Reviews & Comments
Erie, PA
Erie, PA is what you make it -
10/7/2012I recently relocated to Erie from San Antonio, TX in October of 2011 and prior to that I have resided in South Florida, Detroit, South Jersey, and Northern California and born and raised in Philadelphia. It is also important to note that I am a professional, college educated, ex-military, mid aged African American man who has been blessed with a great career.
Erie, PA being my very first small town (population under 500k) took some getting used to at first, with its very small International Airport with only 5 gates, one mall, two movie theaters and a very limited in terms on diversity (people from all walks of life). However, it is absolutely GORGEOUS in the fall with its diverse foliage and in the summer with literally something to do every day.
Why you will not find a Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs, Mega Mall or impressive night life, you will find some of the most friendliest people I have ever met, a “Norman Rockwell” like lifestyle, a decent amusement park and beaches that right I said beaches in PA right on Lake Erie “absolutely gorgeous.”
So if you are open minded and seeking the slow pace of a small town, Erie can be the place for you. I tell my friends that “Erie is what you make it!” Caution if you need or crave the bright lights/diversity of NYC, LA, Miami, Chicago or Philly…Erie will not be the place for you. However, Toronto is only a 3 hour drive NYC, Philly and DC are all only about a 6 hours day trip away.
A couple of key points to consider before deciding to move here…very important to have a job before you move here, the job market is a bit weak, you must learn to embrace old man winter because the winters in Erie are clearly no joke! (Erie averages approximately 150 inches of snow per winter) However they do an amazing job of snow plowing to clear the streets in most major areas.
For me I have an outstanding career with one of the best companies in town, I live in a great community and have completely open myself up to most of the things Erie and this part of the country has to offer. So overall I would have to rate Erie as a pretty cool place to live for me at this point in my life.