There is something that happens to guests at Spencer House that we hear time and again. They arrive planning a night or two, intending to see a few local sights and decompress a little. And then, more often than not, they say the same thing at checkout: “We wish we had stayed longer.” It’s one of the things that tells us the region has done its job — because once people are here, they realize how much there is to discover. And for those who take the time to explore, the day trips from Erie alone are worth planning an extra few nights around.
Erie has a way of doing that. The pace slows, the morning stretches out over breakfast, and before long the pull of everything still waiting to be explored starts to feel stronger than the pull of home.
What many guests don’t realize when they’re planning their visit is that the surrounding region is just as rich as the city itself — full of wineries, historic landmarks, natural wonders, and cultural experiences that most people never knew were within easy reach. All of the day trips below are within two hours of Spencer House’s front door, and each one rewards a full day — time to arrive without rushing, soak in what makes it special, and still get back to Spencer House with evening to spare.
If you’re still deciding how long to stay, consider this your invitation to plan a few extra nights.
Lake Erie Wine Country: North East, PA and Westfield, NY
For anyone who loves wine, this is the day trip that tends to become the highlight of the entire visit. Lake Erie Wine Country stretches along the southern shore of the lake and is home to more than 20 family-owned wineries, set within the largest grape-growing region east of the Rocky Mountains — over 30,000 acres of lush, rolling vineyards that are beautiful in any season.
The region offers plenty of flexibility depending on how far you’d like to venture. For a full day’s journey, consider starting at the farthest point and working your way back. Begin in the charming historic downtown of Westfield, NY, where the Grape Discovery Center offers a fascinating introduction to the history of viticulture in the region — it’s a worthwhile stop before your first tasting. Nearby, Johnson Estate Winery holds the distinction of being New York’s oldest estate winery, and Noble Winery offers some of the best views of Lake Erie you’ll find anywhere along the trail.
Heading back toward Erie, the options are plentiful, but we recommend planning lunch at Skunk & Goat Tavern in downtown North East, PA — a local favorite with a comfortable atmosphere and a menu worth lingering over. Spend a few minutes relaxing in the park across the street before continuing your tasting journey westward. Our personal favorite, Courtyard Winery, is always a recommended stop.
By the time you return to Spencer House in the early evening, a quiet seat on the porch with a glass from your afternoon’s purchases sounds just about perfect.
The Chautauqua Institution: A Summer Day Unlike Any Other
Please note: The Chautauqua Institution operates seasonally, typically from late June through late August. If your visit falls within the summer season, this day trip belongs near the top of your list.
Crossing into New York and arriving at the Chautauqua Institution for the first time is genuinely surprising — in the best possible way. This historic lakeside community has been hosting its summer assembly season since 1874, drawing visitors for lectures by prominent thinkers and leaders, performances by world-class musicians, theater productions, art exhibitions, and more. It is, in short, unlike anywhere else.
The grounds themselves are worth the visit on their own. Chautauqua is a car-free village of beautifully preserved Victorian architecture, manicured gardens, and quiet tree-lined streets — a place that feels like it exists slightly outside of ordinary time. Tickets are required, purchasing in advance recommended, for both parking and entrance to the grounds. We recommend an afternoon ticket which gives you access from 12:00-8:00 pm, allowing you to catch an afternoon lecture, wander the galleries and grounds or simply sit by the shores of Chautauqua Lake and let the day unfold at its own pace.
It’s the kind of place that leaves you feeling both inspired and rested — which makes returning to Spencer House at the end of the day feel like the natural, perfect conclusion.
The National Comedy Center & Lucy Desi Museum: Jamestown, NY
About an hour from Erie, the small city of Jamestown, NY is home to one of the most unexpectedly delightful museum experiences in the region. We recommend combining two attractions into a single visit — and a combination ticket makes it easy to do exactly that.
Start at the Lucy Desi Museum, which celebrates the lives and careers of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz — both Jamestown natives. The museum features recreations of iconic sets from I Love Lucy, along with original costumes, scripts, and personal memorabilia. It’s warm, nostalgic, and genuinely charming whether or not you grew up watching the show.
