Outside Erie

Boy, it’s been a good week for Waldameer and its new roller coaster, the Ravine Flyer 2.
I mentioned earlier how the new coaster was rated the fourth-best ride in the world by CoasterFanatics.com.
Today, the coaster is getting big play in the New York Times in a story about old-fashioned roller coasters.
It includes a great video […]

The new Ravine Flyer 2 roller coaster at Waldameer is getting a lot of love from roller coaster enthusiasts.
The Web site CoasterFanatics.com lists the new ride as its fourth-best roller coaster, a pretty lofty ranking for a venue that doesn’t have the marketing power or scale of the Six Flags chain, Disney, or the like.
The […]

Erie native Douglas Derda has a great blog for those (like yours truly) who enjoy craft beer.
The blog, called Should I Drink That?, has been getting quite a bit of national attention of late following a feature story in DRAFT magazine. SIDT’s podcast was also a finalist in the food and drink category in the […]

You can find lists of the boards of directors of most of Erie’s authorities, trade groups, and nonprofit organizations online.
VisitErie, however, doesn’t list its board online.
Chris Pennsy, who oversees communications for the tourism agency, said that will change soon.
But, in the meantime, here’s a list of who is on board.
Chairwoman — Char Mashyna (Arts Council […]

Check out this spot from Ocean City, Md.

Since tourism is a growing part of Erie’s economic strategy, I think it’s worth taking a look at how other communities are selling themselves to visitors.
To stand out, you have to be creative.
I’d love to see links to campaigns that you have found to be effective in your […]

My Outdoor Places — a Web site for outdoor enthusiasts — has posted a nice profile of Presque Isle State Park.
“Drive around the 3,200-acre peninsula and experience seven miles of sand surf beaches, eleven miles of hiking trails and 13.5 miles of biking, in-line skating and jogging trails. Watch thousands of migratory birds, over three […]

About 1,000 people are coming to Erie this weekend for the Mid-West Tool Collectors Association conference.
According to figures from VisitErie, those visitors to the gathering at the new Bayfront Convention Center, will bring about $600,000 in business to the area between now and Sunday.
Another big event is coming to town beginning next Thursday, as well. […]

Parts of Erie will be showcased in the upcoming movie “The Road”, starring Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron.
Usually, an on-location movie can serve as a commercial, of sorts, for a community. A city gets 90 minutes-plus of Hollywood-style exposure on a big screen — minus many of its warts.
But in the case of “The Road”, […]

With gas prices approaching $4 per gallon, I’m wondering whether it will have an impact on your summer travel plans. Memorial Day weekend is almost here, after all.
If you live in Erie, are you more likely to stick around town and partake in the local attractions?
If you are outside Erie, is the cost of fuel […]

Nice work by Erie Times-News photographer Rob Engelhardt, who captured a point-of-view video of the new Ravine Flyer II at Waldameer.
Of course, you can’t ride the coaster just yet. But the GoErie video gives a virtual preview of what it’s like. The views look fantastic.
Here it is: