This weekend, I had exactly 36 hours to soak up Erie, Pennsylvania, a charming city with lush greenery, mild summer temps and lots of outdoor activities. And, apparently one of the U.S.’ snowiest cities, clocking nearly 200 inches during the 2017-2018 winter season. Good thing I visited in the summer!

One of my favorite ways to see a city is through it’s landscape. First up, it’s namesake — Lake Erie. The fourth largest of the Great Lakes, it’s known for freshwater fish, shorelines speckled with state parks and, according to its trusty Wikipedia entry, tons of shipwrecks. Who knew?

I ventured to Lake Erie with Presque Isle Boat Tours hoping to see a spectacular sunset, but the clouds had other plans. Regardless, the 90-minute boat ride was a great way to take in the views, enjoy the breeze and learn a little about the city’s history.

While I waited to board the boat, I wandered around the 101-foot tall Perry Monument, constructed in honor of Oliver Hazard Perry for his victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Erie in 1812. For you history buffs, there’s a lot of interesting information around the monument.

After a long couple days of sitting — on an airplane, in the car, on the boat — I was itching to move my legs, so I headed to Asbury Woods the next morning for a hike. Asbury Woods offers several miles of trails, fishing and more. At the advice of an employee, I did the Greenway Trail, which was a clearly marked, 2 miles out and 2 miles back jaunt through woods, a creek and a meadow.

As far as food, there were a few highlights: a Latin/Asian fusion dinner at 1201 Kitchen, breakfast at retro diner Dave’s, and lunch at Wegmans. For my fellow southerners who have never heard of the grocery store chain, Wegmans’ salad/hot bar puts Whole Foods to shame! A friend also told me if you love ice cream, you can’t miss Sara’s.

While my time in Erie was limited since I had to fly back to Texas, it’s a quick two hour drive for those of you in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and other surrounding areas, making it an easy weekend getaway.

Question: If you’ve been to Erie, what’s your favorite thing to do or favorite place to eat?