Lucy The Elephant Wins Best Roadside Attraction In All Of America
Remember when we did the story about how USA Today was doing a vote on the best roadside attraction across the whole country? Remember how we were pleasantly surprised that…
Lucy the Elephant has won “Best Roadside Attraction” in a USA Today poll.
Jen MundieRemember when we did the story about how USA Today was doing a vote on the best roadside attraction across the whole country? Remember how we were pleasantly surprised that our own Jersey shore classic, "Lucy The Elephant" was included? Remember how we asked you to vote? Well, guess what? She won!
Congratulations, Rat Rock Nation: You did it! National newspaper USA Today put up an impressive list of competition and asked their readers across the country to vote in their "Best Roadside Attraction" tally. Roadside attractions of nearly every shape and creation were included along with our own Jersey shore icon Lucy the Elephant. Lucy came out on top of the list, which you can see here.
60 Second Listen: There's A Shockingly Large Amount Of Animals In That Box Of Animal Crackers.
Voters could choose from some really impressive roadside attractions and some pretty lame ones too. For example, the World's Largest Ball of Twine could have received your vote (lame). The Pencil Sharpener Museum was in the running too (very lame).
Wall Drug in South Dakota was also in the running for Best Roadside Attraction. Believe it or not, I've actually been to this nominee, back on a family trip to the Badlands back in the early 1980's. I thought it was pretty cool. But nowhere near as cool as the eventual winner: Lucy the Elephant in Margate, New Jersey.
To my shock and awe, all three of what I just mentioned were in the top ten of Best Roadside Attraction according to USA Today voters. The twine was #3 , Wall Drug was #9, and the pencil sharpener museum was #6.
Lucy: Best Roadside Attraction
Let's face it: Lucy the Elephant is one seriously unique place to visit. Since it's not a super long drive from Monmouth and Ocean counties, I know of a few families who make a yearly pilgrimage to the grey girl. Since she got a much needed renovation costing $2.4 million, Lucy the Elephant has been welcoming visitors back weekends and weekends, depending on the season. Click here for visiting hours.
Speaking of cool places to visit on the Jersey shore: I recently took my kids to see 'Ole Barny... The Barnegat Lighthouse. Check out the pics below.
Had a fun time the other day taking my kids to the Barnegat Lighthouse. Yep, spent a bunch of time in the 609 and rockin' the 107.9 when I realized I Was Today Years Old When I Finally Climbed The Barnegat Lighthouse. I've been to Long Beach Island a ton of times for work and for play. But until the other day, I had never climbed the steps of the Barnegat Lighthouse. It was a really cool experience so I thought I'd share a few pics.
My timing was pretty good because I learned that the lighthouse has recently reopened after a $1.3 million dollar restoration.
You Can Climb The Barnegat Lighthouse
A few of my friends didn't even know you could climb up Ole' Barny. Visiting was always in the back of my head but for one reason or another it had never worked out. The day I chose to make the drive with my 10-year old boys was a cloudy day and very, very windy. The forecast called for 20-30 mile an hour winds. But at the top of 'ole Barny it was probably even windier. Yup, you can go outside at the top of the Barnegat Lighthouse and walk around a little, circular porch that is at the top, just below the "lantern". That porch is enclosed in a thick, sturdy, fully enclosed fence. There's no chance of falling, but a cell phone might slip through, so careful!
The lighthouse is 163 feet tall. There's a little stairway that wraps it's way up to the top of the Barnegat Lighthouse. If I remember correctly, there's 217 steps to the top. There's a cool, but short, trail that winds through the immediate area around the lighthouse called a "maritime forest". There's a cool interpretive center. Because the whole area is a New Jersey State Park, it's well maintained and there's picnic tables, bathrooms, and other similar amenities. Click here for the Barnegat Lighthouse website.
There's no entrance charge in Fall, Spring and Winter. It's $3 to get in during the summer months. Visiting this Jersey shore historic landmark is a fun family trip.
Hey, there's no shortage of ice cream shops on L.B.I so pop in to one and grab a treat to round out the trip before you head back west on Route 72!
Lighthouse from walkway
Carl CraftParking in the lot will leave you with this cool view of the Barnegat Lighthouse.
Up close
Carl CraftUmmm, not much to say here. It's lookin' straight up at the lighthouse from the base. On the day we were here the weather was very cloudy and very, very windy.
Bottom of steps
Carl CraftHere's my boys beginning to climb the steps. The stairway is pretty skinny... it's definitely one way.
Porthole
Carl CraftOn the climb up the steps there's a few balcony areas with windows. It allows the up and down traffic to give way to each other. Some of the windows near the top are these cool little porthole type windows. Pretty neat.
Steps top
Carl CraftThere's a sign at the bottom saying you're 16 steps into your climb. There's this near the top to let you know you're nearly finished with the climb.
Looking out the door
Carl CraftAt the top of Barnegat Lighthouse there's a little vestibule. Here we are peeking through a door leading to the small walkway that goes around the outside of the top of ole' Barney.
Looking through the window
Carl CraftFun fact (well fact, but not so fun): I get totally freaked out by heights. I was FREAKING OUT inside when we got to the top. My one son picked up on that and stayed with me while my other son ran out on the little porch that wraps around the top of the lighthouse. It was really windy that day and they really liked it out there!
windy balcony
Carl CraftEventually both boys were treating the outside deck around the top of the lighthouse like their own running track. They had a blast coming around the one side that put the wind directly in their faces. As for me? Yeah, I barely lasted a minute out there. Cue the fear of heights, big time.
From seawall
Carl CraftI took this picture from the seawall on the inlet. There's a concrete topper to the walkway that makes it pretty easy to walk out.
