Page 22 - 2023 Southern NJ Vacationer

LIGHTHOUSES
Southern Shore lighthouses preserve maritime history
East Point Lighthouse
THE ALLURE OF LIGHTHOUSES and their centuries-old purpose as beacons of light against a fogged and dark shore remain a fascination for travelers. In the State of New Jersey, the attraction for these legendary structures has taken thousands of visitors to new heights, literally! Call it an adventure, possibly a bucket list item, the Lighthouse Society of NJ dares beacon enthusiasts to visit multiple lighthouses in one weekend.
That’s right! The Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey invites participants to visit 10 land-based lighthouses, three lifesaving stations, one museum and one virtual site over a two-day weekend. The route covers the Atlantic Coast from Sandy Hook to Cape May and the Delaware Bay and River Coast from Cape May to Paulsboro.
Participants pay a nominal registration fee to enter the contest and if you ask any of the former participants, the payoff for completing the challenge is far bigger than earning a souvenir from each site in the route; it’s the firsthand opportunity to learn more about these historic treasures.
Ready to take the challenge? The 2023 Lighthouse Challenge is set for the weekend of Oct. 21-22, 2023. For more information, or to register, www.lighthousechallengenj.com
Are you a pharologist or a person that loves lighthouses? How about a pharologist who loves to view the moon or stars from the top of the lighthouse? There isn’t a name for
this person yet, but if you are lucky enough to be visiting Cape May County during a full or new moon, MAC (Museums + Arts + Culture) has planned a climb for you to the moon and stars.
Sound romantic? Follow the light of the full moon on up the 199 original, cast-iron spiral staircase steps to the top of the Cape May Lighthouse during the Lighthouse Full Moon Climbs. Enjoy a nighttime view of the surrounding area lit by the light of the full moon, nearly 156 feet above the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean. Interpretive panels along the climb tell stories of Lighthouse Keepers, the surrounding area, and how the lighthouse functioned historically, and are
located at landings along the way.
Stairway to the Stars is held on evenings
of the new moon and the start of a new 29.5- day lunar cycle, when the moon is so dark it blends in with the night sky and is invisible to the naked eye. Climb to the top and see stars and constellations that are more visible on clear nights during the new moon.
Cape May Lighthouse located in Cape May Point State Park, Lower Township opened to the public in 1988, more than 2.5 million people have climbed the 199 steps to the Watch Gallery at the top of the Cape May Lighthouse during the day. Fewer have seen the grand vista of the evening sky from atop this majestic beacon. The 1859 Cape May
Hereford Lighthouse
20 SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY VACATIONER