Just a few blocks away, the National Comedy Center opened in 2018, quickly earning recognition as one of the best new museums in the country, and was named the Number One Pop Culture Museum in the United States in the 2026 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards — a recognition that feels well earned. With 50 exhibits spanning silent film to modern stand-up, the experience is remarkably interactive — visitors receive personalized wristbands that tailor the exhibits to their own sense of humor, guiding them through the collection in a way that feels individual rather than generic.
If your visit happens to fall in early August, the Lucille Ball Comedy Festival takes over the city for a full week of performances and events — well worth planning around.
Tip: There is a no charge parking lot located in between the two about 1 block from the Comedy Center and 3 blocks from the Lucy Desi Museum.
Panama Rocks Scenic Park: A Walk Through Something Ancient
About 50 minutes from Spencer House, Panama Rocks Scenic Park is the kind of place that quietly takes your breath away. The one-mile trail winds through a remarkable landscape of ancient quartz conglomerate rock outcroppings — towering, moss-covered formations that create a world that feels prehistoric and peaceful in equal measure.
The experience is entirely what you make of it. Some visitors prefer a relaxed, contemplative walk along the trail, taking in the scale and texture of the formations at a gentle pace. Others venture off-trail to climb through the crevices, squeeze between boulders, and explore the hidden passages the rocks create. Both approaches are worth the drive.
One practical note: the terrain is uneven throughout, so comfortable, sturdy footwear is a must, and the trail may not be suitable for guests with significant mobility limitations. The park is open spring through fall — worth confirming hours before you visit.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Legacy: Graycliff and the Darwin Martin House
For Frank Lloyd Wright admirers, the journey can actually begin right here in Erie. The Hagen History Center is home to a permanent recreation of Wright’s San Francisco office, complete with his original furniture and windows that faithfully recreate the view he looked out on while working. It’s a rare and intimate look at the man behind the architecture — and a natural first stop before heading east toward Buffalo.
Graycliff, built between 1926 and 1931 as the summer estate of Darwin D. Martin, sits on a dramatic bluff overlooking Lake Erie with sweeping views of the water, downtown Buffalo, and the Ontario shoreline beyond. The complex includes three buildings, with the main house featuring the expansive glass walls Wright used to dissolve the boundary between interior and exterior. Notably, the landscape design is one of the very few Wright completed himself — making Graycliff a particularly complete expression of his vision. Travel time from Spencer House is approximately one hour and 25 minutes.
The Darwin Martin House in Buffalo, completed between 1903 and 1905, represents one of the great achievements of Wright’s Prairie period. Built for the same Darwin Martin using Wright’s signature pier and cantilever construction, the home is celebrated for its organic use of natural materials and colors and its seamless integration with the landscape around it. Travel time is approximately one hour and 45 minutes.
Touring both in a single day is ambitious but very doable as they are only about 35 min. apart— and for anyone with a serious appreciation for Wright’s work, the combination is deeply rewarding.
Ashtabula Harbor and the Covered Bridges of Ashtabula County, Ohio
Photos courtesy of Ashtabula County Visitors Bureau
Just under an hour west of Erie, Ashtabula County in Ohio offers a day trip with two very different and equally appealing personalities — and they pair beautifully together.
The Ashtabula Covered Bridge Scenic Byway is home to 19 unique covered bridges, including both the longest and shortest covered drive-through bridges in the United States. You can take in as many or as few as you like, but allow three to three and a half hours if you’d like to visit all 19 with brief stops at each. The bridges are spread across a pastoral, rural landscape that makes the drive itself a pleasure — this one is particularly lovely in fall foliage season.
The Historic Ashtabula Harbor works beautifully as either a midday stop — a chance to recharge over lunch before continuing the bridge tour — or as a relaxed finale to the day with dinner and a slow wander through the shops and galleries. The Harbor is a destination in its own right, a lively waterfront district with its own famous Bascule lift bridge (the only one still in operation in Ohio), more than 15 dining options, and a collection of unique shops and galleries. It’s the kind of place where a quick stop has a way of turning into the best part of the day.
