By Karla Zimmerman

On the Great Lakes, the five of which form the world's largest pool of fresh water, plenty of ships pass quietly through the night (as well as in the daytime fog). Lighthouses standing sentry on the coast keep the traffic sorted out, and many also provide offbeat sites where you can tour, sleep and even operate the beacon. Chart a course for the following distinct shores.

Big Sable Point lighthouse, Ludington, Lake Michigan.
© Richard Cummins. Lonely Planet Images.

Grande Dame in Ohio

Since 1822, northern Ohio's Marblehead Lighthouse, the lakes' oldest lighthouse in continuous operation, has guided sailors safely through the many islands that float in Lake Erie between the U.S. and Canada. Tour the tall white with red structure and learn about past lightkeepers such as Rachel Wolcott, the first woman on the job, who had her hands full keeping 13 whale-oil lamps lit and logging each passing ship.

Visitors can jump off from Marblehead to visit family-friendly Kelleys Island, where activities include scenic bike rides to see Native American pictographs and glacial grooves, plus beach swimming and camping. Cedar Point Amusement Park, with the world's fastest roller coasters, is also nearby.

Exterior of Two Harbors Lighthouse, Lake Superior.
© Richard Cummins. Lonely Planet Images.

Do It Yourself in Michigan

If Ms. Wolcott's gig at Marblehead sounds appealing, try it yourself at Big Sable Point Lighthouse in Ludington, Mich. The structure hires volunteer lightkeepers each summer; the job entails living on site for two weeks, giving tours and performing minor maintenance in the mighty 1867 tower. Big Sable sits smack in the middle of Michigan's "Gold Coast," the stretch of Lake Michigan resort towns that boom in summertime thanks to their ice-cream shops, warm sand and outdoor activities.

Far and Away in Wisconsin

If "the journey is the destination," as the old saying goes, then Pottawatomie Lighthouse in Door County, Wis., is a doozy. The trek begins by driving along Door County's rugged coastline, past orchards and small 19th-century villages, to the end of the road — which peters out at a ferry dock. Drive aboard for the 30-minute crossing to Washington Island, then steer across the little land mass (about a 20-minute jaunt) to yet another ferry dock. This time you'll leave the car behind in the parking lot, and hop the 15-minute passenger ferry to Rock Island, a car-free state park that's wonderful for walking, swimming and camping. The lighthouse is a 1.25-mile amble from the landing, where it will likely just be you and the birds viewing the waves from the hilltop.

Sunken Treasure in New York

Rising up from the banks of New York's Golden Hill State Park, the 70-foot-high Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse looks out over Lake Ontario, pretty as a picture. In fact, the limestone tower is so darn lovely the Postal Service picked it out from all other lighthouses to appear on a stamp.

But Thirty Mile Point is more than good looks. It's rich, too — at least in legend. It's known that several ships have sunk near the lighthouse over the last 300 years. What's unknown is whether these ships were really carrying chests of gold and silver, as some locals whisper, and whether that treasure still lies underwater.

Whether or not it's a beacon to riches, the lighthouse remains the park's showpiece, surrounded by camp sites and trails.

Asleep in the Northwoods in Minnesota

The squat, cherry-red Two Harbors Lighthouse has been guiding boats through Lake Superior's ferocious waves since 1892. It's a big job for a little lighthouse, especially one located near Duluth, Minn., one of the country's busiest ports. Yet Two Harbors also finds time to serve travelers as a four-room bed-and-breakfast (rooms per night $109 to $145), guaranteeing freighter-filled lake views and traditional Scandinavian breakfasts. The location makes a sweet way-station for travelers heading farther north, past waterfalls and artists' galleries, into the famed Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area (keep an eye out for howling wolves and gangly moose).

Bio: Karla Zimmerman writes about the Great Lakes region for Lonely Planet's "USA" guide. She lives in Chicago.

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