Hillsboro Inlet Light
Hillsboro Inlet Light
4.5
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4.5
48 reviews
Excellent
26
Very good
12
Average
6
Poor
4
Terrible
0
Marie B
37 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
The lighthouse is visible from the Hillsboro Inlet Park. We timed our visit to enjoy a romantic picnic at sunset and watch the light begin to shine. The parking lot fees can only be paid by an incredibly tedious app which required about 6 steps to complete. While we were figuring out how to pay for a parking spot the "meter reader" came by. Our dinner got colder and colder and the sun set didn't wait for us to straighten out something as simple as parking. Call me old fashioned, but what happened to simply popping a couple quarters into a meter? But...the lighthouse with its clamshell Fresnel was beautiful and we were able to snap some photos.
Written 3 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob S
Laconia, NH113 contributions
Mar 2023
Pretty lighthouse but no place to really see it besides the water taxi pick up area. It has select times of the year you can get to it by boat. There is a private golf course that sits right next to it and I bet the pictures from there are great. Took a couple of photos and we were on our way. Not much else to do.
Written 12 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas P M
Texas133 contributions
Nov 2019
We visited this old lighthouse via a wonderful small. Ruise boat down the Intracoastal Waterway. Once we arrived , adjacent to the beach, my wife and I both climbed the
10 story lighthouse to,the top and beheld a magnificent view. The Coast Guard officers who managed thebhixtorical site are as nice and informative as an be.
10 story lighthouse to,the top and beheld a magnificent view. The Coast Guard officers who managed thebhixtorical site are as nice and informative as an be.
Written 11 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tomkat65
Lighthouse Point, FL213 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
Looking at the lighthouse is one of my favorite things to do. it is beautiful to watch the beam rotate out into the night. the area is beautiful to visit and if you get a chance to actually climb the lighthouse, DO IT!
Written 27 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phuzzy
Summerville, SC171 contributions
Apr 2022 • Couples
Great views from the little park near the bridge. Quiet area in a nice setting. Great photo ops. Enjoy.
Written 28 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann H
Fort Lauderdale, FL1,885 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Wow it’s a historical lighthouse. Look up when they have tours. Wear sneakers cause you walk up the spiral steps. It’s awesome to look out to the Atlantic Ocean .
Written 9 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TravelGav
Haslemere, UK487 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
We stopped here after driving up the A1A from Fort Lauderdale. The road over the bridge was closed to traffic so we decided to turn round here. We parked in the car park and paid < $1 to park for about 40 mins and visit the small park area which was neat and tidy and popular with people fishing. We walked up and down the wharf spotting the pelicans. Someone told us there had been a manatee in the water earlier as well as a ray, but we didn't see either. It was a shame we couldn't get across to the lighthouse; we'll have to research the opening days for the next time.
Written 28 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EfficientFrontier
Lighthouse Point, FL115 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Visiting the lighthouse is a fun project, but but it can be difficult to execute. As I understand the problem, the lighthouse is on a Coast Guard base surrounded by a private beach club so the only public access is by water.
About once a month The Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society runs a water shuttle to get to the lighthouse, Check the website for the schedule and the cost of the water shuttle. It could be an expensive family outing.
When you get to the lighthouse on the water shuttle you can climb the lighthouse; great views, as you might guess. There is a small, but interesting, display of memorabilia and history. Also grass and some picnicking; you do need to bring your own supplies. It is my understanding other then the days of the water shuttle the lighthouse is not usually open to the public.
The preservation society also runs a small gift shop / museum related to the lighthouse and it is easily accessible. The the gift shop / museum is located in Hillsborough Inlet Park which is just south of the inlet and lighthouse. (The park is east of A1A just south of the inlet.) As of the writing of this review the website says it is open four hours a day three days a week, but I would call to confirm.
Hillsborough Inlet Park has some parking and is an excellent place to take photos of the lighthouse. If you don't want to or can not spend the time and money to get to the lighthouse consider just going to the park. Views of the lighthouse from the park, across the inlet, are great; they are also free!
About once a month The Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society runs a water shuttle to get to the lighthouse, Check the website for the schedule and the cost of the water shuttle. It could be an expensive family outing.
When you get to the lighthouse on the water shuttle you can climb the lighthouse; great views, as you might guess. There is a small, but interesting, display of memorabilia and history. Also grass and some picnicking; you do need to bring your own supplies. It is my understanding other then the days of the water shuttle the lighthouse is not usually open to the public.
The preservation society also runs a small gift shop / museum related to the lighthouse and it is easily accessible. The the gift shop / museum is located in Hillsborough Inlet Park which is just south of the inlet and lighthouse. (The park is east of A1A just south of the inlet.) As of the writing of this review the website says it is open four hours a day three days a week, but I would call to confirm.
Hillsborough Inlet Park has some parking and is an excellent place to take photos of the lighthouse. If you don't want to or can not spend the time and money to get to the lighthouse consider just going to the park. Views of the lighthouse from the park, across the inlet, are great; they are also free!
Written 15 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
zippo46
New Hampshire326 contributions
Mar 2017 • Couples
This lighthouse is only open about once per month and to get there you have to take a boat ride, which is about 20-minutes long. Once you arrive at the lighthouse you may have to wait in line to climb to the top because they only allow 8 people at a time inside the lighthouse. When you climb to the top you get a great view of the surrounding area. We were lucky enough to get to go up into the lantern room, which only rarely open, to see the size 2, bivalve, Fresnel lens. Multiple volunteers were available to control access and answer questions.
Written 11 March 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jerri W
Winter Springs, Florida, United States134 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
I have seen over 200 lighthouses and even though I have only seen this one from the beach, I had never been able to schedule a climb, until now! The whole process was flawless, from the Hillsboro Preservation Society setting up the tours, to Linda Peck returning my phone calls, to the boat ride to the light, to the Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers!! It was a perfect day! I drove down from Winter Springs, made it in 3 hours to the boat dock and took the 10AM boat tour. Its was about a 20 minute ride with Larry being our funny, informative tour guide! Once on the island, the volunteers were very helpful, you can even bring chairs, cooler, etc, to spend a couple of hours here! We waited a short time to climb the lighthouse, all 175 steps! There are landings in between flights to rest and windows open to allow a breeze in! At the top is the most beautiful view of the Florida Reef and beach! Boats return to the dock on the 1/2 hour. Then we got a free drink coupon for the Sands Harbor Patio Restaurant when we got back! The cost is $25 a person, but worth every penny if you make a day of it! I have seen A LOT of lights and this will go down as one of my favorites!
Written 18 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the lighthouse open at this time ? Are we allowed to climb the lighthouse ?
Written 16 July 2020
I don’t know.
The virus has changed access to many places.
Written 16 July 2020
How often do the boats leave to visit the lighthouse. We will be down here on April 17th.
Written 17 March 2018
Hello,
I tried to copy/paste a link the website and, send their email address. Trip Advisor does not allow website links in responses. Their website will answer your questions. Hope you enjoy your visit!
Written 18 March 2018
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