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MATPRA is a cohesive unit of regional tourism partners encompassing Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C. and West Virginia.

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Winter, Walk This Way: A Guide to Snowshoeing in Erie, PA

Guest Contributor: Heather Cass

Erie receives an average of more than 100 inches of snow each year, making it a winter lover’s playground. From skiing to ice fishing to snowmobiling, there is no shortage of outdoor fun to be found in the area. If you’d like to have some fun in the flakes, one of the easiest and most pleasurable ways to do so is to strap on a pair of snowshoes and start exploring.

Where to go

You can find miles of trails to snowshoe at Presque Isle State Park, Asbury Woods, and Peek’n Peak Resort.

However, the joy of snowshoeing is that you can do it anywhere you find snow—even off-trail, through public game lands, along the waterfront, or, for a unique Erie experience, on the frozen waters of Presque Isle Bay! (Note that the ice should be at least seven inches thick to walk on the bay. Check ice reports here).

Snowshoeing at Presque Isle State Park at sunset is an awe-inspiring trek. Some of Erie’s most beautiful evening skies are in the winter when the colors overhead are offset by a blanket of sparkling white snow on the landscape and the breathtaking ice dunes that hug and protect the Lake Erie shoreline from sand erosion. Just remember to admire the ice dunes from a distance and avoid walking on them, as they are hollow and dangerous.

Asbury Woods provides a peaceful escape where the only sounds are the crunch of fresh powder beneath your feet and the whisper of the wind through the trees. “Snowshoeing is a great way to get outside and get some fresh air and exercise in the colder months,” said Sarah Bennett, director of education and community programs at Asbury Woods Nature Center. “Physically, it is a little more rigorous than walking, but it doesn’t require any special skills.”

At Peek’n Peak Resort, rolling hills and snow-draped trees create a breathtaking backdrop for your snowshoeing adventure. With each step through the crisp, powdery trails, it’s an invigorating rush of fresh mountain air.

What to know

“If you can walk, you can snowshoe,” Bennett said. The key is to remain aware of how large your feet are with snowshoes on. Clown-shoe-size feet require extra care when turning or changing direction and when following others. “You want to stay a foot or two away from the person in front of you so you don’t accidentally step on the back of their snowshoe, which will trip you both up,” she said.

Bennett said that snowshoeing does require some balance, but trekking poles can help provide stability for those who may need it. Most snowshoes come with poles, whether purchased or rented.

Where to find shoes

Both Asbury Woods and Peek’n Peak Resort rent snowshoes for use on their trails, provided there is at least six inches or more of snow. Another option is to invest in your own snowshoes. A set of entry-level, recreational shoes sells for as little as $60 online and at mass retailers.

What to wear

You will work up a sweat from the effort of snowshoeing. This is what makes snowshoeing such a pleasurable wintertime activity. You can be outdoors enjoying the winter wonderland while generating more than enough heat to stay warm.

“We suggest that people dress the same as they would if they were going cross-country skiing,” Bennett said. “It’s best to dress in layers, so you can take some clothing off if you start to overheat and put it back on if you get chilled.”

Suggested attire:

  • Waterproof winter boots
  • Long, warm socks
  • Gloves (add mittens on top on very cold days)
  • Warm hat
  • Scarf or gaiter
  • Fleece-lined tights or snow pants
  • Moisture-wicking, long-sleeve top
  • Fleece pullover or light sweatshirt
  • Jacket, coat, or windbreaker, depending on temperature/windchill
  • Sunglasses (daytime) or headlamp (evening)

Heather Cass is Publications Manager at Penn State Behrend.

The Mid-Atlantic Story: Celebrating 250 Years of America’s Spirit

Across the Mid-Atlantic, 250th anniversary commemorations are unfolding in imaginative and meaningful ways from storytelling performances and art installations to small-town festivals that remind us what unity and independence truly mean.

Each event reflects a different thread in the nation’s rich tapestry whether through music, community pride, or creative expression offering visitors endless opportunities to uncover authentic stories that connect people and place.

The Juniata River Valley is gearing up for a spectacular year of celebration as we commemorate America 250 with special events all year long. The festivities begin with the Star Spangled Soirée, a semi-formal evening at Juniata Valley Winery featuring live music, delicious food, patriotic décor, and an appearance by a George Washington impersonator inside the winery’s beautiful Federal-style home.

Independence Day week will shine even brighter with fireworks and two hometown parades. Goose Day will join in the fun with a patriotic twist, offering a whimsical “Goose Washington” photo shoot, while the Festival of Ice transforms into an American Adventure themed celebration. With many more events planned throughout 2026, our community is ready to honor America’s 250th birthday in unforgettable style.

