The idea

You can visit three different lighthouses in a single day without ever feeling rushed, if you build the loop right. Start in Boston, work the North Shore, and turn back before the evening commute turns the roads into parking lots.

Stop one: Marblehead Light

Start here mid-morning. The walk out the causeway is short and the harbor view sets the tone for the day. Grab coffee in town afterward.

Stop two: Egg Rock and the Nahant shore

Drive the Nahant peninsula and look out toward Egg Rock Light. You may not land on it, but the coastline drive alone is worth the stop, with tide pools and wide water on both sides.

Stop three: Boston Light view

Finish with a harbor cruise or a viewpoint toward Boston Light, the oldest lighthouse in the country. A late-afternoon boat gives you the best light on the way back into the city.

Logistics

• Start by nine to beat both crowds and traffic.
• Bring layers; the water is colder than the forecast.
• Keep the cooler in the car for a wharf lunch.
• Check ferry and cruise schedules ahead in shoulder season.

Three lights, one day, and a car full of salt air. Always grab a map; the small coastal roads between stops are the best part of the whole trip.