Place to see: Gateway National Recreation Area: Sandy Hook Unit, Highlands, New Jersey, United States

About this place:

Gateway National Recreation Area is made up of for separate units in the New York City metropolitan area and run by the National Park Service. It is officially listed as part of the National Parks of New York Harbor. The Sandy Hook Unit makes up a beautiful area of the Jersey Shore that includes a long expanse of untouched beaches, a bird sanctuary and other nature watching, a holly forest, military historic sites, fishing, cycling are among the attractions. Among its most famous points, besides the beautiful beaches, are the historic Sandy Hook Lighthouse and Fort Hancock. A fee is charged to enter the park beginning Memorial Day through Labor Day each year.

The Sandy Hook Lighthouse is the oldest continuously operating light house in America, beginning its operations in 1764. Lighthouse tours began on April 5 (2008) and are conducted from noon till 4:30 p.m. on weekends and from 1:30 p.m. till 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. Visitors must be a minimum of 48 inches tall to climb the tower.

Gateway National Recreation Area isregularly among the top 10 most visited units of the National Park Service.