How To Vacation In A Lighthouse
July 29th, 2009 by Mara Rogers
Lighthouse lovers abound so what better way to celebrate their fascination then cast a beam of light on how to have the extraordinary travel experience of a stay—overnight or longer—in a lighthouse tower’s round rooms with wraparound views or a visit in a lighthouse keeper’s quaint, adjacent cottage. A coastal sojourn may not sound that new, but staying in a lighthouse is.
Today there is a movement to restore and preserve these global treasures that keep vigil over passing ships and guide mariners safely through dangerous seas and storms.
These legendary beacons, many of them historical landmarks, share a rich history as well as a powerful and romantic symbolism of courage and salvation. “The Lighthouse of Alexandria” named one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Antipater of Sidon, was a tower built in the 3rd century B.C. on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt and speculated to be the world’s first true lighthouse.
Many famous artists including painters, poets, and novelists have been inspired by the mystique of lighthouses. Lighthouses have been depicted by Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Virginia Wolf to name but a few.
Every architectural element of a lighthouse is seductive—from its majestic oceanfront exterior—the imposing phallic structure standing solitary in a vast seascape, to its enchanting interior—a spiral staircase that treks you to the tower top where the all-important Fresnel lens that fills dark nights with rays of light, and the fog bell that sounds a warning to seafarers on their homeward-bound voyage are housed.
Here is a resource list of accommodations so that you can take a lighthouse tour from Cape Cod to Croatia.
Lighthouse Lodging Both Near and Afar – USA
- Cape Cod and Massachusetts: Race Point Lighthouse and Wings Neck Lighthouse
- Rhode Island: Rose Island Lighthouse
- New York: Saugerties Lighthouse
- Maine: Little River Lighthouse and Goose Rocks Light
International
- England: Burnham High Lighthouse
- Ireland: Wicklow Head Lighthouse
- Croatia: St. John Lighthouse and Veli Rat Lighthouse
- Patagonia: The Punta Delgada Lighthouse
[photos by The Wandering Angel , johnnycorduroy, and DavidK-Oregon on Flickr]
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Hi Janice,
I would love to hear about those that you know in California where you can actually stay ‘in’ the tower–not just the adjacent cottage–my research did not locate any currently that allows this, probably due to so many California lighthouses open for public view only (which is great due to education factor) but also due to the fact that many are under reconstruction for preservation (also great news). So, please do share whichever of those that you know about–we would love to hear about it!
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What about lighthouses in California? There are a bunch and many with accommodations.