Continuing my series on ways to save on your summer vacation I’m turning my attention to a unique alternative that I doubt would appeal to those of you who enjoy leaving the daily grind behind to relax on a powdery white sand beach. However, if you are on a tight budget and can’t stomach spending a summer camping in your own backyard then you might not be turned off by the idea of taking a working vacation.
If you have a passion for lighthouses consider heading to Northport, Michigan this summer. The Grand Traverse Lighthouse offers visitors the chance to vacation on a dime and learn a thing or two in the process.
Leelanau County’s lighthouse-keepers program has drawn thousands of volunteers to the area since it started five years ago. This year Peninsula Township officials are hoping to attract even more when they open Mission Point Lighthouse to working vacationers.
Volunteers pay $800-per-month to live in the rear section of the lightkeeper’s historic home. While there you will have access to every part of the 19th century structure when it opens for the season next month. You will also be schooled in the history of the lighthouse and its surrounding areas so you can lead public tours on the property. You will also be responsible for completing small maintenance projects.
Some of the interesting information you will be learning and passing on to summer visitors is the story of the Mission Point Lighthouse’s first keeper Jerome M. Pratt. In the 1870’s Pratt guided boat traffic into Grand Traverse Bay by a kerosene lamp atop the 30-foot building. A single keeper watched over the Mission Point Lighthouse until 1933, when the U.S. Coast Guard switched to electric, self-timed beacons.
Previous volunteers say the $800 price tag provided them with a priceless vacation that included a crash course in the area’s maritime history.
If you are interested in taking a working vacation in Michigan click here.
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