Insider Tip: The Harbor Halcyon is a good lunch or dinner option with a fun relaxed atmosphere.
Niagara Falls: The One Worth the Extra Miles
We’ll be honest — Niagara Falls sits just beyond the two-hour mark we mentioned above, right at two hours by highway or closer to two and a half hours if you take the scenic route along the Lake Erie shoreline. That slower road is a beautiful drive in its own right and worth considering if the journey is part of the experience for you — just factor in the extra time, plus any stops along the way.
Our guests who have made the trip — whether they planned it from the start or decided over breakfast on a whim — have never once come back wishing they hadn’t gone.
As for which side to visit, the good news is that both are genuinely rewarding — and your decision may simply come down to whether you have a passport handy. The Canadian side offers what many consider the most dramatic panoramic view of the falls, with a wide selection of restaurants and things to do beyond the waterfront. If you go that route, it’s worth knowing that customs on the return crossing can sometimes mean a wait — nothing that should discourage you, but worth building into your timing so the end of the day feels relaxed rather than rushed.
The American side puts you right in the middle of the action and is home to Cave of the Winds — an experience unique to this side where you descend by elevator to walkways that bring you to the edge of the rushing water. It’s the kind of thing you don’t forget. No passport required.
Whichever side you choose, plan to spend most of your day at and near the falls themselves. It’s a long and full day from Spencer House, but an experience like this lasts a lifetime.
One More Night (or Two, or Three)
The trips above represent just some of what’s waiting within easy reach of Spencer House. Each one is a full day well spent — and none of them require you to rush.
The guests who get the most out of this region are the ones who give themselves the time to actually enjoy it. Three or four nights gives you room to explore, to linger where something catches your attention, and to come back each evening without feeling like the trip is already over.
If you’d like a head start on planning your time in Erie itself, our two to three day Erie itinerary is a great place to begin. And if you’d like help putting together a personalized itinerary before your visit, we’d genuinely love to do that. Reach out to us directly and tell us a little about what you enjoy — we’ll help you put together something that fits. Or take a look at our availability and start planning your stay today.
Erie — and everything around it — is waiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a passport to visit Niagara Falls?
Not if you’re visiting the American side. You can enjoy the falls, Cave of the Winds, and the surrounding area without a passport. If you’d like to cross into Canada for the panoramic views and additional dining and attractions on that side, a valid U.S. passport is required. Keep in mind that the return crossing through customs can sometimes involve a wait, so build a little extra time into your day.
What’s the best time of year to take these day trips?
Most of the destinations on this list are enjoyable year-round, though a few have seasonal considerations worth knowing. The Chautauqua Institution operates only in summer, typically late June through late August. Panama Rocks Scenic Park is open spring through fall. Lake Erie Wine Country and Niagara Falls are popular in every season, though fall is particularly beautiful in both. We’re happy to help you think through timing based on when you’re planning to visit.
How many of these trips can we realistically fit into a stay?
That depends on your pace, but most guests find that two day trips pair nicely with a four or five night stay — leaving room to enjoy Erie itself, relax at Spencer House, and not feel like you’re rushing from place to place. We think the best visits balance sightseeing with time to actually slow down and enjoy where you are.
What makes Erie PA a good base for day trips?
Erie’s location puts a remarkable variety of experiences within easy reach. Niagara Falls, the Chautauqua Institution, Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural landmarks, the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, and Lake Erie Wine Country to the northeast are all within two hours. Head west and Ashtabula County’s covered bridges and harbor district are less than an hour away. Add in everything Erie itself has to offer and you have more than enough to fill four or five days without ever feeling rushed. For guests staying at Spencer House, that range of options is a big part of what makes a longer visit so easy to justify.
Is there anything in Erie itself worth building into our stay?
Absolutely — and honestly, Erie alone has enough to fill several days of great exploring. We’ve put together a guide to the ten best experiences in Erie for first-time visitors that’s a great place to start planning. Between Erie itself and the day trips above, you may find that a longer stay was the right call all along.
