Join Jeremy D'Entremont, author
of nine books and hundreds of articles on
lighthouse history, for a van tour of some of New England's most
beautiful and historic beacons.A portion of the
proceeds from
all tours is donated to help lighthouse preservation.
"Perfect New
England Day trip!" - Brad & Denise Gardner.
"There
is not a more rewarding lighthouse tour than this. The personal touches
that Jeremy offers, along with his thorough knowledge of lighthouses,
makes this a real fun way to experience the lights!" - Bob Trapani,
Jr., executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation.
"We found New
England Lighthouse Tours on
the internet, and we couldn't have gotten luckier! Jeremy is
very
knowledgeable and informative. We are looking forward to
taking
another tour with him." - Kevin and Susan Himrod.
Jeremy
D'Entremont has been called the leading expert on New England's
lighthouses. He's been photographing and writing about lighthouses for
more than 25 years, and he is the webmaster of New England Lighthouses:
A
Virtual
Guide at www.lighthouse.cc.
Jeremy is the founder of the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor
Lighthouses, and the historian for the American Lighthouse Foundation.
He has lectured on his favorite topic all along the New England coast.
All tours begin and end in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Pickup
and dropoff is usually at the parking garage (75¢ per hour) on Hanover
Street, but arrangements can often be made for pickup at area hotels. Directions
to the garage are here.
The maximum capacity on all tours is
5 participants, but 6 can be
accommodated if at least one is a child. The tours are not recommended
for children under 6 years old.
With all tours, we reserve the right to change the itinerary if
conditions (weather, construction, traffic problems, etc.) make it
necessary. We will make every effort to complete the itineraries as
described, and to substitute other interesting destinations if
necessary. Advance purchase or reservations are needed for
all tours.
You can
purchase spaces below, or email nelights@gmail.com
for information on how to hold spaces by paying a deposit.
Offseason tours are available on request, schedule permitting. Email nelights@gmail.comfor information.
If you'd like to receive occasional
emails when new tours are announced, please email nelights@gmail.com.
2012
Tours
All itineraries are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances.
Whenever possible, changes in the itinerary will be discussed in advance with tour participants.
Lighthouses
of Portsmouth & Portland
8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
$109 adults, $79 for children 6-12 (lunch included)
Not recommended for children under 6
This
van tour, with pickup and drop off in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, starts
with a look at the
1874 Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse in Maine, a scenic location made famous
by the
artist Edward Hopper. When
possible, there will also be a stop at
Cape Elizabeth Town Hall to see a beautiful second-order Fresnel lens
once used in Cape Elizabeth Light.
Next is a visit to Portland Head Light in
Cape Elizabeth, one of the most breathtaking lighthouses in the United
States. Time is allotted to walk around the grounds of Maine's oldest
lighthouse (1791) and to explore the extensive museum in the former
keepers’ quarters. Admission to the museum is included in the tour
price. There's also a gift shop on the grounds.
We'll move on to Spring Point Ledge Light in
South Portland, a 55-foot
"sparkplug" type lighthouse that was first lighted in May 1897. Lunch
(included in ticket price) will be by the water at Joe's Boathouse at
Spring Point Marina in South Portland.
Following
lunch, the tour moves on to a stop at the South Portland Historical
Society's museum for a look at the fascinating shipbuilding history of
this community; more than 250 Liberty Ships were constructed in South
Portland during World War II.
Next is Portland Breakwater Light, a short distance away in South
Portland. This unique 1875 lighthouse,
known locally as "Bug Light," is modeled after the Greek Choragic
Monument of Lysicrates, built in the fourth century B.C.
We'll start heading back south for a
shopping stop at Lighthouse Depot in Wells, Maine, the world's largest
lighthouse gift
store. We'll then continue to York, Maine, to enjoy the picturesque
Cape Neddick "Nubble" Light, one of the most photographed lighthouses
in the world. A gift shop is on the grounds, and Fox's restaurant is
nearby with a takeout ice cream window.
The
last stop is a tour inside
Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse in New Castle, New Hampshire. Participants
are invited to climb the 44 stairs to the lantern to enjoy the
magnificent view (including Whaleback Lighthouse) and to see the active
fourth-order
Fresnel lens up close.
These tours are available on a by-appointment basis (two person minimum).
Please email nelights@gmail.com for availability and other questions.
(Tours are not available on Sundays.)
1)Chatham and Monomoy, Massachusetts - This all day van tour leaves Portsmouth, NH, at 8 a.m., returning around 8:30 p.m. It includes Chatham Light on Cape Cod and a boat ride to South Monomoy Island for a visit to the rarely seen Monomoy Lighthouse. On the return trip, the tour stops at historic Scituate Lighthouse. The tour includes stops for two meals (not included in the tour price). $159 adults, $119 for children 12 and under.
2) Block Island, Rhode Island - This all day van tour leaves Portsmouth at 8 a.m. It includes a visit to scenic Point Judith Lighthouse
in Rhode Island, and a round trip ferry ride (included in the tour
price) to beautiful Block Island. On the island, the tour will visit
two historic lighthouses: North Light and Southeast Light. The tour includes two meals (not included in the tour price) and returns to Portsmouth around 10 p.m. Adults: $195. Children (12 and under): $155.
3) Pemaquid Point and Marshall Point, Maine - This van tour leaves Portsmouth at 8 a.m. The first stop is pretty Marshall Point Lighthouse in the fishing village of Port Clyde, Maine. After lunch (not included in the tour price), the tour visits the breathtaking Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, one of the most photographed locations in New England. On the way back south, the tour stops at Doubling Point Light and the Doubling Point Range Lights, both on the banks of the Kennebec River. The tour returns to Portsmouth around 6 p.m. Adults: $119. Children (12 and under): $89.
This tour is being offered on July 12
4) Lighthouses and Birding in Newburyport, Massachusetts - This tour leaves Portsmouth at 8:00 a.m. Included are visits to Plum Island Lighthouse, the Newburyport Range Lights, and Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse.
Also included is a two+ hour boat ride on the Merrimack River,
encompassing much scenic beauty and wildlife viewing. There is also
time allotted for strolling and shopping in historic downtown
Newburyport. Lunch is not included in the tour price. The tour returns
to Portsmouth around 6 p.m. Adults: $119. Children (12 and under): $99.
Cancellation
policy:
All
refund and change requests will be handled on an individual
basis.
Allowances
can be made for cancellations due to emergencies, but refunds aren't
guaranteed for last minute no-shows.
Please
email nelights@gmail.com
with any change in plans as far in advance as possible.
Date changes
can only be made only if we can
confirm availability on the new date.
Directions
to the garage
FROM I-95: Take Exit 7, go east on Market
Street into downtown Portsmouth. Turn right at Hanover Street. Garage
is on the left.
FROM SPAULDING TURNPIKE: Exit 3 onto Woodbury
Avenue. Bear left at Market Street. Continue into downtown Portsmouth.
Right at Hanover Street. Garage is on the left.
FROM ROUTE 1 IN MAINE: Follow Route 1 south
over the Memorial Bridge into Portsmouth. About 0.1 mile after the
bridge, turn right onto Penhallow Street. In a short distance, turn
left onto Bow Street. Then, after a short distance, turn right onto
Market Street. Take the next left onto Hanover Street. The garage is on
the left.
FROM ROUTE 1 POINTS SOUTH: Route 1 north. Route
1 becomes Lafayette Road, then Middle Street, then Maplewood Avenue.
Right at Hanover Street. Garage is on the right after Fleet Street.