In Greensburg, Pennsylvania, the Palace Theatre will host “The Unlikely Union: A Storytelling Symphony of America” on January 17, 2026. This distinctive performance brings together Professor Greg Jackson, the historian behind History That Doesn’t Suck, and the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Daniel Meyer. Blending narrative and music, the performance reimagines the pivotal moments of America’s first century. The show will not be recorded, making it a once-in-a-lifetime experience for audiences and an irresistible subject for writers seeking to explore how art and history intersect in the Mid-Atlantic’s creative scene.

Add a bit of humorous knowledge to your 250 celebrations with “The Complete History of America (Abridged)” at Prima Theatre in Lancaster City, running April 17 through May 3. Three performers, dozens of characters, centuries of chaos—90 minutes of laughs! It’s a perfect reminder that history can be meaningful and wildly entertaining, especially when shared in a room full of people ready to celebrate.

Each summer, Culpeper, Virginia comes alive with its beloved 4th of July Celebration—a day that captures the essence of small-town America at its most joyful. Parades, live music, food, and fireworks fill the day with color and community spirit. Set against the backdrop of Culpeper’s historic downtown and rolling countryside, the celebration brings together locals and visitors alike to honor independence, fellowship, and tradition. For travel writers, it’s a vivid opportunity to explore how a town with deep Revolutionary roots continues to celebrate freedom in ways that feel both timeless and new.

On the coast, Hampton, Virginia adds its own creative twist to the 250th commemorations with “Crabs on King & Queen.” This charming event places decorative “crabs” throughout downtown Hampton, each featuring a QR code linking to stories and information about Hampton VA250. The trail leads visitors through King Street and Queen Street, culminating in the city’s annual Lighted Crab Pot Drop on New Year’s Eve—a festive local tradition that illuminates the night sky as the community rings in a new year of history, hope, and heritage. This event offers visitors a chance to explore how art and technology can come together to tell a city’s story, blending creativity, curiosity, and coastal charm.

Crab on King & Queen Event

A Region of Endless Discovery

Whether you’re standing in a concert hall in Pennsylvania, a historic downtown in Virginia, or a bustling coastal street lined with lighted sculptures, the Mid-Atlantic offers an ever-growing list of experiences and stories to tell. It’s a region where communities transform history into art, festivals into fellowship, and anniversaries into opportunities for reflection. Each celebration—whether grand or intimate—adds another verse to America’s ongoing narrative.

America’s 250th Commemoration – New Exhibits in the Mid-Atlantic

The Mid-Atlantic region stretching from the Chesapeake Bay to the Blue Ridge Mountains is more than just a geographic crossroads. It is where America’s story was written, challenged, and rewritten again through generations of innovation, faith, and freedom. For travels, it offers a landscape of inspiration: a region alive with museums, historic sites, culinary experiences, and communities that continue to shape the nation’s identity.

A Living Legacy of Freedom and Faith

Across Virginia and its neighboring states, the echoes of revolution and reform still resonate. In Culpeper, Virginia, the Museum of Culpeper History invites visitors to reflect on the founding ideals that forged the American spirit.

Culpeper Minute Men: Icons of Independence

One of the museum’s cornerstone exhibits, “Culpeper Minute Men: Icons of Independence,” explores how the local militia’s bravery during the Revolution evolved into an enduring symbol of patriotism and civic pride. The story connects past and present, showing how ideals of independence continue to inspire communities today.

Culpeper Baptist Church 250: 1774–2024

Just steps away, another exhibit “Culpeper Baptist Church 250: 1774–2024” celebrates 250 years of faith and service. Developed by the church itself, the display tells how Baptist missionaries in Culpeper helped secure America’s early religious freedoms, and how that commitment to faith-based service has guided the church’s mission for centuries.

Coming Soon in Lancaster: History, Democracy, and the Fight for Opportunity

Slated to open in May 2026, the powerful national stories and insights of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy in Lancaster City will utilize their experiences to help highlight larger themes within our country’s continuous striving for freedom and opportunity for all. More than a museum stop, the Center will invite visitors to connect Lancaster’s story to the broader American journey—how democracy is shaped, challenged, and strengthened through courageous leadership, community action, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.

These stories invite travelers not just to look back, but also to see how the Mid-Atlantic’s pursuit of liberty and community still thrives today. From colonial landmarks and Civil War trails to modern art centers and living museums, the region offers a thousand ways to explore America’s evolving identity.

Moreover, new stories and experiences are always emerging, new exhibits, restorations, and celebrations that breathe life into old ideas and invite travelers to see history through fresh eyes. Future additions may explore everything from maritime heritage to music, migration, and the ongoing fight for equality and innovation.

