Sunday, July 26, 2009

Sandy Hook, yes it is.

After leaving the Navesink Lighthouse, we headed across the bridge over to Sandy Hook. The traffic leaving the state park was backed up over a mile, everyone by this time of night was trying to leave. We on the other hand, were trying to get in!



Sandy Hook Lighthouse

We traveled about 3/4 of the way out the peninsula and finally found the light. Wouldn't you know it, the same family we met up in the Highlands were following us to Sandy Hook as well! We couldn't believe the traffic, wonder how long it was going to take us to get out? (keep in mind, we still have no place to stay tonight!)


More of the Sandy Hook light

We stayed a bit and snapped a few photos before we decided to move along and try our luck on one of the beaches. We came across these "battery" is what the sign said. They really peaked our interest. If you'd like to know more information about the Sandy Hook Lighthouse and surrounding area,
please click HERE or click HERE!


battery, I think?

We really struck gold on the tip of Sandy Hook. Wow. It was a long, long trek in some very soft sand. In the words of Taylor, my 3 year old, "Mommy, this is like exercise class!" It was horrid trying to walk through that, but boy was the view worth it! From the beach we got some awesome closer views of the NYC skyline, as well as two more lights, the Romer Shoal Light, and the West Bank Lighthouse.


Romer Shoal Light is only located 2.4 miles due north of the northern tip of Sandy Hook in Lower New York Bay.


West Bank Lighthouse is west of the Romer Shoal Light in the Lower New York Bay.

While enjoying the view, we were surprised by an unexpected visitor that came passing by...



...this HUGE Ocean Liner came cruising by, nearly 100 yards off shore! The wake alone created a tsunami effect that sent us running back from the water's edge.

We gathered some shells, but left this "shell" alone. At this point we didn't know what we had found yet, but we would learn later on the beach in front of us was loads of Horseshoe Crab. As much as Taylor wanted to pick them up, we had no way of transporting that thing.


A female Horseshoe Crab Carcass on the beach.

Time was slipping away, and we had the task of finding a place for our heads for the night, one last shot of the beautiful bay, then off we went.


The calm before the storm.

If you refer back to my post about the Navesink Lighthouse, this lighthouse and surrounding military base is definitely in the same category. It is on my list of places we need to visit again! Maybe if (or when) we visit NYC we can make a stop back here?

So now we're driving into the night. GPS both helps and hurts. No matter if we used it or not, we could not find the motel we were planning on staying at for the night. When the GPS said we arrived, we were in the middle of a mall parking lot. Humm, maybe its under that asphalt?

Plan B, find a different motel. After getting the jerk around by Red Roof Inn* (litterally, the "boy" was a jerk!)we found our haven....Days Inn in Neptune, NJ.

*ok, side note...why publish coupons when you are NOT going to honor them?? I had 3 Red Roof Inn coupons and the "dude" behind the counter didn't know how to use the computer, so he didn't know how to enter the codes in to give us the discount. Come on?? The only code he said he knew was the AAA discount. He was such a tool, I took my coupons and left, thank goodness I did!

Drum roll please....THIS was WAY better than Red Roof Inn!


Days Inn...our #1 pick, look, our room was so cute!

The staff, the price, the location, brand new rooms...all were an A++ here! It was late, almost 9:30 pm, we haven't ate since lunch at noon, and we are DEAD TIRED! The woman behind the counter gave us a super great rate and even pointed us in the direction of our favorite pizza splurge..Papa John's! She even gave me a great map and directions for the following day on short cuts to the best beach!



Papa John's Pizza...the good ole' days.

Hands down, Days Inn in Neptune, NJ. If we're in the area again, we will look you up! I even told the woman we'd see her next year as I took a business card. So the end of the day, all is well that ends well.

Up and at them at 7 am for a super breakfast, and it was free! Off to the beach we go for a relaxing day in the sun, but that's for later!

Until next time...

30 comments:

Michelle said...

That looks like a blast. I live in Maine which is Light House central!

Elizabeth D. said...

Wow, sounds like a fun trip. Love the sunset pictures, looks just beautiful. Thanks for sharing!

Crystalin Dunn said...

