How to Stay at the Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel with Kids

Just north of Santa Cruz and south of San Francisco, along the gorgeous California Coast, you’ll find one of the tallest lighthouses in America: Pigeon Point Lighthouse, a beacon of light that has been guiding ships since 1872.

I love lighthouses, and make it a point to visit them whenever I get the chance (see my blog post about Point Cabrillo Lighthouse here). I love them so much that I have a whole bathroom decorated with photos of my family in front of various lighthouses. Living near the California coast makes visiting lighthouses an easy hobby to have, but I never knew I could actually sleep in a lighthouse.

Three buildings are available to rent on the State Historic Park property just below the lighthouse through Hostel America. We decided to spend one spring weekend renting the “dolphin” house at Pigeon Point with two other families. We were a total of five kids and six adults. Read on to find all that you need to know to spend the night at Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park with your kids.

Pigeon Point Light Station is located on the stolen and occupied lands of the Costanoan Ohlone tribe.

Before you go

Reserve your stay at the lighthouse hostel well in advance. Pigeon Point Lighthouse has three buildings managed by Hostels America that are available to rent. Before the pandemic, the 3-bedroom bunk-lined rentals worked like a hostel, with a fee per bed and person. At the time of this writing, the whole unit is rented as one house that must be rented for a minimum of two nights. Visit the website for available dates and to reserve online.
Decide if you plan on cooking at the hostel or eating out. If you’re going to cook, pack a cooler and plan meals ahead of time. If you have multiple families joining you, consider splitting meals!
Check the weather before you go to ensure you’re wearing the right layers. The weather on the California Coast can be unpredictable.

Costs to Consider

Hostel Rental ($600+/night for 15 people)

Add-Ons

Food & drinks
Año Nuevo tour

What we packed

Standard diaper bag essentials
Overnight bag with clothing layers for all-weather
Cooler with food and drinks for the entire stay
Sunscreen, hats, and beach gear
Picnic blanket
Baby carrier, wagon, or stroller
Binoculars
Musical instruments and board games

Hostel Details - What is it like?

Hostel Layout

Each house sleeps a maximum of fifteen people in three bedrooms. Two rooms have six bunkbeds each, and one room has a double bed with an optional single bunk. Each unit has a kitchen, cooking supplies like pots and pans, and two refrigerators.

There are three bathrooms, one full-bathroom with a tub attached to a bunk room, one bathroom with only a toilet and a sink, and one bathroom with a detached shower.

The main living room had a sofa and two tables. The kitchen had one large family-style table and chairs. There was also a picnic table outside.

Since we had three families sharing the space, each family got a room. My family of four co-sleeps, so the double bed and single bunk room seemed like the best place for us. When we arrived at the hostel, however, they gave us a room that did not have the extra bunk in the double bed room! So – if you’re planning on using that space, make sure to confirm with Hostel America prior to arrival.

Hostel Amenities

Bedding and towels are provided. The bedding was surprisingly clean and comfortable – much nicer than the hostels I stayed at in my single lady days!

The kitchen has some cooking utensils and exactly one set of dishes per guest – total guest count is verified prior to booking.

The piano in the living room provided a lot of opportunities for group sing along and for the kiddos to make their own music.

There is high-speed WiFi for free, but no television.

Benefits to staying at the hostel

Staying in the hostel was a lot of fun. The space was perfect for multiple families. The kids were able to run around and play, climb in the bunk beds, sing along to the piano, and enjoy a meal together at the large family-style dining table.

Roll out of bed in the early morning to the sound of waves as you walk the historic park grounds to see the sunrise. If you’re up early enough, you will most likely have the whole lighthouse to yourself!

Also, the location is perfect as a jumping off point to explore the area. You can make breakfast at the hostel, pack a picnic to visit the neighboring California coastline activities, then be back in time for nap and to make dinner.

Things to do

The area around the Pigeon Point Light Station Historic State Park is full of fun activities to do with your family. Staying at the lighthouse allows you to easily explore the surrounding area and return home for naps and meals. Some of our favorite things are to:

Visit the lighthouse – you’re right there!
Go to the beach
Hike to see elephant seals at Año Nuevo (see our blog post here!)
Drive around Pescadero (see our blog post here for more activities)
Go for a bike ride in Half Moon Bay
Eat pie at Pie Ranch
Grab a beer at HWY 1 Brewery

See our guide to Pescadero to see our favorite nearby activities and eats.

The Pigeon Point Lighthouse Hostel was a fun experience I would be interested in doing again. Although expensive, the price felt more reasonable when we split it between three different families, and when we turned the trip into a mini-vacation on the California coast.

The space may not have been updated or well decorated, but it was the type of “no-frills” décor that is actually perfect for families with little kids because you do not have to worry about your kids breaking anything! I don’t think I made it through a hotel or Airbnb with my first toddler without breaking at least one thing (psst – please don’t put that on my Airbnb rating).

Waking up to the ocean breeze in the early hours of the morning with the lighthouse in view was magical. And, let’s face it – staying in a group rental with our best friends was a blast. The kids had fun together during the day, and the adults had fun together at night.

Check it out and let us know what you think!

Have you stayed in a hostel with your kids? Share in the comments below!

Check us out on Pinterest!

Angel

see more posts by this author

Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.