Five Great Places to Hike in Erie, Pennsylvania

Fifty-seven percent of Pennsylvania is forested. In fact, the state’s name translates into “Penn’s Woods,” Penn referring to William Penn who established the first colony, and “Sylvania,” which means woods or forest in Latin.  For those who like to hike and spend time in nature, there are numerous places to do so in the Erie area. There is a trail suitable for nearly any age or ability and most are just a short drive from the city.

Here are five great hiking spots to explore in Erie County:

Presque Isle State Park

Presque Isle State Park has several trails, ranging from very short connector trails to a 13-mile paved multipurpose trail that encircles the park. There are three good middle-of-the-road options for those who want to get off the beaten path and walk in nature a mile or so: Dead Pond Trail, 2 miles; Long Pond Trail, 1 mile; and the Sidewalk Trail, 1.25 miles. All three are out-and-back trails near the top of the park that are marked with signage and are easily accessible from the road/multipurpose trail. See a PISP trail map here.

Erie Bluffs State Park

Erie Bluffs State Park, 17 miles west of Erie, in Lake City, is Erie’s other state park. This 587-acre park is a wilder, less-developed area with a mile of shoreline and 90-foot bluffs overlooking Lake Erie.  The park has a total of 5.16 miles of trails that are made up of several short trails that connect at various points, so you can easily string several small trails together for a longer hike. The trails are well marked. There is ample parking at the main entrance and portable toilets and lake access at the nearby Elk Creek access entrance. See an Erie Bluffs trail map here.

Tip: Pennsylvania State Park Rangers offer several free programs, hikes, and activities at both parks.

Asbury Woods

Asbury Woods is a 234-acre nature center west of Erie, with acres of fields, forests, wetlands, and more than 5 miles of wooded and well-maintained trails that traverse through them. The longest, The Greenway Trail, 2.2 miles, connects a series of land parcels, with Asbury Woods Nature Center and Brown’s Farm anchoring each end. A highlight of this trail is a scenic steel walking bridge over Walnut Creek that offers access to the creek where you can cool your heels.  Asbury Woods Nature Center offers animal exhibits, information, restrooms, and a gift shop. There are also picnic pavilions and play areas for children.  See an Asbury Woods trail map here.

Headwaters Park

Headwaters Park is a hidden gem, an oasis of nature on thirty-five acres tucked into an industrial park in Millcreek. So named because it is the start of the headwaters of Mill Creek, you’ll find nearly three miles of trails on this parcel of nature covered with mature hardwoods, native grasses, wildflowers, and more.  There is interpretive signage, a boardwalk over the wetlands, an accessible stream for fossil hunting, ample parking, picnic tables, and portable toilets. See a map of Headwaters Park trails here.

Wintergreen Gorge

The Wintergreen Gorge is a 4,000-foot long, 250-foot-wide chasm on the edge of the campus of Penn State University Behrend Campus that is estimated to have been formed more than 11,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age, as melting water formed a meandering path to Lake Erie. Wintergreen Gorge Trail is a 2.3-mile out-and-back trail that travels along Fourmile Creek in the gorge for the first half mile and then up through the woods for the second half mile before summitting at a picturesque overlook, known locally as the Devil’s Backbone. Though the trail is not blazed, it’s easy to follow the wide, main path. There are no restrooms, but there is interpretive signage and plenty of parking at the Cooper Road entrance. See a map of Wintergreen Gorge Trail here.

Trail Talk
A few terms that are helpful to know when choosing a trail:

Blaze: A colored mark, usually painted or nailed to a tree, to help you follow the trail.
Easy/Moderate/Strenuous: Trail descriptions that refer to difficulty. Easy is usually flat and grassy. Moderate includes some hills, roots, and rocks. Strenuous means serious uphills, rough terrain, and sometimes climbing.
Loop: The trail starts and finishes in the same spot.
Out-and-back: Trail goes to a certain point, and then you turn around and take the same trail back to the start.
Point-to-Point: The trail starts at one point and ends at another.

Nine Must-Try Fall Bites and Beverages in Erie, PA

Fall in Erie is full of flavor, and local chefs, bakers, and brewers are serving up the season in the most delicious ways. From cozy pumpkin curries to spiced cocktails and apple wines, these bites and beverages showcase the best of Erie’s fall food scene. Here’s what’s new this season.

