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Nobska Point Lighthouse

4.7 (43 reviews)

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Christina F.

Situated atop a little hill is this delightful lighthouse overlooking Nobska beach. Enter through a little white picket fence and ascend the short pathway to the top. You will catch a view of Martha's Vineyard from here. Although it was not open to tour when we came by, this would be one that I would definitely go into. It was so peaceful and inviting, we loved it. Parking is limited. Handicap spaces available.

Looking up the tower as you climb
Sara M.

This is our favorite lighthouse anywhere. We have visited this area for over 50 years and have always been outside, just viewing. But the lighthouse, though still a working light, has now been restored with very limited tours inside the tower as well as some historical displays inside the house. We were lucky to hit it just at the right time. The guides are well informed and very welcoming. The adjacent beach is one we have frequented also. The view from the top of the tower was amazing. The original Fresnel lens is still there and working and the guide up at the top is so full of info, he could talk to you forever on the tech aspects as well as the history. Apparently he has been put on a timer for tour groups, so don't be surprised if you hear his alarm. It's a decent climb but doable even for me, not the most athletic anymore and a tight enclosed area but well worth it. The view from the portholes at the top allow you to see the passage buoys for the Island ferries, often a ferry going by, and you can see Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. Nantucket is too far. Currently they are only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays with only a few tours midday. You need a ticket reserved if you want to go up the tower. In the house itself, there are some nice pictorial displays and a cute gift shop, with books, shirts and hats and various memorabilia. Do stop in as the staff there is incredibly helpful and nice too. We were so lucky we got to see it all. Not really surprising as this particular place of Falmouth/Woods Hole has always been our luckiest spot.

It was cute ... while driving by. Less than a handful of parking spots that didn't open up during our two passes by, and no room to even wait for a spot to open. This wouldn't have been on our list today if we knew that parking sucked.

Window
Lisa M.

Got to stand next to a Fresnel lens. So happy to see this place beautiful restored after so many years. The staff there are knowledgeable and very friendly. Tours sell quickly and are small groups. Parking is very limited. The views are absolutely stunning. Will definitely be going back again once the museum is fully finished.

Sue B.

We drove along the picturesque coastline of Cape Cod until we came across the Nobska Lighthouse set on a hill with breathtaking views of the ocean. The grounds are spotless and the buildings have been perfectly restored. This must be the most enchanting place at sunset and I can well imagine lots of wonderful moments have taken place here. If you venture across the road, you'll follow a short path to a lovely monument and incredible views of the shimmering ocean. Whether you're a history buff, a nature enthusiast, or simply seeking a moment of serenity by the sea, a visit to this iconic landmark promises an experience that's nothing short of magical. What a fabulous place to be a lighthouse keeper!

Nobska Point Lighthouse
Jesse L. R.

A beautiful, scenic lighthouse that you can walk right up to. Parking can be a bit of a nightmare anime it is located on a corner as well as a hill... The lighthouse itself is full of the charm you would expect from a New England lighthouse. Easy to get to and well worth stopping by. Be sure to check out all the other attractions in Falmouth and Woods Hole (especially the aquarium).

Nobska Point Light
Jennifer M.

The Cape is well known for their countless lighthouses, so we decided to swing by and check this one out while we were in town. It was a quick visit, as it is right on the corner of a hilly street. We were able to pull over in front of it and snap a few pictures. We would have gotten out but there was a huge bridal party there having their photos taken. Loved the fact that you didn't have to walk a mile to get to it and were close enough to see it's beauty right from the car!

Pete F.

Short and sweet. A nice drive by view of a light house for the family. Great photo op on the cape. No hike needed. The beach also looked beautiful but we don't walk it due to the rain. The houses around it are beautiful also. Quintessential Cape Cod.

Sunrise on the Bay
Nhi B.

3.5 Stars A lighthouse is a lighthouse is lighthouse. For all intents and purposes, Nobska Point Lighthouse is a nice place to stop if you're on a drive or a bike ride. It has gorgeous views of the water and landscape of Woods Hole. If you're a photographer, you'll definitely get a lot of pretty shots here. You can't go up the lighthouse or into the lighthouse keeper's house, but you can walk right up to the base of the light. We went early on Valentine's Day to catch the sunrise and it was absolutely breath-taking and romantic. There's a small parking lot available that's convenient and it's a three minute drive away from a public beach and some bike trails. Overall, worth a visit if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way for it.

