Place to see: Pigeon Point Lighthouse, Pescadero, California, United States
Lighthouse in the night
I definitely froze while taking this picture. After about half an hour of snapping photos and counting seconds in the cold winds lashing my face, I stopped after this shot.
About this place:
Pigeon Point Lighthouse is one of the many (and easily accessible) lighthouses scattered along the California coastline. The last time I’ve been there, the federal government was trying to sell the lighthouse to a private party because the $1 million annual maintenance cost was burning a hole in their budget. I believe touring inside the lighthouse is close indefinitely because part of the structure fell off making it unsafe for tourist.
I’ve been drawn to this particular lighthouse and have visited this place frequently when I used to live in the Bay Area. Most of the time it is very foggy in this particular part of the coast – hence the lighthouse I guess. One of my regrets is not taking the time to stay overnight at the Hostel just a few steps down the path. I find lighthouses beautiful, eerie, and romantic all at the same time. I guess that’s why I keep coming back.
Pigeon Point is also home to a very affordable hostel that is only a short drive away from San Francisco. Fifty miles south of San Francisco, you can relax in a hot tub with panoramic views of the Pacific, and then fall asleep gazing up at one of the tallest lighthouses in America. This one-of-a-kind getaway is available only at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel.
Perched on a cliff on the central California coast, the 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse has guided mariners since 1872. The hostel provides comfortable, affordable accommodations in the restored lighthouse keeper's quarters. Guests can opt for shared or private rooms, and also enjoy cozy lounges, fully equipped kitchens, and amenities including satellite Internet, free WiFi, and free parking. On weekends, free history walks guided by State Parks docents are available on the hostel grounds.
The Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel is also a popular spot for whale watching, and a convenient base for exploring nearby coastside communities as well as the ancient redwood forests at Butano State Park, the bird sanctuary of Pescadero Marsh, and Año Nuevo State Reserve, breeding site of northern elephant seals.
Pescadero, California, US
Discovered by Alan Smithee
on 12 December 2007.
214 views.