Bites

Bar Ronin
Roasted Savory Pumpkin Curry (V/GF/DF)
A feast for the eyes and the tastebuds, this curry is filled with roasted fall vegetables, miso pepitas, and warm koshihikari rice, a short-grain rice developed in Japan after World War II, known for its sticky, chewy, and sweet taste.
Flip Café
Franken-toast
Known for their creative breakfast entrees, Flip Café is leaning into spooky season with Franken-toast. This brioche French toast is topped with a pistachio fluff, puff pastry and drizzled with ginger-honey syrup.
Tipsy Bean Café
Pumpkin Maple Glaze Cookie (V/GF)
The epitome of fall flavors is this soft, spiced pumpkin cookie drizzled with a sweet maple glaze that melts into every bite. It pairs perfectly with their Count Dracula Cayenne Mocha, a classic, rich mocha topped with a sprinkling of cayenne spice for a spooky twist.
Lucky Louie’s Beer & Wieners
Bratty German Kid
Lucky Louie’s always brings the flavor. Their seasonal dog, Bratty German Kid, is made with Boski Cheesy Brat, topped with kraut, Swiss cheese, spicy brown mustard, and bacon all piled high on a pretzel bun.

Beverages

Jade Winery
Apple Wine
Enjoy the sweetness of a Gala, the crispness of an Empire, and the tartness of a Cortland apple in Jade’s special apple wine blend made with locally grown apples from Burch Farms. Pair with sharp cheddar, blue cheese, or apple pie. Don’t forget to serve chilled.
Werner Books & Coffee
Maple Cold Brew with Pumpkin Cold Foam and Cinnamon
Maple, pumpkin, and cinnamon – the ultimate fall trio. This drink is best enjoyed once settled into a quiet nook of the bookstore. Be sure to browse the shelves featuring Erie’s own authors, which makes for the perfect companion to your seasonal sip.
The Brewerie at Union Station
Apparition Amber
Named after a ghost who has taken up residency at The Brewerie, this beer packs a spicy punch. Filled with hot chilis and fresh jalapenos, try this beer if you dare.
Voodoo Brewery Company – Erie Pub
Classic Cinnamon Toast Crunch Old Fashioned
Voodoo uses their own Spirits Bourbon Whiskey that has been infused with copious amounts of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, creating a mouthwatering fusion of smooth whiskey with bold cinnamon, sugar, and graham cracker flavors. Want to take it up a notch? Try it smoked with cinnamon wood chips for an aromatic finish.
Before the Barrel Distillery
Salted Caramel Pecan
Made in small batches, the Salted Caramel Pecan Moonshine is a number one seller. The first sip is a strong caramel flavor followed by a butter pecan finish. Sip this on its own or mixed with apple cider.

Five Award Winning Wines You Can Only Get in Lake Erie Wine Country

You don’t have to travel far to experience a range of complex, award-winning wines that have been recognized among some of the nation’s best. A 90 minute drive from Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Buffalo lands you in Lake Erie Wine Country – the largest grape growing region in the Great Lakes, and home to more than 20 commercial and estate wineries, all with selections that will please even the most refined palate. Plan a trip to taste these award-winning wines in Erie County, Pennsylvania.

Johnson Estate Winery
2022 Chambourcin
Best of Class for French Hybrids, 2025 New York Wine Classic
Gold Medal, 2025 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition
Gold Medal, 2025 Los Angeles Wine Competition
Crisp with a medium body, Johnson Estate’s Chambourcin is made from estate-grown French-hybrid grapes on the third-generation family farm in western New York. Look for berry notes with a little oakiness, and pair with a variety of red meats or game.

Presque Isle Wine Cellars
2022 Gruner Veltliner
Platinum Award, 2023 Winemaker Challenge International Wine Competition, San Diego
This complex dry white wine is made from grapes grown in Erie County, and is versatile in how it pairs with food. Try it with vegetable dishes or something with a little spice.

South Shore Wine Company
2024 The Perfect Rose
Gold Medal, 2024 New York Wine Classic
Gold Medal, 2024 Decanter World Wine Awards
The Perfect Rose isn’t just beautiful when poured, it’s the perfect wine for sipping outside. Chambourcin grapes give this variety a hint of color and delicate berry flavor. Try it paired with salmon or a salad.

Courtyard Winery
Courtyard Brut
Bronze Medal, 2018 USA Wine Ratings, San Francisco
This dry white sparkline wine is made from Chardonel grapes, using the traditional champagne method. Don’t wait for a special occasion to pop this one.

Mazza Chautauqua Cellars
2018 Dry Reisling, Nutt Road Vineyard
Silver Medal, 2023 International Wine and Spirits Competition
Reisling grapes were harvested early in the morning at cool temperatures to ensure optimum maturity and flavor concentration of this variety. Try it paired with a pork roast or fish.