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Small town charm is at its peak in North East, Pennsylvania: the easternmost part of Erie County and the starting point for Lake Erie Wine Country, the largest wine region in the Great Lakes. Start your visit to North East with the wine, but leave time to explore all the shops that make the region truly great. Photo credit: cindy_lou28 on Instagram.

Where to Stay: Holiday Inn Express and Suites, North East

Day One: Lake Erie Wine Country

Breakfast at toast!
The region’s newest restaurant is toast! Lounge & Eatery, a breakfast and lunch spot offering flavor-forward dishes that lean into local ingredients. The restaurant specializes in “toasties”, grilled breakfast sandwiches stuffed with unique ingredient combinations. Try the Bacon Jam Toastie: bacon jam, tomatoes, spinach, and Gruyere cheese stuffed inside two pieces of thick, grilled sourdough bread and topped with an egg.

Wine Tasting
More than 20 estate and commercial wineries are tucked amongst the vineyards of Lake Erie Wine Country, and they’re pouring more than sweet wines. A breadth of award-winning dry and sparkling wines complement the sweet and fruit wines that Great Lakes winemakers have perfected. Most wineries offer tastings for a small fee, which allows the guest to select a set number of sample pours done by an on-site expert to provide details and suggestions.

First, drive east on Route 5 (the Great Lakes Seaway Trail) toward Westfield, New York. Along the way, you’ll see stunning views of Lake Erie and find local farm stands and small shops on the route. Start at Johnson Estate Winery, the oldest estate winery in New York state. This third-generation family operation grows 14 varietals of grapes, provides tastings in an original farm building, offers guided walks of the 115-acre vineyard, and boasts a long list of award-winning wines. For those who love a dry wine, try the Marechal Foch or Seyval Blanc. Next, meander to Arundel Cellars & Brewing Co., housed in a restored 19^th century barn. In addition to the wine and beer they craft on site, Arundel offers a full menu for lunch to enjoy indoors, or on the patio with views of Lake Erie. Wild Child is a must-try for those with a taste for sweeter wines, and they keep a long list of seasonal craft beers on tap. Finally, make your way to South Shore Wine Company for your final tasting, done underground in a historic stone cavern. Though visitors can build their own flights for sampling, South Shore offers a full menu of pre-set featured flights. Try the Sparling Flight to sample four of the bubbly varietals that they’re known for, the Winemaker’s Selection, of a Mimosa Flight on the weekends. They even offer a Non-Alcoholic Flight of various grape juices for your designated driver.

Travel Tip: Bring snacks! While many wineries do offer crackers between tastings, having some pretzels or unseasoned crackers on hand will help distinguish the flavors between tastings.

Day Two: Explore Downtown North East

Breakfast on Main Street
Start the day fresh with breakfast at The Skunk and Goat Tavern, a family-owned restaurant with a menu that reflects the changing seasons. Skunk and Goat offers a full breakfast menu daily, and brunch on Sundays, along with a full “Breakfast Booze” menu of morning cocktails like the Triple Berry Mimosa and the S&G Espresso Tini.

Shopping and Exploring Downtown
Downtown North East is centered around Gibson Park, a town square that often hosts events and serves as a central point for the community. Walking along the historic storefronts, you’ll notice plaques on the buildings that tell the stories of what was once housed in each location. Now you’ll find charming stores to peruse: Tia Book Cellars, Bebe's Baskets and re.FOUND.ry, to name a few.

Dinner and a Drink at Yori
Located in the heart of historic Downtown North East, Yori Wine Cellars & Brewing Company is the perfect casual setting to unwind at the end of the day. Though Yori offers a selection of small plates (think Margherita Flatbread and Charcuterie Boards), an adjoining restaurant, Michael’s Pizzeria, offers a more robust menu of traditional Italian food. Pair one of Michaels’ homemade fresh dough pizzas with a glass of Chambourcin. 

Travel Tip: Check store hours before you plan your trip. Though most stores are open Wednesday through Saturday, hours can vary.

Day Three: Eat Local

Breakfast in a Train Car
Winner of a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, The Dinor at Lawrence Park is a must visit. The restaurant is housed in an old train car, and is the only diner on the Pennsylvania Historic Register, serving up classic breakfast accompanied by house made seasonings, sauces, pies and cheesecakes. For breakfast, try their massive Grilled Cinnamon Roll paired with endless coffee.

Finish the Trip at the Farm
Finally, end your trip with some farm fresh goods to take home, courtesy of Burch Farms Country Market & Winery. The sixth-generation family farm sells all of the fresh produce you’d expect from a region known for great growing conditions – apples, cider, grapes, jams, honey and so much more. Don’t leave without at least one of their Jumbo Cookies.