Such Great Heights: Absecon Lighthouse

Climbing the Absecon lighthouse has been on mom's list of NJ things to do for a while (it's the tallest lighthouse in NJ and the country's third tallest), but it can be hard to get us off of the beach once we are there.  The beginning of our spring break last week brought a little bit of cooler weather at the shore, so we took the opportunity to check out the historic lighthouse, which is right downtown in AC.  I'm not sure why mommy thought trying to climb 228 stairs up with the two of us by herself was going to work out, but once she gets something like that in her head, you better just do it.  And we did.

I wasn't into it at first and mom carried me up about the first 100 steps.  There are six landings to stop at along the way, which was good for everyone.  Kane developed a sudden fear of heights and the see-through metal grated stairs didn't help that situation.  But he did walk up the entire way.  And we were rewarded with a great view of the city and ocean.  Although neither of us really wanted to stay outside very long - it was COLD.  Mom also suddenly realized it might not be the safest place in a world for two small children -- suspended in a metal cage some 160 feet up in the air.  Eh.

Unfortunately, it wasn't really until we got all the way up to the top that mom realized going down was going to present a bigger problem than getting us up there.  The winding staircase is narrow and the three of us couldn't fit all together.  And of course Kane decided he needed to be carried down, too.  Mom carried me all the way and both of us the last 50 stairs -- kicking and screaming.  But, all in all, it was a cool un-AC thing to check out - and a good workout for mom.

The lighthouse is also close to the Atlantic City Aquarium and Historic Gardner's Basin if you're in the area and looking for some other things to do or a good place to catch a bite to eat.

you're kidding, right?

looking towards Brigantine

original lens

stopping to smell the flowers