The Bonavista Lighthouse was built in 1843. The lighthouse in Bonavista was home to a light keeper and their family for many generations. It is one of the few worldwide that still allows visitors to climb all the way to the top of the tower and see the lamps and reflectors, along with the clockwork mechanism that kept them turning.

This summer I had the opportunity to go inside the lighthouse. The lighthouse is open to tourists in the spring and summer for a small fee and allows visitors to see how the light keeper's family lived in the 1870's.

This popular tourist destination is a great location to see icebergs, whales and the towering cliffs around the Bonavista Peninsula. In July and August visitors may also see puffins who nest nearby each summer. We visited in early July and were lucky enough to see an iceberg off the coast.

The lighthouse grounds are accessible with free public parking and paved areas mixed with gravel paths. The inside of the lighthouse requires walking up the staircases to tour.

This lighthouse is a highlight of any trip to the Bonavista Peninsula and loved the chance to finally go inside and see the history on this trip.