Barnegat Lighthouse State Park

The 172-foot red-and-white lighthouse known as Old Barney sits at the very tip of Long Beach Island, where Barnegat Inlet meets the Atlantic Ocean. Designed by Lt. George G. Meade and first lit on January 1, 1859, the structure was built to guide ships past the swift currents and shifting sandbars that made this stretch of coastline one of the most dangerous navigational passages on the East Coast. Climbing the 217 steps to the catwalk puts you above the rooftops with an open look across Barnegat Bay to the west and the Atlantic to the east. The lighthouse is open daily Memorial Day through Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting.

Beyond the climb, the park has a few reasons to linger. The Interpretive Center, adjacent to the lighthouse, covers the history of the light from its early shipwreck era through the preservation campaigns that saved it from coastal erosion. The Maritime Forest Trail is a short self-guided loop through one of the last remnants of maritime forest remaining on Long Beach Island, with interpretive signs on the birds and plants found there. Picnic tables sit along Barnegat Inlet, and the park is a recognized spot for birding, particularly during spring and fall migrations. The park grounds are free to enter; there is a small fee to climb the lighthouse tower during the summer season.

For riders coming down Long Beach Island's main boulevard, the park is the natural end of the road. Parking is straightforward in the lot at the park entrance. The ride back off the island retraces the causeway, so plan on the same open-water crossing both ways — fine in calm conditions, exposed to crosswinds when it's blowing.