Ahhhh, it's the little things that make trips memorable, like really nice people who just WANT to help you out because they LIKE to go the extra mile. I'm glad your story has a happy ending(along with the happy filling in the middle!) Your lighthouse trips sound great.

said...

Gorgeous photos. Love that one of the crab!

Congrats on your SITS day!

Pam said...

Congrats on being SITS FB! Enjoy your day in the spotlight.

Great photos. We have lots of lighthouses and horseshoes crabs in RI, too! Hope you get here some day to them.

A Fist Full of Dandelions said...

Great photos of the lighthouses!

Karen, author of "My Funny Dad, Harry" said...

That Days Inn looks great and a free breakfast is a big plus!

Beautiful picture os the sunset in the bay. It looks so relaxing! Don't know though that I'd be too relaxed not having a place to stay the night lined up. I like things all planned out ahead myself. I'm not much of an adventurer.

Creative Junkie said...

I absolutely LOVE lighthouses - I did a calendar of them one year and it's still one of my favorites.

Christina McKinney said...

Stopping by from SITS! GREAT photos! I love lighthouses! Thanks for sharing your blog with us today!

Laura said...

Once again..beautiful Pics..Im from NY so I love the pics of the skyline...THe lighthouses are beautiful and i have a few from Marthas Vineyard. You have a lovely family..thanks for sharing!!

http://mybde.blogspot.com

seven thirty three said...

Thank you so much for sharing your adventure!

Kim said...

Happy SITS day! I love to travel too! If you ever get a chance to travel to Aruba, they have a great lighthouse as well!

Julie Link said...

do you have lighthouse pics all over your house!?

Anonymous said...

Looks like a great time!! Lighthouses are a pretty cool thing to take pics of, do you collect them as well? Happy SITS Day!

Brandi said...

I absolutely love Sandy Hook. Being from NJ, my fifth grade class took a trip there one day. I made the mistake of reading Sandy Hook Ghost Stories on the way down -- needless to say I was a bit freaked out about going in to some places. But I love that whole area. It's so beautiful.

Nicole @ WhenDidIBecomeMyMom.com said...

Good thing the red roof guy was a jerk - you ended up in a better place! nice pics. :-)

Mrsbear said...

The photos are great. I love the one of the bay, the flat water is lovely, peaceful. Glad you finally found a place to put your head down.

Jenn Erickson said...

Your children are so lucky to have the opportunity to travel and see the country with all its beauty and diversity. What a gift! I know that I benefited from my parents' love for adventure and travel, and it played a tremendous role in the development of what I'd like to think are some of my best qualities as an adult.

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Thanks for the mini vaca!

Happy SITS Day!

Anonymous said...

Hi there -
Happy SITS day - enjoy it!!!

You know, I live in NY and I have never been to Sandy Hook. You would never think - as a NYer that there are places that serene as those in your photos of the bay. I gotta get the clan (5 of them and the husband) on a trip to Sandy Hook!

Have a wonderful day!!

Cristina

SPEAKING FROM THE CRIB said...

we took a trip to beaufort SC where there was a beautiful lighthouse and historical grounds. love those kinds of vacas!

HAPPY SITS DAY!

Mrs. Match said...

Beautiful pics. Makes me homesick for my hometown in Oregon, by the sea with all the lighthouses...sigh.

Unknown said...

Another great trip! LOL about the GPS! Happy SITS day! Loved your blog, becoming a follower!

Cheryl said...

How fun!

Taylor K said...

I love lighthouses! They're so romantic. Nice name choice for your daughter! ;)

Bramblemoon Farm said...

I love lighthouses, and this is a beautiful! We have a lot of pretty ones in Michigan as you know:)

Anonymous said...

Oh, I also love lighthouses. The best one for me so far was Portland Headlight in Portland, Maine. It was lovely.

You take great pics! Loving your blog.

Claudya Martinez said...

I've never seen a crab like that! Crazy.

One of my Hobby Blogs said...

what a great place, what a beautiful place to visit! (sits)

Sandra Wilkes said...

I just returned from St. Simons Island, GA and the central point is the lighthouse. Love it.....and girl, you are SO worthy. Now don't say you're not!
Sandra