America Celebrates Lighthouses

The United States has more lighthouses than any other country, and many of them are celebrated for their beauty and history as well as their usefulness. A variety of festivals salute these landmark navigational aids.

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Maritime Festival

North Wildwood, N.J.

Celebrate New Jersey’s maritime history at the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Maritime Festival in mid-June. Held on the grounds of the historic Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, this fun and educational weekend offers lighthouse tours, the Anglesea Fine Art & Craft Show, antique boats, musical entertainment and a living-history pirate encampment the kids will love. Nostalgia awaits at the nearby Summer Nites bed & breakfast, a AAA Three Diamond historic lodging. This 1950s throwback has such period décor as neon lights and a boxcar diner, where you can play your favorite rock ‘n’ roll tune for a mere two bits on the 1953 Seeburg jukebox.

Blue Water SandFest

Port Huron, Mich.

Built in 1829 to guard the St. Clair River and Lake Huron, Fort Gratiot Light Station is still a working lighthouse and also the site of the 3-day Blue Water SandFest in early July. Take a lighthouse tour, and witness the Michigan Master Sandsculpting State Championships, amateur sculpting contests and the Quick Sand Speed Sculpting Show. If festival food isn’t your cup of tea, then try nearby Freighters Eatery & Taproom, a AAA Two Diamond^® restaurant overlooking the Blue Water Bridge. Enjoy the view of the St. Clair River and locally-sourced menu items. The signature mac and cheese dishes include one with lobster and another with wild mushrooms and truffle oil.

Door County Lighthouse Festival

Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Festivalgoers at the Door County Lighthouse Festival, which takes place in early June, can explore lighthouses usually closed to the public You can climb to the top of some and visit the lighthouse keepers’ quarters. Photo opportunities abound on guided land tours and boat excursions. If you plan to stay overnight, the AAA Three Diamond^® White Lace Inn in Sturgeon Bay features a complex of historic homes decked out in Victorian finery.

Luminary Night

St. Augustine, Fla.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum is a sight to behold on the first Wednesday in December. Delight in the holiday decorations, light displays, yuletide refreshments, visits with Santa Claus and a string quartet playing seasonal music. Guests can climb 219 steps to the top of the lighthouse tower for a spectacular view of St. Augustine.