Lucy the Elephant: One of Our Favorite Family Adventures

There are some places you visit once and that's it.

Then there are places you keep going back to.

For us, Lucy the Elephant in Margate, New Jersey is one of those places.

We love going to Lucy, and we try to visit about once a year. Every time we go, it feels exciting all over again. I don't know if it's because we're seeing something different each time or because we just really love being there, but somehow we seem to fall a little more in love with Lucy every visit.

Honestly, how can you not love a giant elephant by the beach?

You Can't Miss Lucy

If you've never been, Lucy is exactly what you imagine when someone tells you there's a giant elephant in New Jersey.

Except she's even cooler in person.

She's huge.

Lucy is a six-story, elephant-shaped building built in 1881. She's been part of the Jersey Shore for more than 140 years, which is pretty amazing when you actually stop and think about it.

From the outside, she's already something you want to photograph.

But going inside is what makes the whole experience so much better.

There is just something about walking into an actual building shaped like an elephant.

It feels a little crazy and really fun.

We Love Exploring Inside

Every time we go, I find myself looking around at all the little details.

The rooms, the windows, the woodwork, the shape of everything. You start thinking about how someone actually designed and built this thing back in 1881.

Then there's the fact that people actually lived inside Lucy.

That is probably one of my favorite things to think about.

We've literally stood inside and said, “Could you imagine living here?”

Honestly, I could.

Maybe not forever, but I would definitely love to spend a little time living inside a giant elephant by the Jersey Shore.

Imagine waking up, walking upstairs, looking out the windows and seeing the beach.

It sounds completely ridiculous and also kind of amazing.

The Views Are Beautiful

One of my favorite parts of visiting Lucy is being able to see the beach and the surrounding area from inside her.

There's something really cool about looking out at the Jersey Shore from a building that's been there for generations.

You can stand there and just take it all in.

The beach.

The ocean.

The town.

Lucy herself.

It's one of those moments where you stop thinking about everything else for a minute.

You just look and I think that's one of the reasons we keep coming back.

There's So Much History Here

Lucy isn't just a fun place to visit because she's an elephant.

She has a really interesting history.

She was built in 1881 and originally helped attract people to the area during its early development. Over the years, she had several different lives. She was used as a summer home and a tavern.

Eventually, Lucy was in pretty bad shape and there was a real possibility that she could be demolished.

Thankfully, people cared enough to fight to save her.

Local residents formed the Save Lucy Committee and in 1970 she was moved to a new location. She was eventually restored and preserved.

Today, Lucy is a National Historic Landmark.

I love that part of her story.

Because when you visit, you're not just seeing something different and cool.

You're seeing something that people fought to keep.

It's Also a Great Homeschool Adventure

This is one of those places that fits so naturally into our homeschooling life.

You don't have to sit down and say, “Okay, today we're learning about history.”

You just go.

Then the questions start.

How old is Lucy?

Why was she built?

How did they make something this big?

Who lived here?

Why does she look like this?

What was this area like back then?

Suddenly you're learning.

That's one of the things I love about homeschooling. Some of the best learning happens when you're actually out doing something.

Lucy can be history.

She can be architecture.

She can be geography.

She can be a lesson about preservation.

Honestly, she can just be fun.

It doesn't always have to be complicated.

A Day at Lucy Is a Fun Adventure

Because Lucy is right near the beach, you can easily make a whole day out of it.

Visit Lucy.

Walk around.

Go to the beach.

Grab something to eat.

Get ice cream.

Explore the area.

Take pictures.

Just see where the day goes.

That's the kind of day I love.

There's no need to pack every minute with activities.

Sometimes one really cool place is enough to get the day started.

Why We Keep Going Back

I think what makes Lucy special to us is that she's become one of our places.

You know what I mean?

There are places that become part of your family's memories.

Maybe it's a restaurant you always go to.

A beach you visit every summer.

A trail you walk.

A place you discovered together.

For us, Lucy has become one of those places.

We've been there before, but we're always excited to go again.

Every time we do, I feel like we notice something new or maybe we just appreciate it a little differently as time goes on.

Either way, we love it.

Adventure Doesn't Have to Be a Big Trip

I think Lucy is also a good reminder that adventure can be really close to home.

We don't always need to plan a huge vacation.

We don't need a plane ticket.

We don't need to spend a fortune.

Sometimes we just need to find somewhere interesting and go.

New Jersey has so many places like that.

There are beaches, historic buildings, museums, trails, little towns, weird roadside attractions and places you've probably driven past without ever stopping.

I want to keep finding them.

That's a big part of what Wild Wander Free is about for me.

Getting out.

Exploring.

Trying something new.

Finding places that make us curious and making memories along the way.

We'll Be Back

I'm pretty sure Lucy will remain one of our yearly adventures.

Every time we go, we fall a little more in love with her.

She's beautiful in her own completely unique way.

She's fun.

She's historic.

She's definitely unforgettable.

Plus, there's something pretty special about being inside a giant elephant and looking out at the beach.

I don't think that will ever get old.

So if you're ever near Margate, New Jersey, and you've never visited Lucy, put her on your list.

Go inside.

Look around.

Take in the views.

Learn a little history.

Let yourself enjoy how completely unusual it all is.

Sometimes the places that seem the strangest end up becoming some of your favorites.

And for us... That's Lucy.

One giant elephant, one beautiful piece of history, and one of our favorite family adventures.

We'll see you again soon, Lucy. 🐘

Keep wandering. Keep exploring.

Wild Wander Free.