I am starting to plan my Florida visit for January 2008; any suggestions on which lights along the Gulf Coast I should visit? Thanks.
Darlene

Darlene,

The only lights on the West Coast of Florida that you can just drive up to are Sanibel Island, outside of Ft. Myers, and the 2 lights on Gasparilla Island. The Rear Range light and the Boca Grande Light. Sanibel Island is about a 3 hour drive south of Tampa. Gasparilla island is about 2 hours south of Tampa. The lights around Tampa Bay are all on islands which can only be accessed by boat. Egmont Key can be seen from Ft. Desto park at the southern tip of Pinellas county, you are about a mile away from the light. Anclote Key can be seen from Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs, you are about 1-2 miles away across the sound. If you can find a private boat to take you to either of the islands the grounds near the lights are open, but you can not climb them. On special days Anclote's tower is open to the public for climbing. But it's only 2 or 3 Saturdays a year. The only other light on the west coast in 2 or 3 hours drive is Cedar (Seahorse)Key, but you have to have a boat to even see the light, and the island is closed to the public. Hope this helps a little.

Eric covered what I was going to say. Matter of fact, he covered one of my Florida excursions (Sanibel area).

Did they move St. Marks Lighthouse off of the Gulf Coast of Florida? It is one of my favorites to visit because of the wildlife refuge .. There are several others along the panhandle of Florida that you can visit.. Florida Lighthouses

I realize they aren't near Tampa but if you have come all the way from Lynnwood, WA what's a few more miles..

I think everybody was just assuming Tampa area from the title of the post.

You can get close to Anclote Key by taking one of the regular tour boats out of Tarpon Springs. We did this a few years ago when visiting my brother. You got close enough to take a decent picture.

Mike

I did not include St Marks because its a 5 hour drive each way from Tampa. I agree it's a must see if you are in the panhandle area.

Thanks all. I am figuring I will have about 4 or 5 days to lighthouse after celebrating mom's 85th birthday in Ocala. This gives me a very good idea as I start planning my trip.
Darlene

You are not that far from PONCE or St, Aug. on
the East coast both are open and able to climb.
G
o to www.floridalighthouses.org for more info.
RIP

IF you get to the panhandle, you can see the lantern room of Capt St. George on St. George Island.

Also ground has been broken for the tower and pilings go in soon, followed by the foundation, then the tower itself. It MAY be near completion by January.

Nearby Crooked River is coming along as we speak.

Also nearby San Blas, not sure of current progress, but talk of the gift shop opening soon has been heard.

Well I arrived in Tampa yesterday. Today I drove up to Mount Dora to see the lighthouse there. Private aid to navigation and the only freshwater lighthouse in Florida. Then on to Ocala for a few days with mom. Plan to head to Tallahassee on Tuesday morning to continue my Gulf Coast adventure. Will try to post pictures as I go.
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Make sure you run by St George island and see the construction, ok reconstruction of cape St. George lighthouse.

A stop at St. George would be good. It is now over 13 feet tall and the lantern room is still on ground level for some good close up pictures.

The St. George Island visitor center is also open now. (All in the same place).

I've been to Boca Grande, but not to Sanibel Island or at least not in the last 40 years.

After a few days in Ocala, I headed to Tallahassee to start my Gulf Coast adventure. Today it was windy, rainy and 50 degrees most of the day. I did manage to get a few photos though despite the rain. First stop was St. Joseph Point Lighthouse which is now a private residence; lantern room has been removed.
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Cape San Blas Lighthouse on Elgin Air Force Base was next
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On to St. George Island to photograph the reconstruction of Cape St. George Lighthouse. Unfortunately the visitor's center was closed the day I was there.
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While on the island, I noticed this property titled Lighthouse by the Sea which is available through Resort Vacation Properties of St. George Island
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Crooked River Lighthouse was next
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Then on to St. Marks Lighthouse located in the National Wildlife Refuge
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While there I also was able to photograph a couple egrets
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On to Sanibel Island tomorrow

Photos from the last few days include Sanibel Island Lighthouse; if you go be sure to stop by the Chamber of Commerce if you collect the Lighthouse Passport Stamps

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Boca Grande Lighthouse including the assistant keeper's house and the two wooden cisterns for water; nice museum and gift shop;
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Boca Grande Range Light taken from the beach
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Egmont Key Light -- ferries were closed down for the season so had to settle for a long shot. This was taken from the Gulf Pier area in Fort DeSoto Park
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Anclote Key Light -- took a sightseeing cruise out of Tarpon Springs from the Sponge Docks -- most of the cruises go down the Anclote River past the lighthouse on their way out to the Gulf of Mexico looking for dolphins. No dolphins on this trip just lots of fog around the island
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Well that's the end of this lighthouse adventure

great pictures. I didn't know about the lighthouse on Eglin AFB.

Cool picture of Ancloate (we don't get a lot of fog).

Decided to go back out and try Anclote again today since weather was clear. The boat ride was windy but worth the trip. Also got to see dolphins in the wild as well.
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Thanks all for the help and the comments.

Looks like you had a great trip, Darlene. However, the weather sure doesn't look like Florida. Did you ever have a warm sunny day?

Thanks for taking us along through your pictures.

Larry

Great pics, Darlene !!!

Good to see the progress of the rebuilding of St. George Island lighthouse.

Great pics Darlene, looks like you had a great trip to Florida.

For those of you interested in the rebuilding of Cape St. George Lighthouse, check out their website for frequent updates on the progress.

http://stgeorgelight.org/

Larry, temperatures ranged anywhere from 20 to 70 degrees depending on what part of the state I was in -- mostly in the 60's; did have some sun breaks and a couple of days that seemed warm to me but everyone else was wearing jackets.

Grandma R -- the lighthouse property is behind fences but there is a nice gap you can put your camera through to get some good pictures of the tower. The main road to Cape San Blas is open unless they are involved in a mission; road is easy to miss; drove past it twice

Despite the weather, I had a wonderful trip. Drove a little over 1600 miles, saw 10 lighthouses that I had not seen before and got 3 new stamps for the passport.

Great pictures Darlene. Anclote Key in the fog was an unusual shot, I don't think I've ever seen a picture of a FL light in fog.

Egmont Key Light your long shot was cool too because you could see the lantern shining!

Loved the photos, Darlene. They make me homesick! I still need to go to Egmont Key. Born and raised in St. Petersburg but never was in to lighthouses when I lived there. Next time I visit I have got to find time to go to Egmont Key if I can ever get away from the relatives! There are three lights in the state I have yet to see.

Judy