Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse & Museum, Ponce Inlet

This is a well-kept, clean, and beautiful historic site. I loved the historic explanations making the outbuildings and grounds even more meaningful and educational. The lighthouse is such a gem. The climb is worth it, but it’s quite a climb up the 203 steps - it would be hard to bail out mid-way, so be thoughtful about starting. I would not recommend this for young kids or the elderly. The inside is so well preserved. The gift shop also offers a lovely collection of coastal items. Check out the playground nearby.

I love lighthouses. I live in Florida, and I am visiting as many lighthouses as I can. So far, this is one of the best ones, although I like all of them. The lighthouse is in amazing shape, and the grounds are also in great shape. The lens museum is one of my favorite exhibits, but there are so many different ones in the park. There are 203 brutal steps up to the top, but it is worth every single step. After the 1st 2 levels, we started resting at each level, catching our breath and letting our leg muscles settle down. Going down is much easier, but the angle of the staircase keeps you going slow. The employees in the gift shop are very friendly and love to chat and share lighthouse stories and information. Their knowledge of the lighthouse and it's history is amazing. This is both a very enjoyable and historic place to spend a day. I highly recommend it. For photographers, you get an amazing view from the top of the Atlantic Ocean, two inlets, the surrounding area, and you can even see Cape Canaveral on a clear day. This entire park is funded by donations only. I hope if you visit and love it as much as I do, you will donate if you are able. A little bit can go a long way.