New Jersey Lighthouse Adventures Part 2

  I would like to point out we stayed the night on this weekend adventure but I heard at the last lighthouse I went to that some individuals managed to make a pit stop at all of them in one day.  I can't even imagine.  How much time you spent at each stop.  Did they climb to the top of any of them?  Was there a line to wait in to climb to the top?  Were they locals and new where they were going because we certainly didn't know the best routes.

  I didn't climb all the lighthouses ( I wore my trusty ortho boot)

but didn't climb a few.  Even after the challenge I thought about how I wish I had climbed more of them.  Not necessarily all of them but that would have been fun too.  But not all lighthouses are the same, the architecture alone is pretty neat.  The outside and the inside are similar but different.  The view from each and everyone of them would have been just as unique.  Some were very close to water and others were not but what could you see from out of them?  Land, water, a city? 

As I write this out and I am now thinking to myself I want to go back.  Next year I will go at the same time or leave Friday so I am there at sunrise on Saturday morning.  I will even plan to see something sights while I am there.  Never to early to start planning.  They say the earlier you start planning the cheaper the rate, so does that mean my hotel could be $10, lol?

  After Sandy Hook we preceeded to Navesink Twin Lights.  These two lighthouses are the most northern houses.  The roads were less than desirable to get to both destinations.  At one point the road drove what look liked straight towards the water.  I could not take a picture of that.  The road curved around and curved back.  On way to Navesink was a steep hill.  I had to drive up and pull over to allow cars to come down.  You drive up this one car lane and with a cliff on one side, good times.

  This lighthouse looked like a castle or a fort.  The two lighthouses were on each side with a main building connecting the two.  I actually bought a postcard from this location because I couldn't get a picture of the whole thing.

steps:64

 64 steps is nothing we tackled this lighthouse!

 I love the classic spiral steps.  I could never quite get that circular picture that you always see in pictures but, I did keep trying.

 Wave to NYC.  Although we were so close to the city.  We didn't visit but maybe next time.

steps: 42

 This little lighthouse was situated in a nice ocean town. It wasn't very busy and the street opened up at the water.  I could see spending the weekend at a bed and breakfast in Sea Girt, New Jersey.

 It wasn't that quiet as there were a lot of people visiting the lighthouses so the beach was not their focus but I love to see an undisturbed beach.

Steps: 217

 Ok, I have practiced for this one.  Up we went!  My son wanted to go up and he made it all the way up except for the last 15 steps.  So now picture me carrying up the rest of the way and then all the way down.  Me and the boot!  I am momma hear me roar!

   After we visited this lighthouse we drove down the street and around the corner to the museum. 

 This museum originally was a one room school house.  I enjoy seeing old artifacts and furniture.

   Ok that is all I am sharing with you today.  I hope you enjoy the small peeks into my trips. I have 7 stops to share with you.  I can not express how fun this challenge was.  How awesome it was that the state of New Jersey, the Lighthouse Society and the Lighthouse Managers Association of NJ invited everyone to see their state and their lighthouses.

Carter Mountain Orchard

  So the smart thing to do when you drive anywhere for 2-3 hours is to use your time wisely.  With that being said after our visit to Monticello I was so excited to find out an apple orchard was literally around the corner.

The part of Virginia I reside in has apples in abundance only in stores so it is an extra special treat to give my kids the opportunity to pick some and learn where they come from and see that in all their glory.  The kids didn't even know the "goodies" that were coming after we worked hard to retrieve the apples.

  Man can I say they worked hard on getting apples but a little harder at climbing down the hill and then back up.  Carter-mountain-orchard is on the top of a mountain.

We climbed this winding road without any clue what awaited us on top but we were all excited to see.  As I got closer to the top I saw beautiful rows of grapes and knew this was going to be a good place we were going.  When you reach the top and even before you get out of the car you can see the apples and the view.  I don't even know what I was more excited about.  The views that stretched for miles or the delicious fruit hanging from the tree.  After all I didn't really come for the apples.

  Let's step back for a moment.  I need to be honest with you.  I am from upstate NY.  I know about country and apples.  That is why it was important for me to give them an apple picking experience.    I went as a child and some experiences are just down right fun and you want to share that with your children even if you live in a large busy suburb almost 3 hours away.  I also know and appreciate a donut washed down with some cider!

  That may have been my real goal.  My kids however loved the apple picking, donut eating and cider drinking all in one.  The were too young to understand the magnitude of the beauty around them but, I did hear this was the best day ever more than once!  Follow us as we make a variety of apple dishes!