Continuing our quest to find perfect little places to create memorable family vacations, we happened upon the LakeView on the Lake Resort. Frozen in time, this 1950 redux family style resort sits on the south shore of Lake Erie near the tiny village of North East, PA.

Memories of the past

Many older adults have fond memories of a favorite family vacation destination. Baby-boomers may recall spending warm summer nights catching fire flies and roasting marshmallows, and listening to ghost stories by a crackling campfire.

When it got late, everyone took their trusty flashlights and made their way back to the little room or cabin where mom and dad had one bed, and the kids shared the other.

The room wasn’t air-conditioned, but that wasn't important when compared to the pleasure of falling asleep to the sounds of crickets and far away night birds.

Sounds idyllic, does it not? Well, the place still exists – and now it is air-conditioned.

Erie’s only lakefront resort in PA

The LakeView is the only lakeside resort on the entire 50-mile Pennsylvania shoreline of Lake Erie, and it has been providing vacation fun for families for nearly 100 years.

When you turn off Highway Route 5 and into the LakeView’s driveway, you are surrounded by a sprawling eight-acre lawn, and pointed directly at the lake.

Pull into the small parking area just after the volleyball and swimming pool area on the right. Look in your rear view mirror and you will see a one-story knotty-pine building with six motel style rooms. The entire setting looks like something out of On Golden Pond.

We were fortunate that our bright and airy room had a window overlooking the lake. The knotty pine room and bath, complete with chenille bedspread and wooden towel racks, was spotlessly clean and pleasantly circa 1950 – except for the microwave oven, TV, and refrigerator. Having just completed a round of AAA Four Diamond Hotel and Spa reviews – the LakeView was just what we needed for a change of pace. It was terrific.

The sun was almost gone by the time we unpacked our bags. The resort is situated on a 120-foot bluff overlooking the lake and facing the northwest. We went exploring for a location where we might catch a glimpse of what promised to be a stunning sunset. Our search uncovered an all-wooden staircase leading down to the lake. It had 131 steps and ended at the water’s edge – made it to the bottom just in time to see the sun's fiery dip into vast Lake Erie.

For the fishing enthusiast

Lake Erie is 241 miles long and 57 miles wide and has an average depth of 58 feet. There are 100 species of fish in the lake, and we were surprised to find out that more food fish are caught in Lake Erie than the other four Great Lakes combined.

Seems like we just got there and it was already time to go.

Our stay at the LakeView resort was after the summer tourist season. Consequently, there were no children playing on the grass, swimming in the pool, or fishing on the lake. Nor were there parents sitting and chatting in the row of Adirondack chairs overlooking the water – but it was easy to picture such pleasurable summer scenes in the mind’s eye.

The four-season LakeView has a nice mix of 13 accommodations including suites, rooms, and cabins with kitchens.

No chance of cabin fever

Finding a place for an evening out is not a problem.There are a number of small restaurants within easy driving distance of the LakeView site.

Our schedule only permitted a one-night stay at the LakeView, and as we drove away we agreed that this would be a perfect retreat for a weeklong vacation that wouldn’t bust the family budget.

If you go

The LakeView resort is located on route 5 (aka East Lake Road) six miles west of the little village of North East, PA, and east of picturesque Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie. Other local attractions include the Erie Zoo, horse racing at Presque Isle Downs and Casino, and six wineries.

Check out the LakeView on the Lake website at www.lakeviewerie.com or call 888-558-8439. If you phone for reservations, tell resort keepers Kelly and Demaris Edwards that Wayne and Judy said, “Hi.”

© Travels with Wayne and Judy (syndicated)
Photos © Wayne and Judy Bayliff