Hotels in Erie, Pennsylvania

A little about Erie...

Erie is a major industrial city on the shore of Lake Erie in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Named for the lake and the Native American tribe that resided along its southern shore, Erie is the state's fourth-largest city with a population of 104,000. Once swarming with heavy industry, Erie's heavy manufacturing sector now consists mainly of plastics and locomotive building. Known for its lake effect snow, Erie is in the heart of the rust belt. The city has begun to focus on tourism as a driving force in its economy. Annually over four million people go to swim, hike, and fish at Presque Isle State Park, while a new casino named for the state park is growing in popularity.

Erie is known as the Flagship City because of the presence of Oliver Hazard Perry's flagship Niagara. Erie has also been called the Gem City because of the sparkling lake.

Education: Erie's collegiate scene is fairy equally split between several colleges and universities. Created in the 1970s Penn State Erie, The Behrend College is the largest Penn State branch college. The university is noted for being one of the best value colleges in the country. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), a large medical campus located in Erie. Other notable colleges in the Erie area include Mercyhurst College, Allegheny College, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, a large college in nearby Edinboro, PA; and Gannon University, a Catholic university in downtown Erie.

Recreation: Erie's location along the shores of Lake Erie provides a plethora of outdoor activities throughout the year. The region's largest attraction is Presque Isle State Park, drawing over 4 million visitors a year.
Erie is home to Presque Isle, a National Landmark. The Seaway Trail runs through downtown Erie along the lakefront.
Tourist destinations include many of the above, as well as the Bayfront Convention Center; the Bicentennial Tower that overlooks Lake Erie; Dobbins Landing, a pier in downtown Erie; the Erie Land Lighthouse; the Erie Maritime Museum, the home port of the US Brig Niagara; Millcreek Mall, the 11th largest shopping mall in the United States, Perry Square, a large downtown park; Presque Isle Downs, a racetrack and casino in Summit Township; Splash Lagoon, the largest indoor waterpark on the East Coast and third largest in the United States; the Erie Zoo, with its many animals and exhibits; and Waldameer Park and Water World, a local amusement park.