North America Off the Beaten Path Tips by sim1

I have written this page specially for my sister in law. She really loves lighthouses! And on every trip we go on I make sure to take a picture of every lighthouse we see on our way. And over the last few years that has added up to quite a collection. So specially for Roelien and all you other lighthouse fans, here is a page with only lighthouses!

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Off The Beaten Path: Sign

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Written by sim1

on Sep 27, 2002

Okay, now follow this sign, and read the rest of the page. There are plenty of lighthouses to take a look at on this page :-)

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Off The Beaten Path: La Martre, Canada

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Written by sim1

on Sep 27, 2002

You can find this beautiful red lighthouse between Matane and Gasp� in a little town called Riviere la Martre on the Gasp� Peninsula in Quebec. It is on the right side of the road when you drive to Gasp� and it is located on a hill, high above the road.
It was so beautiful to see this lighthouse, with its spectacular red color against the clear blue sky. And the light was just beautiful, so late in the late afternoon.

Riviere de la Martre is a tiny little village, with only a few houses and a church. It was really funny though, how this lighthouse stood in the middle of the village, with across the street a white wooden church. There was nothing to see and do in the village when we were there. But you can visit the lighthouse when you get here earlier in the day. It is open daily 9AM-5PM, mid-June through Labour Day and the admission is $3.

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Off The Beaten Path: Welcome to Nova Scotia, Canada

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Written by sim1

on Sep 27, 2002

Welcome to Nova Scotia

This is the welcome sign to Nova Scotia. They must be really proud on there lighthouses in Nova Scotia to build this miniture lighthouse to welcome everyone into their province. But I can understand that they are proud; they really do have a lot of beautiful lighthouses here. Like the next picture for example, the lighthouse at Peggy`s Cove. That is one of the most famous lighthouses in the world.

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Off The Beaten Path: Peggy's Cove, Canada

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Written by sim1

on Sep 27, 2002

Peggy's Cove, Canada

This lighthouse is one of the most famous lighthouses in the world. The location is really stunning! It is situated on the cliffs of a really pictoresque fishing village : Peggy`s Cove in Nova Scotia, Canada. Because it is so pictoresque it is really flooded with tourists! But I loved my visit here. I didn`t expect I would, I thought I would hate it because it was swamped by the tourists. But when you get on those great big rocks and watch how the sea is banging against the coast, the sheer power of nature, wow! You really have to be impressed! When you don`t like the tourists, just walk a little further on the cliffs. There are not a lot of people that do that, and that way you can enjoy this piece of nature almost by yourself.

The lighthouse is not only so famous because of it`s location, but also because it is a postoffice. And yes, I did it too!!!! I posted my cards from here, LOL. Some of them even went to a couple of VT members. But unlike the postcards the sun wasn`t shining, but we had a thick fog on that day. Maybe this way it was even more beautiful, it really made it all look very spooky and mysterious.

The light is from 1915 and is still operational.

Directions:
Turn south off Route 103 onto Route 333 at Exit 2A or Exit 5. Continue on St. Margaret`s Bay Road for 3 kilometers (1.6 miles). Turn west onto Prospect Road for about 40 kilometers (25 miles) and continue to Peggy`s Cove.

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Off The Beaten Path: Point Aconi lighthouse, Canada

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Written by sim1

on Sep 27, 2002

Point Aconi lighthouse, Canada

Point Aconi lighthouse is close to Sydney in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is a white conical lighthouse with a red octagonal lantern. This light is operational and the grounds are open to the public.

It is a strange to visit this lighthouse. On the picture it looks so beautifully set on the cliff, but when you are at the lighthouse it is much less pictoresque. There is a mine close by and the outlet of the mine is right next to this lighthouse. When you are at the lighthouse all you can hear is the vent of the mine, which makes a tremendous noise. From the distance it is a beautiful lighthouse to see though.

Directions:
At Highway 105 the Bras d`Or Lakes Scenic Drive turns left across a bridge. Just after crossing the bridge, a right turn off Highway 105 leads to the Point Aconi Lighthouse.

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Off The Beaten Path: The lighthouse at Matane, Canada

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Written by sim1

on Sep 27, 2002

Another lighthouse on the Gasp� Peninsula in Quebec. This is not my favourite lighthouse, because it is on the corner of a busy intersection. Not the most beautiful place to see a lighthouse. But I had to stop for the trafficlights anyway, so I decided to make an extra stop so I could make a picture of the lighthouse.

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Off The Beaten Path: Welcome to New Bunswick, Canada

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Written by sim1

on Sep 27, 2002

Welcome to New Bunswick, Canada

Not a real lighthouse, but still good enough to take a picture of it!

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Off The Beaten Path: Fisgard lighthouse, Canada

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Written by sim1

on Sep 30, 2002

This is the oldest lighthouse on the west coast of Canada. It is a White, conical brick tower with a red lantern. Next to it is the two story high keeper`s house.The lighthouse is from 1860 and was automated in 1929.

This lighthouse is operational, but it is also open to the public. It is openend daily :
from March 01 - Oct. 31 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, weekends Nov. 1 - Feb. 28 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

We were just too late to visit the lighthouse and that is why we were only able to see it from a distance. That was a real shame, because I would have loved to take a look inside this lighthouse. It really looked beautiful!

Inside the keeper`s house are two floors of exhibits, dealing with shipwrecks, storms, lighthouses, and the everyday working equipment of the lightkeeper a century ago.

Directions:
The lighthouse is on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, not so very far from Victoria. Head north on Douglas Street (Victoria`s main street) until it turns into Highway 1. Take the Colwood exit (exit #10). Follow Highway 1A, then turn left at the third traffic light onto Ocean Boulevard. Follow the signs to the lighthouse site.

You can find more information about this lighthouse on this website : http://parkscan.harbour.com/frh/

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Off The Beaten Path: Alcatraz, San Francisco, USA

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Written by sim1

on Sep 30, 2002

Alcatraz, San Francisco, USA