In one of our recent posts, we told you about some whale-watching cruises you can take in Seattle to see whales up close, including Orcas and Gray Whales. Today, we want to share some other destinations in the United States that will also offer a great glimpse of the majestic ocean creatures, but only until about early-April and then the large ocean animals will nearly disappear until late fall. So, make note of the following top places for whale-watching in the U.S. for spring of 2017, and then start planning for a trip to one of these locales so you can view whales feeding, playing, and tending to their young.
Top Places for Whale Watching in the United States
Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego (California)
Gray Whales make a pit stop at the western overlook of the Cabrillo National Monument, located in San Diego, California, on their migration that is the longest migration of any known mammal. Take a whale-watching cruise in San Diego and you’ll likely spot many pods of the 33-ton 45-foot long creatures, which will afford excellent photo opportunities and stories to tell to friends and family.
Santa Barbara (California)
You can also see the Gray Whale migration in Santa Barbara, California, in fact, more than 27 kinds of whales and dolphins call the waters off of Santa Barbara home at various times of the year. For spring whale-watching in Santa Barbara, there are several whale-watching companies you can choose from that will take you to look for spouts of water and tails of whales popping up out of the brilliant blue sea.
Monterey Bay (California)
Monterey Bay runs along California’s central coast and it’s a superior place for Gray Whale watching until April. Sometimes, passengers on whale-watching cruises hoping to spy Gray Whales see these animals in addition to rare Orcas who hunt the Gray Whales on their migration path.
Virginia Beach (Virginia)
Through March, Virginia Beach is a prime time to spot humpback whales. Take a whale-watching cruise on Virginia Beach’s waters and you may even see bottlenose dolphin who travel frequently through the Chesapeake Bay area.
There are numerous ways you can find a reputable whale-watching cruise to go on in any of the locations we’ve mentioned. Chamber of Commerce or Tourism Bureaus are ideal sources for good whale-watching cruises. Yelp and TripAdvisor can be helpful, as can travel booking websites like Kayak and Priceline. If you do go on a whale-watching cruise in any of these destinations, we’d love for you to share your experiences in the comments below.
