Imagine being surrounded by water and nature, and spending a weekend amid beauty, isolation and history. The million-dollar waterfront views available only from a lighthouse can be yours for a night or two.
Look at lighthouses on the northeast coast. Goose Rocks is an offshore lighthouse accessible by water. It was built in 1890 off the coast of Rockland, Maine, and still serves as a navigation aid. It can accommodate up to eight guests older than 18. Arrival time is based on high tide, winds and the ferry schedule. Selkirk Lighthouse was built in 1838 at the mouth of the Salmon River and Lake Ontario in New York. It can accommodate seven guests. Little River Lighthouse, off the coast in Cutler, Maine, was built in 1847. There are three guest rooms and two bathrooms.
Check out lighthouses in the Great Lakes region. Big Bay Lighthouse was built in 1896 north of Marquette, Michigan, on the cliffs of Lake Superior. Today it operates as a bed and breakfast, with six rooms and private baths. The 120-foot light tower allows guests to see the Northern Lights or watch storms rage over Lake Superior. Two Harbors Lighthouse was built on the shores of Lake Superior in Two Harbors, Minnesota, in 1892. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a working lighthouse. Four guest rooms are available, and breakfast is served in the lighthouse.
Consider West Coast lighthouses. Brown's Point Lighthouse, on Puget Sound, by the shore of Tacoma, Washington, is a restored 1903 lighthouse keeper's cottage and living museum. It has three bedrooms, is furnished with period furniture, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. East Brother Light Station, at Richmond, California, was built in 1873 on one of the Brothers Islands, where San Pablo Bay meets the San Francisco Bay. One of the oldest lighthouses still operating in the Bay area, it is a Victorian-style tower and house with five rooms. Gourmet meals are served to guests.
Assess your physical capabilities. Visiting an off-shore lighthouse can be a rigorous, adventuresome outdoor experience. Accessing a lighthouse by water can require considerable stamina and strength, particularly if you are carrying supplies for your stay. The act of climbing up from a bobbing boat on a vertical ladder can be a challenge for some. Even an on-shore lighthouse experience can be a bit strenuous for some. In some cases, you might have to climb stairs. Be sure to ask ahead.
Explore more lighthouse options. Organizations that can help you find them include the U.S. Lighthouse Society (uslhs.org) and Travel Quest UK (travel-quest.co.uk).
