Lighthouse Challenge Set For Oct. 16-17

CAPE MAY POINT STATE PARK — Eleven land-based New Jersey Lighthouses, two museums displaying the Fresnel lens, and one life savings station host the 2010 “Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey” weekend on Sat., Oct. 16 and Sun., Oct. 17.
The New Jersey Lighthouse Managers invite (and challenge) the public to visit all participating lighthouses over the weekend and help raise funds for continued lighthouse preservation. The special weekend will help enable the participating lighthouses to financially support and preserve the maritime history of our state as they face the same economic challenges as other sectors of commerce.
Begin the Challenge at any of the participating lighthouses, and purchase a tri-fold souvenir pamphlet ($1) to be stamped at each lighthouse as proof of visit. This will be your souvenir to commemorate your participation in the event.
Hours of operation for each lighthouse can be found at www.lighthousechallengenj.org, www.njlhs.org and www.visitnj.org or by emailing lighthousechallengenj@gmail.com. You can also find the Lighthouse Challenge of NJ on Facebook and communicate with other lighthouse fans.
Night climbs will be offered at Absecon, Cape May, Sandy Hook, Tinicum and Tucker’s Island Light. The Cape May Lighthouse, located in Cape May Point State Park, will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sat., Oct. 16 and from
8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sun., Oct. 17.
Other participating lighthouses and museums include the following: Absecon Lighthouse, Barnegat Lighthouse, Barnegat Light Historical Museum, Cape May County Museum, East Point Lighthouse, Finns Point Light, Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, Navesink/Twin Lights, Sandy Hook Lighthouse, Sea Girt Lighthouse, Tatham Life Saving Station, Tinicum Rear Range Lighthouse and Tuckerton Seaport.
In honor of the “Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey” weekend, the Cape May Whale Watcher’s Spirit of Cape May will be offering a special Delaware Bay Lighthouse Adventure on Fri, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. Enjoy a five-hour cruise up the Delaware Bay and view six Delaware Bay lighthouses accessed only by water, Brandywine, Fourteen Foot, Miah Maul, Crossedge, Elbow of Crossledge, and Ship John Shoal.
Hear Bay lore on fishing, spawning grounds and more.
The cruise includes complimentary food and refreshments. A cash bar is available. Admission is $85 person. The Spirit of Cape May departs from the Miss Chris Marina, Second Avenue and Wilson Drive.
If the cruise is not sold out in advance, the remaining tickets will be sold at the dock 30 minutes before departure. Free parking is available at the marina. For more information or to purchase tickets, call (609) 884-5404 or (800) 275-4278 or visit www.capemaymac.org.