Highlights

We are happy to accommodate Groups who want to add a night or two, or further customize their trip.

StarrGroups Flexible Pricing:

• Customizable Comps
• Net Rates
• Luxury or First Class Hotels & Meals
• Starr Tours Motorcoach Transportation & Professional Tour Managers are available

Whatever you want, StarrGroups will be happy to structure tour prices to match your needs. Just let us know!

Itinerary

Day 1 – Erie, PA – Evening at Millcreek Mall

Arrive today in Erie, PA, located on the southern shore of its namesake lake, Erie is the Flagship City and Pennsylvania’s primary access point to the Great Lakes.  Check into your hotel for a three-night stay.

Enjoy an evening of shopping and dinner on own at the Millcreek Mall, Erie’s premier shopping destination.  Shop tax free on clothing items at stores like Macy’s, Forever 21, H&M, and more.  Experience over 160 stores and restaurants all in one location.

Day 2 – Erie Maritime Museum – Erie Land Lighthouse – Burch Farms Country Market & Hayride – Two Wine Tastings

This morning, visit the Erie Maritime Museum which tells the story of Erie’s maritime heritage with its centerpiece exhibit, the US Brig Niagara. The museum highlights the region’s War of 1812 narrative, its shipbuilding and fishing roots, and so much more.

Next, visit the Erie Land Lighthouse, the first commissioned lighthouse on the Great Lakes.  The Erie Land Light, also known as the Old Presque Isle Light, is a lighthouse on the shore of Lake Erie. It is one of the three lighthouses in Erie, along with the Presque Isle Light and the North Pier Light. The lighthouse is situated on the bluffs overlooking the lake in Lighthouse Park.

After a break for lunch on own, visit Burch Farms Country Market where you can visit the seasonal fruit stands and take a hayride through the fruit fields.  There is also a bakery at Burch Farms Country Market. You can immediately smell the farm fresh bread, cookies, pastries, pies, cakes & cupcakes from this when you first walk in.  There is also a wine tasting room you can visit and taste samples.

The afternoon also includes a visit to two more wineries:  Arrowhead Winery and Penn Shore Winery. Enjoy wine tasting at Arrowhead Winery.  The winery is located on the picturesque shores of Lake Erie where Native American Tribes crafted precision arrowheads and thrived on fertile soil. The winery’s name was derived from the frequent discovery of arrowheads on many local grape farms, including Mobilia’s Fruit Farm.

Then visit the Penn Shore Winery for one last tasting today.  Penn Shore Vineyards obtained one of the first two limited winery licenses issued by the state of Pennsylvania in 1968 and began crushing grapes in September 1969. They first opened the doors to the winery in April of 1970. Penn Shore has many firsts to its credits including offering the very first Pennsylvania Champagne in 1970. From the beginning, Penn Shore has made it their mission to make good, reasonably priced wines that have consistent quality from year to year.

Dinner is included this evening at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 3 – Hagen History Center – Watson-Curtze Mansion – Pulasko’s Chocolate Factory – Presque Isle Tour w/lunch – Sunset Dinner Cruise

Start today with a visit to the Hagen History Center which focuses on the history of Erie County.  Here you have a chance to walk through the San Francisco office of Frank Lloyd Wright. See the Drafting Room, his office and model of Wright’s “Butterfly Bridge,” a design for San Francisco Bay that Aaron Green promoted extensively in the 1950s.

Also included with your visit is the Watson-Curtze Mansion. Built in 1891 the Watson-Curtze Mansion stands as a symbol of elegance and style of the Victorian era when Erie’s wealthy industrialists used their wealth to create exquisitely crafted homes for themselves and their families. No detail was too small to be overlooked. This attention to detail is seen in the mansion’s elaborate woodwork, marble fireplaces, friezes, mosaics, and stained-glass windows.

Next, tour the Pulasko’s Chocolate Factory. Your guide will explain the sweet details of their production line and the four generations of history behind their specially blended chocolate recipe. After the tour, you can browse their store and taste complimentary samples of chocolates.

The afternoon features a tour of Presque Isle.  Lake Erie gives Presque Isle the only “seashore” in the state. With eleven designated beaches, there are chances to surf, swim, boat, fish, picnic, and play. The park also has many trails, most under a mile, that range in difficulty from easy to difficult. Bird Watching Magazine rated Presque Isle one of the top birding spots in America, with waterfowl, shorebird, and warbler migration.  Enjoy a cookout lunch on the Isle during your tour.

Stop for a sweet ice cream treat at Sara’s Restaurant, a must-stop hot spot after a tour of Presque Isle.

End the day with a sunset dinner cruise on the Victorian Princess Riverboat.  There is no better way to see the beauty of Lake Erie than being aboard the Victorian Princess. Wind down while being gently rocked by the rippling currents of Erie’s bay. Enjoy dinner and stunning views of the Lake Erie Sunset! (B,L,D)

Day 4 – Depart for Home

After breakfast, depart for home. (B)

Tour Map