Daylife in Dunkirk

It feels only right to kick off my blog by discussing the place that inspired it – Lake Erie State Park. If you read my last post, you might know that this is my comfort spot. I find myself ending up here at least once or twice a week.

On a sunny day after class, I don’t usually feel like going right home. Sometimes I like to drive around, turn up the music, and explore. One day last year I stumbled upon this place, and I’ve never looked back.

The first thing I noticed upon arrival at the park was the INSANE view of the lake. One time, I brought a friend who isn’t from around here to see it and he actually asked me if it was the ocean. Now I know that sounds dumb – but if I had no concept of local geography, I would probably think the same thing. It’s just so vast and mesmerizing.

One of my absolute favorite things to do is sit on the cliff over the water and watch the sunset.

Aside from the breathtaking scenery, there’s also plenty to do here. For one thing, it’s the perfect picnic spot. They have pavilions and shelters scattered around and grills that are free for public use.

If you’re looking for something more active, there’s many options as well. Some of their amenities include:

• Hiking trails
• Bike paths
• A sand volleyball court
• A disc golf course
• Playgrounds
• Fishing
• Canoeing
• Kayaking

There are even activities you can enjoy during the winter months (which is a huge plus when you live in Western New York), including snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

Sometimes in the winter I still bundle up and come here just to walk around and enjoy the views and fresh air too. Part of me even likes it better when it’s really cold out because then I usually have the place to myself.

There is a campsite with cabins and lodging if you’d like to come stay here. But even if you’re just looking for a fun day trip, there is so much to do and see. You could come here once a week for an entire semester and come up with a different activity to try each time. Or you could do what I normally do and just stop by and enjoy the serene atmosphere.

If you’re a Fredonia student, it’s only a twelve-minute drive from campus.

I would highly recommend checking out Lake Erie State Park. I feel lucky to live so close to such a natural beauty, and even luckier that I discovered it when I did. I hope I can help you guys to appreciate it the way I do!