Erie is the largest city in the northwestern corner of Pennsylvania. Located along the banks of Lake Erie, one of North America's five Great Lakes, Erie lies at nexus of several states, and is a relatively short drive to multiple major metropolises. Cleveland in Ohio, Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania and Buffalo in New York are all easily accessible. As the center-point to these larger outliers, Erie is itself host to an abundance of attractions, natural and man-made alike.
One of the most startling natural landforms in the immediate Erie vicinity is the peninsula of Presque Isle, most of which is covered by the 3,200-acre state park. The peninsula juts from mainland Erie out into Lake Erie, curving inward to create Presque Bay. A wide variety of outdoor activities are available at Presque Isle, including fishing, biking, boating, swimming and many miles of trails for hiking and running. There are also several rare or endangered species which can found on the isle, and bird watching is a favorite activity of visitors. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center is the educational "gateway" to the park, displaying exhibits and promoting conservation ideals.
Splash Lagoon is a massive indoor water park located in Erie. With a constant tropical temperature of 84 degrees Fahrenheit, the illusion is created that a Caribbean island exists in a city that receives massive amounts of snow yearly. Some features of Splash Lagoon include an enormous tree house, various tubes and slides, arcades, a laser tag arena, various water-based roller coasters and a general pool of 80,000 gallons.
For those interested in nightlife or a more exclusively adult form of entertainment, Presque Isle Downs and Casino offers extensive gambling opportunities, in addition to a full horse racing track. Over 2,000 slot machines, plus numerous open tables, highlight the casino floor. There are also several lounges, bars and restaurants within the casino itself. The racetrack hosts races from mid-May through to October.
The Erie Zoo is another one of the city's primary tourist attractions, receiving over 400,000 visitors a year. Perhaps the most notable feature of the zoo is the Main Zoo Building, which houses gorillas, lemurs and a variety of species from the African sahara. Tigers, cheetahs, warthogs and rhinos highlight the outdoor section. The zoo itself is complimented by an extensive series of botanical gardens, with roughly 600 species of plants that represent a global cross-section.
