Incredible Lighthouse Stays for PNW Families

Try out life on the edge by sojourning in historic keeper’s quarters

By Kate Missine

A salty ocean breeze, the cries of seagulls and a familiar white structure jutting up against the coastline: There is something undeniably mesmerizing about the stalwart and nostalgic charm of lighthouses. If you and your family want to really dive into this feeling, you’re in luck. Did you know you can spend the night in real lighthouse keeper’s quarters?

Pacific Northwest coastlines are peppered with these historic and essential stations, many of which have opened up to visitors seeking a taste of life on the edge. Some lighthouses and keeper’s quarters have been fully converted into vacation properties, offering the lighthouse mystique along with fullservice comfort. Others invite you in to fully experience the lightkeeper’s life with programs that involve guests in carrying out basic station duties.

Whether you’re looking for a fun night’s stay or a unique learning experience for the entire family, check out these four unforgettable lighthouses along the Washington and Oregon coasts.

North Head Lighthouse

State Park is a popular camping destination, but did you know you can also enjoy this spot’s far-from-disappointing landscape from the comfort of a lightkeeper’s home? Two residences (one of which is a duplex) are available for overnight accommodations, both situated within walking distance of the North Head Lighthouse and each having served as living quarters for nearly 75 years. Both of the pretty two-story Victorian homes sleep as many as six people each, with three bedrooms, a kitchen, and living and dining rooms. The properties come fully furnished and are stocked with linens, towels and kitchen essentials.

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continued from page 59 a kite at Benson Beach. To learn more about the history of the area, check out the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, an interactive history museum and observation deck set high on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean.

Point No Point Lighthouse, Hansville, Washington • uslhs.org Sitting on the northeastern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula, about an hour by car from Seattle, the lighthouse at Point No Point was built in 1879 and is considered to be Puget Sound’s oldest lighthouse. Two on-site properties are available as vacation rentals. The Keeper’s Quarters, perfect for a family, presents a cozy home with a living and dining room, two bedrooms and a full kitchen. Also on the station property is keeper John Maggs’ Cottage, built by the first lighthouse keeper and his wife. The cottage can house as many as four adults and a child.

This station’s unique locale opens to nearly unbelievable panoramic views of the sound’s islands, Mount Baker, Mount Rainier and the Seattle skyline. The lighthouse also sits next to a nature preserve, so keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, including bald eagles, waterfowl, other cool bird species, seals and more!

Browns Point Lighthouse Park, Tacoma, Washington • metroparkstacoma.org Eleven miles from Tacoma, the historic 1903 lightkeeper’s residence at Browns Point has been described by the U.S. Lighthouse Society as one of the finest lighthouse restorations anywhere in the country. The three-bedroom waterfront home, which sleeps six, overlooks an expansive park lawn and gardens perfect for frolicking. Farther on, the lighthouse itself rises on the saltwater beach, affording awe-inspiring views of south Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and Tacoma’s glittering city lights.

To add to the unique experience, families get

Point Wilson Lighthouse

a glimpse of life as a lightkeeper by taking part in some casual duties: raising the flag daily; maintaining a log of maritime traffic; and keeping the cottage and yard tidy for the next guests.

Looking for more activities to fill the day? Hop over to check out some of Tacoma’s top attractions: Point Defiance Park and its newer Dune Peninsula section, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, the pay-what-youwish Children’s Museum of Tacoma or the refreshed Swan Creek Park.

Point Wilson Lighthouse, Port Townsend, Washington • uslhs.org Located within sprawling — and fantastic — Fort Worden Historical State Park, the Point Wilson Lighthouse sits at the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets Admiralty Inlet. The restored Point Wilson Light Station offers the Chief’s House for rent, with four bedrooms (sleeps eight), two bathrooms and comfortable living quarters. All necessities, from toiletries to tea, coffee and free Wi-Fi, are provided. And you’ll sleep well knowing that income generated from the rental contributes to the station’s restoration efforts.

The locale makes it a great base camp for exploring the amazingly diverse peninsula, including Fort Worden itself, the quaint Victorian town of Port Townsend and, of course, Olympic National Park, a short drive away. ■ Kate Missine is a lifestyle writer, food lover and girly girl raising two little boys in beautiful Sammamish.

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