s a pretty accurate description.
The town itself is 150 years old and still has that feel of an old-fashioned vacation spot (think Gatlinburg before Ripley’s bought the entire town).
“The Strip”
In the heart of the town, there’s a main strip that has an arcade, a Ferris wheel, go karts, bumper cars, a climbing zone, and miniature golf.
Additionally, there’s all kinds of places to eat. Walk up hot dog stands, an old fashioned Dairy Queen, grab-and-go pizza, a donut shop that has been there for close to 100 years… you get the idea.
A family with kids could easily spend an afternoon or evening taking in all the different kinds of family fun that the strip has to offer.
Geneva State Park
Geneva State Park is just a few miles down the road from Geneva-on-the-Lake.
The state park features a campground, a playground area, and beach access.
The beach is big enough to be able to find space for your own family. And while we personally didn’t go swimming (it was too cold at the time), there were bathrooms to be able to change in if you do opt to go swimming.
The state park offered a great place to take in the natural beauty of Lake Erie without battling any crowds.
This is absolutely a family friendly spot to explore Lake Erie with kids.
What You Can’t Miss
The Whip-n-Dip.
On the main road driving into Geneva-on-the Lake is the Whip-n-Dip. And when the line for ice cream is as long as this line was, well, you just have to stop. Two nights in a row.
The ice cream was so delicious and they had a huge variety of soft serve and traditional ice cream. Even better- it was affordable. Seriously- I think the four of us spent more on Wendy’s Frostys on the drive home. It’s an old-fashioned walk-up ice cream stand with picnic seating outside. With the warm summer air and the breeze from the lake blowing in- it was a perfect way to end the evening.
(And my four year old HIGHLY recommends the cookie monster ice cream.)
Sunsets on the Lake
Being totally honest here- when we first got to the lake in the middle of the day I just kept saying to myself “this isn’t quite like Maine.” And then sunset came and WHOA. Lake Erie immediately got bumped up my list of places that I love.
There’s a couple of different places I recommend watching the sunset:
At the Geneva Township Park, there’s a place to walk down to an overlook of the lake. There’s benches along the way and at the bottom, you have a great view of the water breaking against the rocks. (This actually really does feel like Maine here.)
Additionally, the beach in Geneva State Park is a great place to sit on the sand and watch the sun go down.
(And the whole area is so small, you can get to both places in one night! And then go get your ice cream at the Whip-n-Dip!)
Where to Stay
Camp at Geneva State Park
We chose to camp in the state park and we absolutely loved the campground. Our site was tucked back in the woods a bit, giving it a little bit of privacy. My young daughters also absolutely LOVED the playground.
Older kids were riding their bikes around the campground and it was really family friendly. In the summer they even offer outdoor family movie events on the weekends.
If you have a larger RV there’s a section of the campground with great views of the water. It’s a great kid-friendly place to stay right on Lake Erie.
Lakeside Cottages in Geneva-on-the-Lake
If camping isn’t your style, there were a lot of different lodging options in Geneva-on-the-Lake, ranging from a fancy resort to small lakeside cottages.
Traditional Hotels
If hotels are more of your preferred lodging style, you’re only a little bit off the interstate (and only about an hour away from Cleveland).
Erie, Pennsylvania with Kids
What to Do
Erie, Pennsylvania is a neat place to visit with kids. Full of natural beauty and historical importance, there’s something here for everyone.
Presque Isle State Park
Presque Isle State Park is an absolute gem. On this trip- Presque Isle is the closest we came to really feeling like we were in Maine. There’s a driving tour that takes a couple of hours to go through, but you can definitely extend this depending on how many stops you make.
Of all the stops, I highly recommend getting out at Beach 11. There’s a natural playground, a sandy beach, and a changing area for the beach. Additionally, there’s views of the North Point Lighthouse. This might be one of the most inviting beaches for kids at Lake Erie to really play on.
I also recommend stopping at the Presque Isle Lighthouse. It’s absolutely beautiful. If you want, you can climb to the top for a small admission fee. Near the lighthouse is a unique little giftshop featuring a lot of handmade items from local artisans.
