Named after the clipper ship Carrier Pigeon which ran aground in 1853, Pigeon Point and its lighthouse is a great day out for lovers of history, nature and navigation.

A brilliant light flashes from Pigeon Point lighthouse (photo Mila Zinkova)

The 115-foot tower is one of the tallest in the US and was originally illuminated by an oil lamp, which was replaced by a 1,000w Fresnel Lens in 1926, when the lighthouse was electrified. That lens is still there today, complete with 24 flash panels, and if you time your visit right, you might even see it illuminated, providing some 500,000 candlepower.

Unfortunately, the lighthouse itself is closed to the public but you can still take a tour of the ground, which are fascinating in their own right. Looking down to the rocks below, visitors often see seals and gray whales passing by, along with a huge variety of birds which make the adjoined national park their home.

Most brilliantly of all, the old lighthouse keeper’s quarters have been converted into a charming hostel, complete with free wifi and stunning views of the ocean. See http://www.norcalhostels.org/pigeon/ for further details.