Families can experience Wildwood’s fascinating history at Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, an 18th-century landmark that recently underwent a painstaking restoration. When I initially pulled up to the grounds, I wondered, “Where’s the lighthouse?” At first glance, Hereford Inlet looks like an exceptionally pretty Victorian mansion. But take a closer look and you’ll notice a stately rectangular tower rising above the structure’s pointed roof, which housed powerful lights that guided ships sailing off New Jersey’s Coast to safe harbor for generations. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this lighthouse is open for tours, which are a fun way to spend an afternoon if you’re seeking a break from the beach. Tours take visitors through the lighthouse’s many period rooms, and guests are encouraged to explore the surrounding gardens (which are immaculately manicured and, frankly, quite impressive). Tours cost $9 for adults and $3 for children under the age of 11.