I grew up in one of the snowiest cities in the United States: Erie, Penn. This often instills a begrudging pride within my city, as we covet the fact that at least our snowy nightmare is the worst one. It is easy to dwell on the fact that even in April and occasionally in May a snowstorm could come our way
Actually it is extremely hard not to, considering it is past spring break and still there is snow covering the ground, making me among many others long for warm weather. However, Erie unlike some other places offers the chance to experience all four seasons which in some ways makes up for its snowy reputation. Winter, spring, summer, and fall, Erie and neighboring areas see them all.
When I came to college, I met students from California and southern states who had never truly experienced a Northwest Pennsylvania winter. Some had not even experienced snow. Much to their surprise I am sure, the snow falls in this area from the end of October to April on and off. Now this snow is not always bad, in my opinion, the holiday season and Christmas morning are not complete without a little snow on the ground. To make the best of the snow after the holidays, the surrounding area offers activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and my favorite since I am incapable of either of those: tubing (glorified sledding). My best winter memories in my hometown often came from sledding at Frontier park, tubing at Peek n' Peak, or simply sledding in my own backyard trying to avoid various animals and trees. So, though the winter season is not my favorite part about Erie it is something I have grown to accept.
Though shorter than the winter, spring still makes an appearance in Erie. Spring is like a rebirth and helps anticipate the thrills of summer. Every long awaited place that closes its doors in the winter opens up again. Erie favorites such as Sara's at Presque Isle bring in crowds of people as spring marks its reopening. Count me in to get a milkshake or ice cream cone, while also enjoying lake views. Since the snow has hopefully melted by this point, bicycling, roller blading, and simply going for walks around the area help relieve the tension of going stir crazy during the winter.
When summer finally arrives from June through August, the months are cherished for the warm/hot weather. The Erie staple that makes our summers the most exciting is the fact that we have the lake for beach access, making the summertime seem more like a vacation from the rest of the year. Also, since Erie is near abundant orchards, and farm land, berry picking is an activity that takes me back to childhood as I remember collecting quarts of blackberries and raspberries all summer long. Summer also means various outdoor parties with bonfires, completing the relaxed atmosphere this season brings.
Fall is always the beginning of a new cycle, as we all gear up for school. However, it also brings the changing colors of the leaves that create a beauty to the area that cannot be beat, especially by places without the variety that Northwest Pennsylvania has. Erie also has opportunities for apple picking and other outdoor experiences to make the transition from hot to cold not so bad. However, fall is more than just "pumpkin spice lattes and sweater weather" it brings change and new beginnings for people my age as we go into the next school year, or stage in our lives now that summer has passed.
Although I may not always love the area that I'm living in, I depend on the changes of seasons to mark transitions within my life. So though I may occasionally quip or dwell on the often not so perfect weather, I cannot imagine living anywhere that didn't have each and every season.
