9 Lighthouses to Explore in Florida

Checkout places to visit in Florida

Florida

Florida is distinctive for its large Cuban expatriate community and high population growth, as well as for its increasing environmental issues. The state's economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture, and transportation, which developed in the late 19th century. Florida is also renowned for amusement parks, orange crops, winter vegetables, the Kennedy Space Center.

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Lighthouses to Explore in Florida

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Recreation Area occupies approximately the southern third of the island of Key Biscayne. This park includes the Cape Florida Lighthouse, the oldest standing structure in Greater Miami. it was ranked as having the 8th best beach in the country.

Boca Chita Key

Boca Chita Key is the island north of the upper Florida Keys in Biscayne National Park, Miami-Dade County, There is a beautiful lighthouse located in this island and a campground with picnic tables and saltwater toilets. Freshwater and electricity are not available in this island.

Cape Florida Lighthouse

Standing tall and majestically along the south end of the Key Biscayne shoreline, the Cape Florida lighthouse is a staggering sight. It’s a beautiful piece of history and it’s a treasure that has withstood more than its share of wear and tear over the decades. The lighthouse was put back into use in 1978 by the U.S. Coast Guard to mark the Florida Channel, the deepest natural channel into Biscayne Bay. They decommissioned it in 1990.

Egmont Key Lighthouse

Egmont Key Lighthouse is a historic lighthouse located in Hillsborough County. Its construction was completed in 1858 and it has been under National Park Service protection since in 1998. The lighthouse stands at an impressive 71 feet tall and provides a unique ambiance to the beaches of the area, where locals and tourists explore its ruins for a glimpse into the past. Even after its decommissioning in 1958, this Lighthouse continues to serve as an iconic symbol of Hillsborough.

Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge

Located on Egmont Key, at the mouth of Tampa Bay, it can only be reached by boat or ferry. The Egmont Key Lighthouse and the ruins of Fort Dade, a Spanish–American War era fort, are located in the park. The entire 328 acres (133 ha) island is actually part of Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge.

Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse

This Lighthouse stands over 75 feet tall in the Pompano Beach. Completed in 1907, it was initially lit to help guide ships around the shallow reefs of the inlet of the same name. The lighthouse is still an important navigational landmark today, and remains a beloved part of the Broward County with its whitewashed walls, beige trim and bright red door. Tours are available from April through October each year that offer visitors insight into the fascinating history of this timeless lighthouse.

Key West Lighthouse

The Key West Lighthouse is an iconic sight and a local landmark. Standing tall atop its brick round foundation at the southernmost point of the United States, it offers stunning landscape views and a mesmerizing beam of white light that shines for miles across the night sky. It stands 80 feet tall and was built in 1847. During its lifetime, it has undergone several renovations to repair damages from numerous hurricanes, yet remains steadfastly standing on its hillside with great conviction.

Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum

The first lighthouse for what is now the Ponce de Leon Inlet was built on the south side of Mosquito Inlet in 1835.

Sand Key Lighthouse

The Sand Key Lighthouse is a unique and iconic location. Standing 21 feet tall, it was built on Sand Key island in 1852 to guide ships into the Key West harbor. Since then, it has undergone multiple renovations and remains a favorite stop for locals and tourists alike. Visitors can take in magnificent views of the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico from the base of the lighthouse as well as hike along walking trails on the island.

Map of Lighthouses to explore in Florida