Whale Watching

If you've never seen one, you should.  They're incredibly impressive.  Fortunately, the San Francisco Bay area is a pretty good place to see whales.  Expect tours to last 2 to 4 hours or so, dress for cold weather, and plan on getting wet.

The entire eastern Pacific gray whale population - something over 20,000 individuals, representing the vast majority of the species now living - migrate past the Monterey coastline twice a year.  In the winter, they migrate south towards their calving grounds on the Baja coast.  In the spring they migrate north again, most going as far as the Alaskan coast.  They migrate in small groups spread out over weeks or months, so there are lots of opportunities to see them.

In addition, there are several other species of whales and dolphins that live in or migrate through the waters off the California coast.  Humpback whales are frequently seen.  They are one of the most curious species, and also one of the friendliest, although their idea of "being friendly" sometimes includes "spraying water all over those weird critters in the boat".  Killer whales and blue whales are also occasionally spotted in local waters.  Blues can reach over 100 feet in length and can approach 200 tons, making them the largest animals known to have ever lived on planet Earth.  (By comparison, a Tyrannosaurus Rex would have weighed 7 or 8 tons at most.)

Incidentally, despite the existence of some really stupid books and tv movies, whales do not have a history of unprovoked attacks on boats or swimmers.  About the only way to really get into trouble with a whale is to pester a baby in front of its mother or stab one with a harpoon.

Monterey Bay Whale Watch

Description:  Offers tours year-round.  The species to be observed vary with the season, as do the start times and the trip length and route.  Gray whale tours are offered from roughly December 13 through April 30, with humback and blue whale tours available during the rest of the year.  At least one marine biologist is present for every trip.

Web Site:  http://www.gowhales.com

Location:  84 Fisherman's Wharf, Moneterey, CA (Note:  this is nowhere near Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco.)

Drive Time from Ames (per Google maps):  1 hour and 29 minutes

Public Transit: 

Hours: Tours are by reservation only.  From December 13 through April 30, 3-hour gray whale tours leave daily at 10 AM and 1:30 PM, with an additional 7 AM departure on weekends.   From May 1 through December 12, 4 to 5-hour blue/humpback whale tours leave at 9 AM, and 3 to 4-hour blue/humpback tours leave at 2 PM.  Contact the business for details.

Cost:  Gray whale tours cost $32 for adults, $21 for children (12 and under).  The 4 to 5-hour blue/humpback tours cost $43 for adults and $33 for children, while the 3 to 4-hour blue/humpback tours cost $34 for adults and $23 for children.  Children 3 and under are free.