Let There Be Lighthouses

April 30, 2018


Part Three of the Birds, Blooms, and Winding Roads Tour. Part one is here, part two is here. Click on photo to make it bigger.

One of our winding roads led us to Point Arena Lighthouse. Originally erected in 1870, it was destroyed by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and rebuilt two years later. It’s the tallest lighthouse on the West Coast (115 feet), and you can climb to the top. (One other lighthouse, Pigeon Point, is the same height, but it’s not open to the public to climb.)

The area around Point Arena Lighthouse was spectacularly photogenic. We glanced at the lighthouse itself, snapped its photo, and spent the rest of our time there stalking birds and taking pictures of wildflowers, seals, and tossing waves.


Indian Paintbrush




After lunch and a wander through Mendocino:




We found ourselves at Point Cabrillo Light Station. Construction began in 1908, and the light was turned on for the first time on June 10, 1909. 

The lightstation

We didn’t see any whales or sea lions off the point, but we did see some wildlife:

White-crowned sparrow

California ground squirrel
Looking back toward the lightkeepers' houses from the lightstation

You can stay in the lightkeepers’ houses—I would love to do that. The views would be spectacular. 

Looking toward the lightstation from near the keepers' houses
Ocean near your front door

I was going to lump the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens into this post, but I think I’ll save it for later. You’re not tired of vacation photos yet, are you? (Don’t answer that!) 

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8 comments

  1. No I’m not tired of vacation photos!

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  2. Loved your post. I have a thing about lighthouses and we've visited many. Your photos are spectacular!

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    1. Thank you, Claire. The settings for both these lighthouses were so spectacular it was hard to take a bad picture. Have you ever stayed in or at a lighthouse? I think that would be fun!

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  3. Just lovely...I see you are very happy when you are following winding roads/

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    1. Rita--I AM happy following the winding roads...until I get car sick :).

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  4. Oh Kathy - lovely lovely pictures. I enjoy seeing the lighthouses and the ocean. Looks like you are having great weather too. Take care and have a super day.

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    1. We had beautiful weather, and were expecting rain, so we lucked out. Thanks for letting me share!

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