Seniors Visit The Flagship City

 Erie, which seniors locate in northwestern Pennsylvania, is named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore. Erie is the state’s fourth-largest city, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Allentown, with a population of 102,000. It certainly has a bunch of nicknames, like The Flagship City, The Gem City, The Bay City, The Lake City.

FYI: Erie is known as the Flagship City because of its status as the home port of Oliver Hazard Perry’s flagship Niagara. The city is called the Gem City because of the “sparkling” lake. I discovered that Erie was named for the Eriez tribe, who spoke an Iroquois language and in their language “Erie” means “raccoon.” 

Fishing is BIG in Erie. Many charter boat companies take senior visitors to the best fishing spots on Lake Erie, or of course, you can fish from the shore.

Victorian Princess Cruise Lines provide more luxurious ways to get out and enjoy a boat ride on the Lake. Lake Erie was chosen as one of the top-20 family-fishing spots in the nation by Field & Stream.

Senior Visitors Spend Time at Presque Isle State Park

Erie’s Metropolitan Area consists of approximately 280,000 residents. This Visit Erie website has it all lined up for your visit, including access to a helpful online Adventure Guide.

Once teeming with heavy industry, Erie’s manufacturing sector remains prominent in the local economy. Millions visit Erie for recreation as well as a plethora of attractions like the casino and horse racetrack named for the state park.

Nestled between the shores of Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay is Erie’s top attraction – Presque Isle State Park. With sandy beaches and endless outdoor recreation, Presque Isle (French for “almost an island”) is a National Natural Landmark and one of Pennsylvania’s top vacation destinations.

Welcoming over 4 million visitors annually especially during the summer months, the Park has 7 miles of beaches, world-class sunsets and plentiful outdoor recreation.

 Seniors Find Cultural And Historical Attractions In Erie

Erie offers senior visitors cultural and historical attractions: AA baseball, OHL hockey, NBA D-League Basketball, cross-country and downhill skiing, golf, theater, shopping, wineries, amusement parks, a casino and more.

Lake Erie is the world’s 13th-largest natural lake and home port of the U.S. Brig Niagara, the flagship of Commodore Perry. The Niagara was vital to the Commodore’s victory at the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812 and is now a floating maritime museum.

Erie is home to the oldest land lighthouse on the Great Lakes. If the weather’s rough, you can still enjoy the water at the indoor Splash Lagoon Waterpark. Senior travelers, set your sites on Erie along Lake Erie, the warmest of the Great Lakes, and plan to spend some quality time enjoying the many amenities the city has to offer. -jeb