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JON S. CORZINE |
VIRGINIA S.
BAUER |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact:
Karen Wolfe |
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Annual Lighthouse Challenge Illuminates Trenton—Marvel at the beauty of the eleven state lighthouses slated to light up the coastline the weekend of October 14-15 for the 7th Annual New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge. This exciting event draws thousands of visitors each year to admire these silent sentinels of the sea. “While it takes a bit of planning and devotion to visit all eleven lighthouses in the two days, this is a wonderful opportunity to visit important and historic places that are part of our coastal heritage,” said Commerce Secretary Virginia Bauer. “The Lighthouse Challenge also promotes our healthy coastline and natural areas of beauty, all while attracting valuable tourists and visitors to the Jersey Shore.” During the weekend, all eleven lighthouses will be open for visitation to promote New Jersey’s beacons, familiarize visitors with the locations and encourage them to return and further explore the various areas. Participating lighthouses include: Sandy Hook, Twin Lights, Sea Girt, Barnegat, Tuckerton, Absecon, Hereford Inlet, Cape May, East Point, Finn’s Point and Tinicum. “New Jersey is the proud home to some of the oldest and historically noteworthy lighthouses ever constructed,” said Nancy Byrne, executive director of the NJ Office of Travel & Tourism. “I encourage residents and visitors to explore these beautiful beacons of the Garden State’s shore areas.” Each participating lighthouse will have its own souvenir to commemorate the visit, compliments of the New Jersey Lighthouse Society. Collect the complete set of 11 souvenirs and receive a special completion souvenir. A limited supply of commemorative T-Shirts and pins will be available for purchase at several of the lighthouses. This year, the New Jersey Lighthouse Society had added a new bonus to the Challenge – night climbs! Sandy Hook, Absecon, Cape May and Tinicum will be open from 6pm – 8pm on Saturday, October 14. Visitors will see the lights in operation and have the chance to climb the towers for nighttime views of the surrounding skylines. Additionally, a special “night climb” souvenir will be available at the four sites. Admission charges and other limitations are decided by the participating organizations at each lighthouse. Some of the sites will have activities throughout the weekend, which do not happen during the rest of the year. The 7th Annual New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge is the recipient of a New Jersey Commerce, Economic Growth & Tourism Commission Cooperative Marketing Sponsorship. This program is a valuable tool for tourism industry representatives who show a commitment to increasing visitation and generating visitor revenues throughout the Garden State. For information on other events and attractions in New Jersey, contact the NJ Office of Travel and Tourism at 1-800-VISITNJ or www.visitnj.org.
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