Whale whale whale, guess what time it is? Peak whale watching season in the Bay Area! Spanning across the Bay and coast, over four types of whales are expected to be present now. Because they are close by, many opportunities exist to spot them putting on a show.
One of the best places to see them from land is heading up to Point Bonita Lighthouse, which is deemed one of the best places to spot grey whales. On your visit to Point Bonita, you can visit the third oldest lighthouse on the West Coast, spot whales, and maybe even a bright Bay Area sunset. While there, you can enjoy a short hike or picnic to make the most of your day. However, you must be sure to plan as there are limited hours and parking availability.
Point Reyes National Seashore offers one of the closest encounters with migrating whales. The stunning shore provides many opportunities, from whale watching to visiting a lighthouse and seeing many other marine mammals. When you arrive at the beach, head up to Chimney Rock Trail or Tomales Point Trail, to get an elevated view with more chances of spotting these majestic creatures.
How to Spot Whales
Spouting is an observed behavior that can be up to sixteen feet high. While it is assumed to be water, the spouting is warm air that forms water droplets when it meets the cold ocean air.
Breaching is another common way to spot whales. It involves whales launching their bodies out of the water, which is seen as a beautiful show. However, whales are believed to do this for various reasons, including asserting dominance and communicating within their pods.
In some cases, whales may poke their head out to see the surrounding area to ensure they are migrating in the correct direction. This behavior gives us a view of the whale’s head for seconds or minutes and is quite spectacular.
Whale? What are you waiting for? Go out and visit them!
More Helpful Articles
Celebrating Harvest Season Around the World
As November nears an end, and the temperatures start to drop, it's time to get ready for the holiday season! This Thursday is Thanksgiving, and it is a wonderful time to get together with family and friends, and enjoy festive celebrations together. There are a number...
Enjoy these fall activities while you can!
As temperatures begin to drop and days become shorter, we are starting to transition from fall to winter. Though the Bay Area is beautiful year-round, some fall activities won’t be available much longer. Here are our favorite things to enjoy as this fall season comes...
Fall Back!
It's that time again! Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend, which means the Bay Area will “fall back” an hour. Sunrise will go from about 7:30 a.m. on Saturday to 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, and sunset will begin an hour earlier than usual. Though many believe that...
Recent Comments