California Memoir: A Guide to Whale Watching 🐋

(Note: Most photos are dolphins… Took five whale-watching trips and only once saw a whale very far away lol) 1️⃣ Harbor Breeze Whale Watching 📍 Located in Long Beach, CA, right at the pier next to the Aquarium of the Pacific. 🎟️ Consider buying the combo ticket ($76) for both the aquarium and whale watching. Single tickets: Aquarium $45, Whale Watching $40-50 (slightly more on weekends). 🐳 This tour does not guarantee whale sightings. In my experience, the chance of seeing whales is pretty low – it’s all about luck! Went with friends three times – each time we saw huge crowds of dolphins (super impressive!), but zero whales 🐬😂 ✅ Pros: Relatively affordable compared to other whale-watching tours. Great for students in LA without a car. 2️⃣ Golden Gate Whale Watch 📍 Pier 39, Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco. 🎟️ Standard ticket is $120, but seasonal discounts of 20%-40% are often available. Check their website! 🐕 Super fun fact: They have a highly trained German Shepherd that can smell whales in the water and barks to alert the crew! And sure enough – every time the dog barked, we spotted whales 🐋✨ ✅ They offer a whale sighting guarantee – if you don’t see a whale, you can join again for free until you do! 🌉 You also get a cool close-up view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Whales were a bit far though. 3️⃣ San Diego Whale Watching Cruise 📍 Booked through Viator, $85 per person. ⛵ This tour uses a sailboat – unique and fun! 🌊 Unfortunately, we drifted for a long time without seeing any whales… BUT on the way back, we encountered tons of dolphins swimming right next to the boat 🐬💙 ✅ They also offer a sighting guarantee, so we got a free rebooking! 🛌 Service was great – free blankets, chocolate, soda, and even motion sickness pills available. 🐋 Whale Watching Tips: It’s windy and cold on the sea ❄️ – bring a blanket or wear a thick coat. If you get seasick, take medicine beforehand 💊 Manage expectations – seeing whales isn’t guaranteed, but dolphins are almost always a delightful surprise! #CaliforniaTravel #WhaleWatching #CaliforniaWhales #LongBeach #SanFrancisco #SanDiego