However, my favorite part of this stop was the beach behind the lighthouse. You can take a short little path down through some trees and you come out to the most beautiful view on all of Presque Isle. The beach here felt a lot more natural, and while it wasn’t as good for swimming as Beach 11, it just begged for exploration along the water’s edge. Of all the places on Presque Isle THIS was the place I loved the most. Kids will love exploring the tidal pools of Lake Erie here and learning about the lighthouse.
If after these two stops you still have time, I’d also recommend stopping at the Commodore Perry monument. Lake Erie was an important site in the War of 1812. Do I care a ton about the War of 1812? Not really. But it’s such an overlooked time period in American history, if there’s a site I can easily add in that hits on the War of 1812 a bit, I’m going to do it.
If you’re looking to map out your drive, a map is available here.
Asbury Woods
After Presque Isle, Asbury Woods would be my next pick for things to do in Erie with kids.
With over 200 acres to explore, Asbury Woods is a sanctuary tucked away in Erie. It’s free to visit and there’s even a small nature center attached to the welcome center that my girls really loved.
We did a short, paved trail that my toddler could walk completely on her own two little legs. However, if we’d had more time, I definitely would have wanted to spend more time here exploring.
If we get to go back, Asbury Woods will be on the top of my list.
Tom Ridge Environmental Center
Right next to Presque Isle, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center is a great place to stop right before you enter Presque Isle. They had an information desk, an environmental center, and a small gift shop. (Plus- the restrooms were pristine.)
There’s also a discovery center room for young kids where they can learn more about the importance conservation at Lake Erie. Additionally, there’s a small nature play area in the back that was fun for my daughters to run around.
You certainly don’t need to stop here before going onto Presque Isle, but it’s a neat (and free) place to stretch your legs a bit.
What You Can’t Miss
Beach Views at Presque Isle State Park
If you only have one day in Erie- see Presque Isle. Specifically seek out the beach views behind the Presque Isle lighthouse. It was absolutely gorgeous.
What We Want to Do Next Time
expERIEnce Children’s Museum
This was on our list as a potential rainy day activity. And while I’m glad that we ended up having perfect weather, I was a little bit disappointed we didn’t get experience it-pun intended. Next time, I would like to try and make time for the expERIEnce Children’s Museum.
It looks like it’s a manageable size for an afternoon trip and looks especially great for younger learners.
Erie Maritime Museum
If you have a history fan in your family, check out the Erie Maritime Museum. Featuring a War of 1812 era ship, this could be a fun place for kids to explore.
Where to Stay
We didn’t actually stay in Erie (Geneva was just an hour’s drive away, so we decided it was easier to just keep our campsite in Geneva set up and make this a day trip), BUT we did look at some places in the early stages of our trip planning.
If you’re looking for a unique, old-fashioned campground, check out Sara’s Campground. Right near Presque Isle State Park, this is as close as you can get to camping at Presque Isle. It looks like an incredibly fun and unique place to stay near Lake Erie that kids would love.
There is tent camping on the beach and an RV Park. There’s also a diner and a beach store.
Based on how crowded the campground was when we drove past, this place looks extremely popular.
And again, if camping isn’t your thing, there’s plenty of standard options in Erie itself.
Nearby Attractions
Cleveland, Ohio and Cuyahoga Valley Falls National Park
Cleveland, Ohio is only an hour away from Geneva State Park. If you’re looking to add on a city experience for your kids, Cleveland could be an interesting pick. There’s TONS to do here with kids and is definitely a trip we’re planning on making.
From the baseball stadium to museums to the West Side Market and the Christmas Story House, Cleveland has a lot to offer.
Additionally, nestled right in Cleveland is Cuyahoga Valley Falls National Park. It’s definitely a small national park, but if you’re looking for a quick trip to a beautiful waterfall or you’re trying to see as many national parks as possible, check out Cuyahoga Valley. You really only need an hour or so to get a taste for what the park has to offer, making it a perfect add-on to a trip.
Niagara Falls
From Erie, PA, you’re only two hours away from Niagara Falls. The next time we go to Lake Erie, I definitely want to add on Niagara Falls. Of course, there’s the Maid of the Mist boat tour that kids would enjoy, but there’s also beautiful hikes at Whirlpool State Park.
Closing Thoughts
I couldn’t get over how beautiful Lake Erie was and how much fun we had. This is definitely getting added to our list of trips we’d like to make again. My kids absolutely loved exploring Lake Erie.
