It's surprising how many people have a love for lighthouses. But how many have ever spent a night in one? Or a weekend? There are a fair number of lighthouses that offer overnight accommodations. Sometimes, you get to sleep in the lighthouse, while others may put you up in the keeper's quarters, or in accommodations at the base. There are options for camping, as well.
Whatever your choice, a lighthouse makes an interesting hotel, frequently fascinating, and always located in a dramatic landscape that is sometimes gloriously beautiful. Here's how to arrange a lighthouse vacation.
Explore Your Options
There are a number of specialty websites that provide extensive information on lighthouses that double as hotels. Use the links in Resources to find lighthouses that interest you, and are within reach of your travel plans.
Pay attention to the details
Lighthouses are not ordinary hotels. They may offer only very limited accomodations, be difficult to access, or otherwise have special restrictions that you'll need to be aware of.
Some accommodations are in the lighthouse proper, while others are in buildings on the lighthouse grounds, or in a campground. There's even a youth hostel at one. Rentals may be available year-round, or may be limited to particular days of the week or seasons of the year.
Consider travel issues
Access may be by car, or for island properties, by boat. You may even need to consult tide tables for best access. Accommodations may be very rustic at times. Be sure you are arranging a stay in a place that suits your style of comfort and adventure.
Get familiar with a few examples
Read about the experiences that others have had during their lighthouse stays.
The Selkirk Lighthouse in NY puts you right in the middle of the action: "There is an original hand-crafted wooden spiral staircase in the original red ochre leading from the third floor through the tower leading to the wooden-decked old-style birdcage lantern room and railed exterior walkway."
At the Isle de Haut Lighthouse in Maine, arrival is by mailboat, and you'll leave the modern world behind: "the Keeper's House survives without telephones, electric lines, or auto traffic. Evening lighting is provided by the glow of gaslight, kerosene lanterns and the subtle rose-colored pulse of the light tower."
Use the links in the Resources section to get familiar with the ambience that each lighthouse has to offer.
Of course, you may prefer just a day visit. The Resources section will give you all the details you'll need.
