Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

We took a trip yesterday over to Ponce Inlet to visit the lighthouse and check out the beach.  The current lighthouse was built in 1887 to replace a smaller lighthouse that was destroyed in 1837.  The grounds and exhibits are very interesting and provide a lot of information about lighthouses and their use over the years.  I enjoyed the 203 steps to the top of the lighthouse and the incredible view of the surrounding area.  Interestingly the lighthouse is still a fully functioning lighthouse, which seems odd in a day of computers and GPS systems.  However, I doubt that even such simple technology will ever be completely replaced.

After touring the lighthouse, we went to the Lighthouse Park, which is pretty much the entire southern tip of Ponce Inlet.  I enjoyed strolling out on the breakwater and watching the waves smash against the rocks.  It was pretty windy and the surf was pretty high.  The sand dunes and scrub are pretty neat and there are a lot of boardwalks and picnic pavilions, so it’s a really great place for a picnic.

For more photos of our trip, click here.