Tammy K.

What an absolutely beautiful spot! If you're out in this area this lighthouse is a must see. Unfortunately the lighthouse itself was closed due to the covid but we more than enjoyed looking around and then sitting at spot across the street. I cannot imagine how stunning it must be at sunset.

Brian S.

A light that still shines The first light established on Nobska Point was in 1828 and the present light was constructed in 1876. The tower is 40 feet high but seems much taller and presently has a 4th order Fresnel Lens. This is the light you see when you are returning to Woods Hole from the Vineyard, Nantucket or anywhere south. It looks especially beautiful at dawn or dust and if it is hazy or cloudy the light seems to hover in the air. Nobska is a lighthouse that looks more impressive from a distance or in bad weather. The grounds to the light are open and there is a little parking area right in front that allows you to get out and walk around and take pictures of the lighthouse. Of course great views of the ocean can be seen in all directions. The large building next to the lighthouse used to be the keeper's house and is now used by the Coast Guard and is never open to the public. No museum or gift shop, just the light itself. Occasionally the Coast Guard does give tours on the inside of the light but the schedule is irregular. Call or hit the web site to find out exactly when the light will be open.

Dan R.

I love this lighthouse! This lighthouse is the hidden gem of lighthouses on Cape! This lighthouse located in Woods Hole is situated on top of the hill that over looks Martha's Vineyard and Woods Hole. This lighthouse has a phenomenal view, and the history surrounding this lighthouse is interesting as well. I love to go to Nobska when it is snowing, and enjoy listening to the crashing waves and fog horn.

George H.

First off, let me just say that THIS IS NOT the lighthouse on the cape cod chips as is mentioned in one of the reviews here. That lighthouse is the Nauset lighthouse in Eastham. They are not even the same colours for crying out loud! The Nauset lighthouse is red and white, as are the Capecod chips. And this lighthouse is black and white. Having got that out of my system, let me proceed to the rest of my review. The Parking spot is small and comes up on you suddenly, but just drive along past the light house and you will find more cars parked along the Nobska beach. It feels a bit hazardous to walk from there to the light house because of all the blind curves, but we survived. The light house is very picturesque, and photographs well. We also hopped across to the tiny memorial garden of sorts and took great pictures. I highly recommend taking the time to visit this very pretty lighthouse if you are in the neighbourhood with an hour to spare, like we did.

view of the lighthouse

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11 years ago

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15 years ago

Great view, and a good spot for sunset and picnics on the table rocks below.

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16 years ago

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Review Highlights - Nobska Point Lighthouse

We were treated to views of Martha's Vineyard, Woods Hole, ferries passing by and even a seal swimming.

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Woods Hole Town - Sara at  the drawbridge on Water Street

Woods Hole Town

4.5(6 reviews)
1.2 mi

We have lived here in the past and always take an opportunity to visit when we can. It is for…read moretourists, locals, scientists at both the MBL and WHOI and part of the greater Falmouth area. If you are going to Cape Cod, definitely stop here. If you need a ferry to the Islands off of the Cape you will most likely use Woods Hole. We spent a full year and an additional summer here when my husband was a visiting scientist att he MBL. In a town of "initials" MBL is the Marine Biological Laboratory and WHOI is the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, the two biggest facilities in town, though there are others. The centers surround Eel Pond and the town main street is naturally, Water Street, with access to the labs, to shops, to restaurants, the harbor, both fir research vessels as well as the ferries. There is a lot to do and see. No vacation on Cape Cod is complete without a visit here. I will include separate reviews of the many places we have used in the past and will certainly use again when we are able to get here from Colorado where we live now, landlocked.

I was unfortunately only a short time in Woods Hole. It's an interesting city, mix of both new and…read moreold. Small town feel but cutting edge. It's home to a lot of different scientific institutes including Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the Marine Biological Laboratory, the Woods Hole Research Center, NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center (which started the Woods Hole scientific community in 1871), the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, a USGS coastal and marine geology center, and the home campus of the Sea Education Association. The views like in most towns I visited on my vacation is spectacular, another wonderful little stop in my trip thru Cape Cod.

