Best Lighthouses to Visit in New England in Summer

Summer is peak season for New England lighthouse travel, and for good reason. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, tower climbs resume at lighthouses that sit locked all winter, seasonal ferries open access to offshore islands, overnight keeper stays become available, and narrated cruises run daily from harbors up and down the coast. The long […]

Lighthouse Photography Tips: How to Photograph New England Lighthouses

New England has some of the most photographed lighthouses in the world, and some of the most challenging conditions in which to photograph them. Coastal fog, harsh midday sun, rocky and unpredictable shorelines, and summer crowds all conspire against the casual snapshot. But those same conditions — the fog, the surf, the dramatic skies — […]

Best Lighthouses to Visit on Nantucket

Nantucket has only three lighthouses, but each one earns its place in the conversation about the best lighthouse experiences in New England. Between 700 and 800 shipwrecks have been recorded in the shoal-laced waters surrounding the island, and the lights built to guard against that toll range from the most accessible in Massachusetts to one […]

Best Lighthouses to Visit on Martha’s Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard has five historic lighthouses spread across its six towns, and no two of them are alike. From a red brick tower perched above the most dramatic cliffs in Massachusetts to a cast-iron sentinel walkable from the center of Edgartown, the island’s lights represent one of the most concentrated and varied collections in New […]

Best Lighthouses to Visit in Vermont

“Burlington Breakwater North Light” by Larry Myhre, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Vermont is the only New England state without an ocean coastline, but that hasn’t stopped it from accumulating a fascinating lighthouse history. The state’s lighthouses line the shores of Lake Champlain, the 120-mile freshwater lake that forms Vermont’s western border with New York and served as one of the most important commercial waterways in 19th-century […]

Best Lighthouses to Visit in New Hampshire

New Hampshire has the shortest coastline of any coastal state in the contiguous United States, just 18 miles of Atlantic shoreline. But those 18 miles contain two lighthouses with histories that reach back to before the American Revolution, and the stories attached to them rival anything you’ll find along Maine’s much longer coast. Throw in […]

Best Lighthouses to Visit in Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country, but it packs more lighthouse history per square mile than almost anywhere in New England. The Ocean State’s southern coastline, anchored by Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound, was once one of the busiest and most treacherous stretches of water on the Eastern Seaboard. Lighthouses […]

Best Lighthouses to Visit in Connecticut

Discover the best lighthouses to visit in Connecticut, from the iconic New London Ledge Light to hidden gems along the Sound. Plan your CT lighthouse trip today.

Best Lighthouses to Visit in the Fall

New Haven Harbor Lighthouse

Crisp ocean air, fiery foliage, and golden sunsets make fall one of the most spectacular times to visit New England’s lighthouses. While summer crowds thin out, coastal trails and cliffside towers take on a whole new character framed by vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway to Acadia, a day trip […]