Presque Isle State Park is the city's signature attraction — a sandy peninsula in Lake Erie with swimming beaches, bike paths, kayaking, and superb sunsets. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center at the park entrance explains the geology and ecology before you set out. The Erie Land Lighthouse on the harbour bluff offers panoramic views and is one of the oldest lighthouse sites on the Great Lakes.
Downtown is anchored by Perry Square, a wooded park at the centre of the historic grid, and surrounded by notable buildings including the Warner Theatre, Erie Art Museum, and the Old Customshouse. The Erie Maritime Museum and the tall ship Niagara are docked on the waterfront. For architecture, the Cashier's House and Charles Manning Reed Mansion are among the finest Greek Revival buildings in western Pennsylvania. Frontier Park on the west side offers a creek trail and woodland walks away from the crowds, while the Erie Zoo is a solid half-day family option in the south of the city.