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.
