Saturday, February 7 from Sands Harbor Resort
8 shuttle boats, starting at 8:30am mark the February 7th tour of the Hillsboro Light Station.
A current Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society (HLPS) (single, family, business or lifetime) membership or a $25 per person transportation fee payable at the dock is required for the boat ride from the Sands Harbor dock in Pompano Beach. Alternatively, you can prepay via Paypal (please bring a copy of your receipt to the dock with you), for one of the following levels (one-year membership, except as noted).
- Individual – $25
- Family – $50 (for up to two adults and their children (age 18 and under) – Please Note: grandchildren are not eligible for admission under a family membership)
- Business – $100
- Lifetime – One-time payment of $500 or more.
Parking is across the street from the Sands in the Pompano Beach City (pay) lot.
Membership includes boat transportation to and from the lighthouse on tour days, our quarterly newsletter, and free admission to all HLPS programs and lectures.
Tours are first-come, first-serve, and the first boat of the day usually fills up, leaving the dock at approximately 8:30am, and again at the bottom of every hour until the tour ends, returning from the lighthouse at the top of each hour. Sailing times for this tour are available on our Web page.
The tour does include the boat ride to and from the dock, a walking tour of the grounds, access to the beach (some choose to picnic) and the lighthouse tower, along with your option to climb the 175 steps up the circular stairway to the observation platform, which has successfully been done by lighthouse enthusiasts from age 6 to 93. However, since the lighthouse is an active aid to navigation, the lens room is locked and is inaccessible. There are also chairs on the property for sitting and a gazebo as well, but feel free to bring beach chairs. HLPS also sells water, but does not sell food.
In addition, the following rules apply to climb the lighthouse:
- No bare feet – no flip-flops or clogs
- Appropriate closed-toed footwear (USCG requirement) must be worn and must fit firmly on your feet
- No back-packs – but we will safeguard yours for your trip to the top
- Camera cases are allowed, but we recommend that they be worn across the chest to prevent accidental damage
- Children must be 48 inches tall and be accompanied by an adult.
The HLPS Museum is also open on Tour days from 9am to 3pm, which is located at the Hillsboro Inlet Park on A1A at 2700 N. Ocean Boulevard in Pompano Beach. You?ll need to stop by the museum separately, before or after your visit to the lighthouse. In addition, the museum is also open Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10am until 2 pm on most days, or you can contact Judy Knoebel, our Lighthouse Museum Manager at museum@hillsborolighthouse.org to arrange a private visit.
All dates and times, and the tour boat location are subject to change, including cancellation due to inclement weather, Any updates to the schedule can be found at HLPS web site at www.hillsborolighthouse.org/tours.
About Tours
Hillsboro Lighthouse is an active aid to navigation, and it is only via special dispensation from the Department of Homeland Security and the United States Coast Guard that the Hillsboro Lighthouse Preservation Society, an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is able to have up to 12 tours per year of the Hillsboro Inlet Light Station and open the grounds to the public. Future dates and details can be found on our Web page.
Sands Harbor Resort and Marina
For over 50 years, Sands Harbor Resort has been a South Florida landmark and a premier vacation destination, and is a long time friend of HLPS.
Parking for HLPS tours is across the street from the Sands Harbor (125 N. Riverside Drive, Pompano Beach, FL 33062) at the Pompano Beach City Lot (pay lot). Sands Harbor can be reached by dialing toll-free at 800-227-3353, or via email at sands@sandsharbor.com.
Click here for Google maps.