Family getaway: Try these 7 day trips near northwestern Pa. this summer

For many schools, summer vacation ends in a little over a month. If the kids are getting restless at home, maybe a day trip can add some more fun to summer and create family memories.

You could head to Presque Isle, the Erie Zoo or Waldameer, but if you want to explore just a bit farther afield from Erie, quite a few landmarks and institutions are just miles away from the area.

Here is a select list of just some of the fun activities to consider while getting out of town for the day:

Drake Well Museum and Park

Address: 202 Museum Lane, Titusville

Phone: 814-827-2797

Website: drakewell.org

Administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Drake Well serves as the heart of Pennsylvania's Oil Region National Heritage Area. It's about 46 miles from Erie, or a 70-minute drive.

The museum has been preserving the site of Drake's Well for more than 80 years and tells the story about the birth of the petroleum industry.

Visitors will enjoy a 240-acre site along with 12,000 square feet of interior exhibits and more.

Drake Well includes bike trails, fly fishing, hiking trails and more.

Things to do this summer: Festivals, movie nights, and more

Geneva-on-the-Lake

Address: 5540 Lake Road E., Geneva, Ohio

Phone: 800-862-9948

Website: visitgenevaonthelake.com

Geneva-on-the-Lake in Ashtabula County, Ohio, is 63 miles from Erie and a destination that has something for everyone.

From family attractions to live music, Geneva-on-the-Lake offers much to explore with entertainment that sits near Lake Erie.

Some of the activities include mini golf, axe throwing, arcade games, fishing, haunted historical walks, spa treatments, zip-lining and more.

More: Try the zip line at Geneva-on-the-Lake

National Comedy Center

Address: 203 W. 2nd St., Jamestown, New York

Phone: 716-484-2222

Website:comedycenter.org

More: Nate Bargatze, Jeff Ross and many more comics to perform at Lucille Ball Comedy Festival

Just under an hour away is the cultural institution dedicated to preserving and telling the story about comedy.

The National Comedy Center is a 37,000 square-foot building filled with comedy collections, educational exhibits, interactive technology and more.

Families can walk through more than 50 immersive experiences as they take a journey through comedy history while having some laughs along the way.

More: At National Comedy Center in Jamestown, you're in on the joke with hands-on, personalized exhibits

Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad

Address: 49 S. Perry St., Titusville

Phone: 814-677-2192

Website:Octrr.org

All aboard! Along with Drake Well, the Oil Creek Valley is famous for its history and people.

The Oil Creek and Titusville Railroad will take riders back over 150 years into oil country during a vintage train ride.

The 3-hour round trip will take passengers through Oil Creek State Park to discover the history of oil in Pennsylvania.

Panama Rocks

Address: 11 Rock Hill Rd., Panama, New York

Phone: 716-703-0021

Website: panamarocks.com

Take the family on a hike. Just 38 miles away from Erie, Panama Rocks was listed the No. 1 nature and hiking trail in New York by iloveny.com.

Visitors will enjoy towering rocks, deep crevices, passageways, small hidden caves and more.

Pymatuning Deer Park

Address: 804 East Jamestown Road, Jamestown, Pa.

Phone: 724-932-3200

Website:pymatuningdeerpark.com

This deer park features more than 250 animals and birds from around the world.

The park allows families to get up close with domestic farm animals while seeing both domestic and exotic animals.

More: Erie Zoo otters get larger, updated space. How much did it cost?

Roger Tory Peterson Institute

Address: 311 Curtis St. Exd., Jamestown, New York

Phone: 716-665-2473

Website: rtpi.org

Why not take a trip with some enrichment and art inspiration?

The Roger Tory Peterson Institution, 49 miles from Erie, is the largest collection of Roger Peterson's work. The art institution includes works that illustrate the beauty of nature and challenge viewers to confront environmental issues.

The institute serves as a gateway to the natural wonders that inspired Peterson throughout his career.

Contact Nicholas Sorensen at nsorensen@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Family day trips near Erie PA: 7 places to go this summer