Photos
Woods Hole Town - Research vessel

Research vessel

Woods Hole Town - Dock with research vessel

Dock with research vessel

Woods Hole Town - Dock with research vessel

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Dock with research vessel

Nine Men's Misery - Boulders left by the glaciers. Photos by Anna K.

Nine Men's Misery

5.0(2 reviews)
49.7 mi

The oldest of…read morethe old King Philip's War was a nasty affair with atrocities and lots of horrible things occurring on both the Native American and English sides. Towns were burned and people murdered. No quarter was asked and none was given. One particularly brutal incident was called Nine Men's Misery. It started on March 20, 1676, when Capt Piece of the colonists let a group of troops after what was left of the Narragansett Tribe. The troops got a bit too over confident and walked right into an ambush and were slaughtered by the Narragansetts. Virtually all of the troops were killed but nine managed to survive the battle and were captured, tortured and then killed. Not exactly unexpected considering what the English were doing to the Narragansetts. Most of their villages were burned and the women and children executed . When other English troops found the bodies of the dead captives. they immediately buried the bodies and put up a monument site of rocks over the graves so the memory of the incident would never be forgotten. The pile of rocks have been tended to ever since and is now considered the oldest veterans memorial in the country. It's not exactly an exciting or aesthetically stunning memorial but it an extremely spooky and fascinating place to hike out and actually find. The area has lots of cool hiking trails besides the one leading to the memorial but the bugs are incredibly bad in these woods. Lovely stone walls and beautiful trees, this would probably be a great place for a winter or fall hike. A thoughtful place to reflect and remember what it was like back then during these horrible wars. Right and wrong, good and evil are just words. Pain, death and suffering was the reality.

This place holds a special place in my heart. My father and I used to walk here when I was young.read more

Photos
Nine Men's Misery - Some scruffy people in these woods

Some scruffy people in these woods

Nine Men's Misery - The grave is marked by the pile of rocks

The grave is marked by the pile of rocks

Nine Men's Misery - Lots of nice hiking trails

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Lots of nice hiking trails

Ponyhenge

Ponyhenge

4.0(16 reviews)
70.3 mi

What a concept! We need more whimsy like this in our lives. It's literally off the side of the road…read morewhich is awesome. You basically just pull over to park and hop out. There's horses old and new, all perfectly aligned in two circles. Clearly this has to be kept by someone because they're all perfectly arranged, and I'm thinking about how easily wind,rain, and other weather conditions could effect them, meanwhile they're all in fantastic condition.

Ponyhenge! Because why not? Someone either has a wicked sense of humor or too many rocking horses…read moreon hand. Either way, they created a public art exhibit and I am loving it! So many rocking horses. Big. Small. Wood. Plastic. Pink. Brown. I shared photos with family and one of them said it was 'creepy'. Ha! A bunch of children's rocking horses, in a random rural field, arranged in a circle? Sure, I can see how you might see that as creepy! Hahaha. I found it a delightful bit of whimsy and am SO happy to share in the fun. The site is maintained by whomever is our host. The circle was mowed making it easy to walk around and enjoy. The pathways to the site, which is very close to the street, are also kept clear. It's definitely off the beaten path and worth the extra time because the drive in is on lovely, windy, tree lined, back roads. A nice break from highway driving. Parking is roadside. Please do not park in the driveway next to the henge as that is someone's driveway. Go have some fun. Or go creep yourself out. Which ever way you see it, it's totally worth a stop!

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Ponyhenge - Rocking horse @ Ponyhenge.

Rocking horse @ Ponyhenge.

Ponyhenge
Ponyhenge - England  has Stonehenge, America has Ponyhenge. It's a herd of Rocking Horses that mysteriously multiplies & rearranges itself in Lincoln MA

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England has Stonehenge, America has Ponyhenge. It's a herd of Rocking Horses that mysteriously multiplies & rearranges itself in Lincoln MA

Nobska Point Lighthouse - localflavor - Updated May 2026

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