With so many ways to enjoy cool weather activities in Crawford County, you can create your own fall getaway! The perfect location for autumn adventuring, building your own trip can include leaf peeping, orchard and farm tours, spooky plays and activities and more. It’s time for pumpkin spice, apple picking, hot cocoa and a visit to Crawford County in the fall. Check out the options below to design your own memorable experience!
Fall in Love with Fall
Red, yellow, orange… the colors of fall can be seen all around Crawford County, especially in our beautiful parks and green spaces. From chasing fall colors with your camera to seasonal hunting and fishing in our woods and waterways, there are so many opportunities to make the most of the beautiful autumn season. We want to share some of our favorite fall foliage spots!
Diamond Park, located in the heart of Meadville, was gifted to the city from David Mead in 1795 and is one of the most utilized public spaces in the city. With a picturesque gazebo and fountain, this park creates an idyllic picture in the heart of town. Nearby Cora Clark Park is another park that includes a nature trail where you can walk with your pet or loved one and soak up the scenery!
For a relaxing location to picnic or enjoy playground fun for the kids, check out Stainbrook Park near Woodcock Creek Lake. This spot offers great fishing and lovely sights! For another local park experience, visit Oil Creek State Park. Not only is this the site of the first commercial oil well, it’s also a stunning natural landscape. The park includes trails, camping historical signage and more for an educational and beautiful fall getaway.
For a little more space to stretch out and enjoy the countryside, visit Maurice K Goddard State Park, an almost 3000-acre park with a combination of paved and off-the-beaten path trails for hikers and bikers of all experience levels. The waterways that feed into the park’s Lake Wilhelm are excellent for fishing and boating and other recreational options. Home to whitetail deer, squirrels, coyotes and even pheasants and grouse, the adjoining state game lands are an amazing spot for hunting. Make sure you apply for a Pennsylvania hunting license!
If you’re looking for even more space to see fall leaves, book a visit to Pymatuning State Park. Home to the state’s biggest man-made lake, this 17,000-acre+ state park has thousands of acres to explore. With a wide variety of fishing, boating, swimming and camping options, no wonder it’s one of the most visited parks in Pennsylvania!
Pumpkins, Apples and Gourds, Oh My!
Nothing says fall like picking pumpkins in a pumpkin patch or strolling through an apple orchard. Crawford County’s agricultural economy gives you a variety of farms, orchards and markets that are working hard to grow great produce and take care of the environment!
Come out and pick your very own basket of fruit at two Meadville-based orchards! Heagy’s Orchard offers up peach, pear and apple trees for picking and purchasing just south of town. Davenport Fruit Farm, located just east of Meadville, is an orchard, farm and event space that offers up cider and caramel apples along with their apple trees. They also offer live music on the weekends and beautiful outdoor seating where you can sip your cider with friends and family.
A local favorite includes Al’s Melons, which is so much more than melons! As the largest greenhouse in Crawford County, the Conneaut Lake-based produce farm hosts Fallfest weekends which include a corn maze, horse-drawn wagon rides, toddler train rides and pumpkin sling shots. Church Run Orchard in Titusville is the perfect place to pick your own apples. They feature an array of varieties to choose from, as well as options for gourds, corn shocks, mini-pumpkins to decorate for the season!
Port Farms, our regional neighbor in Waterford, Pa., is a four-generation family farm with fall fun galore. Their Fall Harvest Festival runs from September into mid-October with activities such as hay wagon rides, an 8-acre corn maze, animal exhibits and tire forts. Be sure to check out their ‘not so spooky’ Halloween weekend and Free Flower Fridays along with their live music events. Port Farms is a magical autumn adventure!
Enjoy a Crisp Fall Day in Town
If you’re looking for a cozy autumn day, Crawford County has so many ways to make it one to remember. Grab apple cider or hot chocolate at one of the local cafes like Pampered Palate Cafe & Bistro, French Creek Coffee & Tea Co., Cup N Spoon or JT’s Coffee & Tea Corner. Once you have your warm drink, explore some of the great shops and urban neighborhoods to find festive fall decor, enjoy locally-made seasonal treats or shop for scarves, wraps and other cool-weather clothing.
Visit the sister-owned Woolen Mill Clothier to find high-quality clothing items and receive high-quality service from their wonderful employees! Also check out fall clothing, accessories and home decor at the always-trendy and bold Chateau Christine. Dress up your home for fall by visiting French Creek Framing & Fine Art or Trolley Antiques; and grab a fall treat like pumpkin bars at Save Room for Dessert or coffee shortbread and pumpkin whoopie pies at Kristen’s Cookies! There are countless ways to celebrate fall.
Check Out These Festive Events
Crawford County hosts some great annual events to finish out the calendar year. Whether it’s rain or shine, there’s plenty to do at the 31st Annual Pumpkin Fest in Conneaut Lake with crafts, festival food, amusement rides, pumpkin drops and their annual Fall Pumpkin Fest Parade. This is one of the largest fall festivals in northwestern Pennsylvania! Halloween fans can get dressed up and collect candy at Meadville’s 55th Annual Halloween Parade. This year is circus-themed, so get out your clown shoes and lion manes and get festive. Also, don’t forget to book a ticket to Ghost Lake for a heart-stopping walk at Conneaut Lake. This is a terrifying event you won’t soon forget!
So Much To Do, So Little Time
These are just a sampling of the seasonal options available in Crawford County. Whether it’s raining or the sun is shining, there are so many great ways to make this short season unforgettable. For more opportunities, check out our fall events or download our app and create your own personal itinerary. You’ll find something for everyone to enjoy the season here. With so many ways to enjoy fall and so many fun things to do, you’ll want to come back every season!