New England Lighthouse Tour
Check out their website for details on the hundreds of lighthouses
awaiting you on the New England seashores.
Run offshore from one big lighthhouse and fog signal to another. Work your way among the islands, anchoring in quiet coves, yarning with fisherman, or visiting country stores. This vacation will take you back to a simpler time in American history.
Day 1
Leaving from Newport, RI, we will head southwest to Block Island. As we leave Newport, the Rose Island Light is visible as we pass by the Pell-Newport Bridge. Passing Conanicut Island, in Beavertail State Park, is the site of America's third lighthouse, and the first in Rhode Island, dating from 1749. We'll catch of glimpse of Castle Hill Light on the eastern shore and then on past Point Judith Light which guards the western entrance of Narragansett Bay. About 20 miles from Newport lies Block Island, just eight and a half miles long and about three and a half miles wide, its terrain comprises sandy beaches with intermittent rocky shorelines. Southeast Light is one of two on the island. It is a massive Victorian brick structure straight out of a Gothic mystery. It was built in 1873, and is the highest above sea level of any New England lighthouse. Block Island's North Light was built in 1867, but was replaced in 1970 by an offshore beacon. After years of neglect, the original fresnel lens was returned to the light tower in the spring of 1996, replacing the offshore beacon. We'll anchor out in the Great Salt Pond, nestled in the center of the island.
From Block Island, we will head northeast to the beautiful island of Martha's Vineyard. At the western tip of the island, perched on the colorful clay cliffs, is the unique Gay Head Light. As we pass through Vineyard Sound, to port we can see the Tarpaulin Cove light, on the Naushon Island, and ahead we will see the The Nobska Point Light-station, established in 1828, just south of Falmouth, Massachusetts. As we round the north side of Martha's Vineyard and approach Vineyard Haven. East Chop Light will be visible off the port side, and West Chop Light to starboard. Towns on the island are situated close to harbors where we will find a wonderful variety of shops, restaurants and services within easy walking distance. We will anchor offshore between the original Edgartown Lighthouse, which was built in 1828, on a small man-made island in the Edgartown harbor on the east side of the island and the Cape Poge lighthouse, located in a wildlife refuge area.
Early morning we will head farther out to sea to the charming island of Nantucket. This historic old whaling capitol features three photogenic lighthouses, including the second lighthouse in America (circa 1746) at Brant Point, the endangered Sankaty Head Light, and the recently rebuilt tower on Great Point. The town of Nantucket is one of the most romantic spots in New England, with unique shops lining the cobblestone Main Street, and a plethora of historic inns. The harbor area is a living post card, with shops, street vendors, and art galleries mingling with the old weathered wharf buildings. As we approach Nantucket, we will pass Muskeget Island, with an estimated population of 2500 Grey Seals, and the only way to see them is by water. Just south and east of Nantucket we can go in search of Humpback, Minke and Finback whales, White-Sided Dolphins, Sea Turtles and more which are almost guaranteed to be seen in these waters in the summer and fall. We'll anchor out among the wild sea life for the night.
Day 4
We'll pull up anchor and head north to Cape Cod. Our first sight of land will be Monomoy Island, an 8 mile long spit of sand extending southwest from Chatham, Cape Cod, off the Massachusetts mainland. Back on the mainland, the tangled history of Chatham Light and Nauset Light reveals itself. And to the north, the stately Highland Lighthouse Station stands on a mountain of clay amidst the sand hills of the National Seashore. Forty miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands support diverse species. Lighthouses, cultural landscapes, and wild cranberry bogs offer a glimpse of Cape Cod’s past and continuing ways of life. Beloved by fishermen and sea captains for centuries, the charming coastal town of Chatham, Mass., came into its own as a resort destination in the 1870s when wealthy New Englanders discovered its vistas of sea and shore. Revered by Native Americans for its rich fishing waters and abundant wildlife. Picture-perfect streets are lined with 18th-century homes, Cape Cod cottages and glorious gardens. The town celebrates its sense of place through well-loved summertime traditions such as free Friday night band concerts, and a Fourth of July parade that is a Norman Rockwell painting come to life.
Day 5
We'll sail past the seven villages of Barnstable which include Hyannis (which the Kennedy family made famous), as we head west along the south shores of Cape Code for the village of Woods Hole. This salty, sea-spray village is home to the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, established in 1885, the country's oldest marine aquarium for public education and scientific research. Of course, we'll have to stop by to visit one of Tom's old sailing buddies, Capt. Larry Bearse, at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, renowned for finding the Titanic and for the deep diving research submarine, ALVIN. If we can catch him ashore, maybe he'll give us a tour of one of their exploration ships, the R/V Oceanus, on which he was captain. We now have the opportunity to visit the The Nobska Point Lightstation which we passed on our way to Martha's Vineyard.
Day 6
As we leave Woods Hole, we'll be entering Buzzards Bay, home to 8 other historic lighthouses. The Wing's neck light house, the furthest up in the north of the bay, can be rented out for $3,000 a week! Bird Island Light sits on a sandbar, less than two acres, and just a few hundred yards off Butler's Point, on the west side of Buzzards Bay. We'll cruise by the Elizabeth Islands, where, in 1602, the English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold and his crew landed on the island of Cuttyhunk. According to Cuttyhunk and the Elizabeth Islands: 'Gosnold's encampment on an island in Cuttyhunk's West End Pond was the first attempt at a permanent settlement in North America.' Most of the islands are privately owned by the Forbes family and only Cuttyhunk welcomes visitors. According to cuttyhunk.net: "Cuttyhunk Island is a place to do a whole lot of nothing. Cuttyhunk does not have discos, bars, malls, a singles scene, a party life, video games, parking lots, traffic, or much action." We'll have to decide whether to stop here and do nothing or anchor out over near the mainlain where there's not much to do either.
Day 7
Return to Narragansett Bay and Newport, Rhode Island, where our lighthouse tour will conclude.