Have you ever thought about adding lighthouses to your bucket list?A lighthouse is a tall tower or building that emits light through the use of lamps and lenses that provide safe guidance for pilots on the sea or inland waterways. These beacons of light mark dangerous coastlines, and guide the pilots into the harbor safely. Also, lighthouses symbolize overcoming adversity or challenges in life, and a way forward. There are numerous lighthouses all over the world. Several have become favorites of travelers.
You are only a click away from investigating the lighthouses around the world that you might like to visit. Most lighthouses have a fascinating history that tells a story, and you could plan your next vacation around these historical landmarks.
For example, some of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world are located in the United States. Cape Flattery Lighthouse was constructed in 1857 and is located in Washington State. At the entrance of Puget Sound, New Dungeness Light Station has guided maritime pilots for more than 150 years. In Oregon, after a two-year restoration project brought this 56-foot tower back to life, it stands 205 feet above the ocean where is has been since 1894.
In 1870, the U.S. Lighthouse Service built the Point Reyes Lighthouse in Inverness, California where the light keeper would light the oil lamp nightly to send a beam out to ships at sea. Pigeon Point Lighthouse is 115 feet tall and remains a part of Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park in California, and remains one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States.
In the Eastern part of the United States, stands Ponce de Leon Inlet Light Station, and is Florida’s tallest lighthouse at 175 feet tall. Evening tours are offered once a month by the Ponce de Leon Lighthouse Preservation Association. In Nags Head, North Carolina, visitors can climb a 214-step spiraling staircase to the top of Bodie Island Light Station. The original light keeper’s home can also be visited and is now a ranger station and visitor center. The Cape Henry Lighthouse has stood guard over the entrance into Chesapeake Bay since 1792. Built in 1856, Gay Head Lighthouse is the only lighthouse with a history of Native American Lighthouse keepers and serves to represent the heritage of the Wampanoag tribe.
Although, these lighthouses are all within the United States, there are many more that provide a panoramic view of European shores. So whether you desire a domestic vacation, or a European adventure, there are many lighthouses to choose from. Many lighthouses have even been converted into hotels. Sand Hills Lighthouse overlooks Lake Superior in Michigan, and was reopened as an eight-room Inn, a Victorian-style bed and breakfast.
Lighthouses are national treasures, and have historial significance because of the time periods in which they were built, and the fact that these beacons of light have brought many sailors safely home from the sea. Next time you plan a vacation, consider lighthouses as a possibility for your next travel plans.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse
https://savingplaces.org/guides/14-must-visit-lighthouses-around-the-united-states#.Xm5ytqhKiUk
https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/beautiful-lighthouse-photos
https://www.countryliving.com/life/travel/g2422/the-30-prettiest-lighthouses-in-america/
