Staying in Lighthouses

Staying in a lighthouse is a one-of-a-kind vacation for people who enjoy new experiences. Lighthouses illuminate the coasts of oceans and lakes throughout the world, although it is only in recent years that lighthouses have been turned into guesthouses and inns for vacationers. While a lighthouse stay certainly isn't for everyone, those people who enjoy waking up next to the water in a historic lighthouse will find that the experience is not to be forgotten.

Instructions

1. Consult a listing of lighthouses that allow overnight stays. You'll find listings online at cyberlights.com, nps.gov and lighthouse.cc. Many lighthouses can be booked online, but some require booking by telephone.

2. Decide if you want to stay in a lighthouse on a lake or ocean. Lighthouses offer overnight accommodations in the United States and many other countries in the world. If you are a lighthouse aficionado, you may want to plan a special lighthouse tour and visit and stay at all of the lighthouses in one geographical area.

3. Choose a lighthouse that meets your needs. Decide if you want to stay in an actual lighthouse or if the keeper's house is close enough for you. Think about your need for luxury or privacy. While some houses offer all of the modern amenities, in others you'll need to share bathrooms and go without telephones or televisions. In particularly rustic locations, you may even find that the lighthouse has no indoor plumbing.

4. Ask if you may bring your children. Some of the more luxurious lighthouses do not allow children, and you'll want to find this out before you make your reservation.

5. Book your lighthouse stay early. Lighthouses usually only offer a few rooms for rent and you'll need to book far in advance to avoid disappointment. Find out the lighthouse's cancellation policy in case you need to change your trip.

Tips & Warnings

• Lighthouses operating as inns may function as bed and breakfasts or you may be on your own for meals. Be sure to check this when you book your stay so that you can make dining arrangements if necessary. Ask if the lighthouse offers discounts in its off-season. You may be able to find that you can stay in a lighthouse for a significantly lower amount if you book a stay in the winter. If you would like to help run a lighthouse for a week, consider working as a volunteer keeper at Rose Island Lighthouse, just off Newport, Rhode Island. Volunteer keepers raise the flag each morning, greet visitors, collect fees and manage the rainwater gathering system, the weather station and the lighthouse's wind-powered electrical system.

Resources

• Lighthouse.cc listing
• Nps.gov listing
• Cyberlights.com listing