ARE WHALE WATCHING TRIPS ASHORE IN YOUR FUTURE?

When you contemplate going whale watching in Northern California, you probably figure there are 2, maybe 3 ways to go about it. And basically, you'd be right: you're going to do whale watching trips ashore (on land), asea (on the ocean), or possibly aloft (in the air).

But you might be surprised to see how many variations you can find within those 3 choices!

WHALE WATCHING TRIPS ASHORE

Pack a picnic breakfast, lunch, or dinner; grab some friends and family; find a beautiful piece of California coastline to park it for the day; and settle in for some on-shore whale watching in California. Whether you go strictly on your own, or you seek out places that offer Ranger-led whale watching, it doesn't get much better than this!

But, where to go? Do you know how to find the best whale watching spots in Northern California? If you'd like a list of places to choose from, follow me . . .

You'll find whale watching possibilities all up and down the Northern California coast if you keep these few hints in mind:

• Look for a cliff, a headland, or a promentory - the closer to the ocean, the farther it juts out into the ocean, the better!

• Try to find a place that's higher than the ocean - you'll have a better view and you'll be able to see farther out.

• If there are other people around, be aware of what they're doing - you may get your first sighting via someone else's eagle eye!

WHALE WATCHING FROM NORTH TO SOUTH
22 OF THE BEST SPOTS FOR WHALE WATCHING TRIPS ASHORE

Crescent City, CA: Redwood National Park and State Parks offers the Redwood Information Center, Gold Bluffs Beach, and Klamath River Overlook as excellent sites for you to whale watch. There are also hiking trails at Point St. George that offer great views of migrating and resident whales.

Klamath, CA: Redwood National Park, High Bluff Overlook will give you a good perspective.

Patrick's Point State Park: Located 25 miles north of Eureka, the park has several trails and overlooks that offer great whale watching opportunities. Give the Rim Trail and Wedding Rock a try for spectacular views!

Trinidad State Beach: A pretty little stretch of beach near the town of Trinidad, there are bluffs and cliffs above the beach that allow a good view of the ocean for "blow" spotting.

Table Bluff in the Eureka/Loleta Area: Table Bluff is a plateau that stands 165 feet above the Pacific Ocean, offering spectacular views out to sea (for whale watching), and also of the Eel River delta and the south portion of Humboldt Bay.

Shelter Cove on the Lost Coast: A small fishing community known for its isolation and incredible beauty, Shelter Cove offers the perfect situation for whale watching as it sits on a promontory that reaches out into the ocean, bringing you closer to where the whales pass!

(CC) Adam & Tess

Sinyone Wilderness State Park: Another piece of the Lost Coast that offers bluffs and headlands from which to view the Gray whale migration as well as the occasional Blue whale or Humped Back whale.

MacKerricher State Park: Located just a couple of miles north of Fort Bragg, there's a headland here that makes this a good Whale Watching Trips Ashore spot - especially during the March MacKerricher Whale Festival.

Fort Bragg: Pick a spot along the coastal cliffs of Fort Bragg, or head out onto the bluffs of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. During the Fort Bragg Whale Festival in March, there are guided whale walks at the Gardens.

Point Cabrillo Lighthouse: Between Fort Bragg and Mendocino Village, this promontory offers excellent whale viewing along with a little history.

Russian Gulch State Park: The headlands and the blowhole would be worthy of a visit even without the whales!

Mendocino Headlands State Park: Surrounding Mendocino Village on three sides, whale watching spots don't get much better than this one!

(CC) Glenn G

Little River Inn: I'm sure there are many other inns along the Northern California coast where this is possible, but since the Little River Inn is the first place I ever woke up in the morning, looked out to sea, and spotted a pod of California Gray whale in migration - it will always be My Personal Favorite!

Point Arena Lighthouse: Because it's on a point of land that juts out into the ocean for about 2 miles, this is a great viewing site!

Sonoma Coast State Beach: Located near Bodega Bay, this beach area contains the site known as Bodega Head - one of the finest whale watching spots on the northern coast, and the beach is home to a seal rookery.

Point Reyes National Seashore: South of Bodega Bay, Point Reyes (with its lighthouse at its tip) protrudes 10 miles into the Pacific Ocean, making it, probably THE BEST site ashore for getting close to the whales. And there are numerous ranger-led programs offered during the whale migration season.

(CC) Erik Ogan

Muir Beach Overlook: Located south of Stinson Beach in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the overlook offers stunning views in all directions.

Point Bonita Lighthouse: This is an active lighthouse, and it's located on the Marin Headlands, in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area near Sausalito! A really good place for Whale Watching Trips Ashore!

Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park: You'll find this - one of the tallest lighthouses in the United States - between San Francisco and Santa Cruz. And, although the lighthouse is currently closed to visitors, the grounds are open for your enjoyment.

Santa Cruz: Various locales around the Santa Cruz area offer opportunities for whale watching from ashore, like Wilder Ranch State Park, West Cliff Drive, and the Opal Cliffs.

Point Lobos State Reserve: This is another of My Personal Favorites! Just south of Carmel by the Sea, Point Lobos juts out into the Pacific with hiking trails along the bluffs that offer wonderful views and the following whales, often just offshore - Gray whales, killer whales (Orcas), humpbacks, and blue whales.

(CC) Ed Schipul

Big Sur: And last, but certainly not least, for Northern California whale watching is the Big Sur area - almost any turnout along the Big Sur coastline will give you the opportunity for excellent Whale Watching Trips Ashore! A really great time to seek out whales along this stretch is during the Gray whales' northern migration (say February or March through April or May) - because they have their babies with them, they swim closer to shore and they swim more slowly!

The bench at the end of Overlook trail at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park offers spectacular views, often very close up, of the Gray Whales.

But Whale Watching Trips Ashore are not the only way to go!

Please continue your exploration of what Northern California has to offer by using the Nav Bar at the left, by using the links at the bottom of the page, or by using the customized search box below to find the specific topic that interests you.

Like what you're finding here at DiscoverNorthernCalifornia.com? Then please share with your Social Network (see the buttons in the NavBar to the left, or at the bottom of the page).

For more pictures of Northern California and other great stuff, check out my facebook page, www.DiscoverNorthernCalifornia.com. Become a fan, write on my Wall, contribute to the Discussion Board, post a Review -- join in the fun!