10 Lighthouses Around the Country Worth Traveling For
The main purpose of a lighthouse has always been functionality: markers of land ahead, they provided safe sailing into shore. Today, many of the country’s lighthouses have made their way onto the National Historic Registry, others stand tall as lasting reminders of colonial times, while some are examples of architectural mastery. You don't have to be at sea to enjoy their beauty—so why not make a trip just to stare, or climb up for the views of the water? These are the 10 lighthouses we’d plan a trip around.
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GettyPigeon Point Lighthouse, Pescadero, California
Break up a road trip between San Francisco and Los Angeles with this quintessential California photo opp: a shot of one of the West Coast’s tallest lighthouses amid a craggy coastline. The state park it's set on has trails to additional vista points so you can stretch you legs, too. January through April, you might see whales—and at nearby Pescadero Marsh and Ano Nuevo State Natural Reserve, you’ll find birds and elephant seals.
GettySankaty Light, Nantucket, Massachusetts
Rent bikes, leave the main town, snake through Siasconset’s streets, speckled with gray-shingled homes and fences entwined with wild roses, and you’ll eventually find red-striped Sankaty on the island’s highest, easternmost edge. Time your trip accordingly to walk the balcony, which is only open to the public a few times every year.
GettyEldred Rock Lighthouse, Haines, Alaska
As far as majestic Alaskan landscapes go, the state’s oldest remaining lighthouse—a red-roofed octagonal building framed by the snow-capped Chilkat Range—is one of the best. Rumor has it the shipwreck that prompted this beauty’s build, the sinking of the Clara Nevada, resulted in the disappearance of 800 pounds of gold that have never been found.
GettyThe Lighthouses of the Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
The nine lighthouses of the Apostles—six of which are listed on the National Historic Registry, and all of which make up what’s said to be the largest single collection of lighthouses in the U.S.—have been guiding boats through Lake Superior for more than 100 years. Explore them by boat yourself: The area’s filled with sea caves and is a top destination for kayaking.
GettyTybee Lighthouse, Savannah, Georgia
Escape sleepy, sometimes steamy Savannah for Tybee, 20 miles away. Here, you’ll find strips of beaches, seafood shops serving some of the best shrimp in the state, and history: Tybee Island Light Station is the oldest and tallest in Georgia.
GettyPortland Head Light, Portland, Maine
It’s hard to say what’s more mystical, the sound of Portland Head’s melancholy fog horn sounding through a gloomy Maine morning or the sight of Casco Bay in all its glory while white waves crash below on a sunny summer day. You’ll likely be able to experience both in one visit. You know what they say about the weather in New England: Just wait, it’ll change.
GettyGay Head Light, Aquinnah, Massachusetts
Some 20-plus miles from the island’s busy ferry posts, out where State Road ends, stands the most beautiful spot in Massachusetts: Martha’s Vineyard’s first lighthouse, a beloved brick structure high atop red clay cliffs. Surrounded by local Wampum jewelry shops, it has views of the Elizabeth Islands (if it’s sunny) and sits near The Outermost Inn, a charming island B&B owned by James Taylor’s brother Hugh.
GettyBlock Island Southeast Light, Block Island, Rhode Island
It’s hard to choose between New Shoreham’s two lighthouses (and don’t you dare attempt to debate it with locals) but the Southeast structure, built in a Gothic Revival and Italianate style that stands in contrast to most lighthouses of its time, has true architectural prowess. Plus, the Mohegan Bluffs it's built upon make for the perfect, windswept pitstop during a bike ride across Block Island.
GettyPoint Robinson Lighthouse, Vashon, Washington
Every trip to Seattle should include a short ferry ride to this cozy 10-acre park with wooded walking trails and picnic tables. The star? A red and white lighthouse with panoramic views of Mount Rainer that sits on a pebbly beach covered in driftwood. You can Airbnb the lighthouse keeper’s quarters and, on Sundays in the summer (and by request other times of the year), tour the lighthouse.
GettyCape Hatteras Lighthouse, Buxton, North Carolina
Black and white candy cane stripes make this 208-foot lighthouse one of the most recognizable structures in the country. Its beacon shines 20 miles offshore, so it is well-known to boaters, too. Climb the 248 spiral steps or admire it from afar. Be sure to explore the rest of the barrier island of Hatteras, as it's the Outer Banks’ quieter, wilder spot, where much of the sand remains undeveloped.
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