Marblehead Lighthouse

Should Marblehead, Massachusetts, be your next adventure, be sure to stop by the Marblehead Lighthouse and Chandler Hovey Park. Another gem tucked away at the end of Marblehead, the Chandler Hovey Park is a fabulous destination. While this beautiful park has many qualities on its own, the main attraction is the Marblehead Lighthouse.

Built in 1896, the lighthouse is a 105-foot, cast-iron, pyramidal skeletal lighthouse. The Marblehead Lighthouse has such a unique appearance that not only is it one of only 14 in the country, it is the only one of its kind in New England.

Although the lighthouse is spectacular to see, it is not the only reason to head to Chandler Hovey Park. The park itself is a wonderful place to spend the day with family or friends. With ADA-accessibility and a great place for kids, Chandler Hovey Park is a wide open area with benches, a restroom and lots of views to enjoy. Covered with grassy areas, the park is an ideal spot to have a picnic and watch the boats sailing by. There are also two sheltered areas with benches on either side of the park where you can enjoy the park while staying in the shade.

If you want to get down to the water from the park, there is an access point. However, it is a bit dangerous to climb down. You must walk or climb down big, flat rocks and cross a pebbled beach. Though dangerous, it does provide another view of the lighthouse, and once down below you can put your feet in the water or go for a swim. If you plan on swimming in that spot, be mindful of boats sailing by.

There is a large parking lot in the Chandler Hovey Park. This lot does fill up fast, but there is also plenty of on-street parking.