About the Erie Area
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Top Farm Show Awards for Local Maple Syrup Producers; |
| Erie isn't dreary |
| Residents of
Pennsylvania's snowiest city know how to make the most of winter February 19, 2011|By Diane W. Stoneback, OF THE MORNING CALL Residents of Pennsylvania's snowiest city know how to have a ball. Determined not to be trapped indoors by an average of nearly 90 inches of snow per winter, they skim over the icy surface of Presque Isle Bay on skis, using wind power harnessed by their kites. They strap on snow shoes for night-time nature walks. They even equip their bikes with studded snow tires and hit the road. But visitors need not go to such extremes to discover that Erie isn't dreary on even the darkest of winter days. You can stroll along the snow-covered beaches of Presque Isle State Park and view extraordinary ice dunes on the shore of Lake Erie or spend a peaceful morning cross-country skiing on scenic trails. You can follow in Mary Birdsong's tracks. An avid birdwatcher, she ventures out in all kinds of weather to see the amazing assortment of birds that winter in Erie. If you see ice fishermen dropping their lines into Presque Isle Bay, you can follow their fresh footprints onto the snow-covered ice. If you're lucky, you'll encounter someone like octogenarian Bill Oshinsky who happily shares stories about his hobby as he fishes for his dinner. Follow the residents of the state's fourth-largest municipal area (behind Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and the Lehigh Valley) indoors and you'll discover wonderful ways to warm up after they've weathered the Lake Effect snow that blankets the city almost every day. After you've done some sledding in Erie's Frontier Park, try one of the locals' favorite ways of thawing out — with a piping-hot cup of specially-blended hot chocolate topped by a snow drift of whipped cream at Romolo Chocolates' Cocoa Cafe. Another of the locals' favorite places for defrosting is the old-fashioned Erie Bookstore. Step inside and you can browse collector's editions or new books in a fireside rocking chair, with periodic pauses to pet Diggory, the shop's resident kitty. Or take a short drive from Erie toward the touristy town of North East in Lake Erie Wine Country. When you're sniffing and sipping your way through the area's winery tasting rooms, don't miss a special treat at Mazza Vineyards — sampling its grand ice wine. No matter how bad the weather is, Erie's assortment of activities will keep your mind from freezing. In fact, you'll have a tough time plowing through all it offers in a weekend or even a long weekend. Spend four or five days, if you can, before drifting home again. The six-hour (without stops) drive to Erie from the Allentown area crosses 375 miles of Pennsylvania and gives you a new appreciation for the state's expansiveness. Add in delays for traffic problems on Route 80 and bad weather on Route 79 and you'll understand the joy I felt when I spotted the lights of the Bicentennial Tower on Erie's waterfront. Nevertheless, I'd make the trip again. As someone who still loves snow, despite the problems associated with the rugged winter we've been having in the Lehigh Valley, I give Erie a four-snowman rating. A favorite experience was watching kite skiers Lee Sedgwick and Tim Polaski doing mid-air jumps, spins and turns on Presque Isle Bay at speeds approaching 50 miles per hour. I was sorry I didn't get to see ice boaters from Erie Yacht Club flying along at even higher speeds. "It's much easier to go kite skiing here. Ice boating requires nearly glass-smooth ice, while ice conditions for kite skiing don't need to be so perfect," says Polaski, who does both whenever he has the opportunity. "Snow can cover the ice completely or there can be patches of snow and ice or even snow drifts on the ice. None of that stops us." The pair present a wintry ballet in 10-degree weather, traveling side by side and weaving in and out while maneuvering their colorful kites for speed. Later, Sedgwick offers advice for would-be kite skiers. "Don't even think about trying this until you know how to fly and control these kites by taking lessons here in the summertime. What you don't know could cause serious injuries or even kill you." |
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Revised: 03/08/11.