SACRAMENTO, CA – There's something incredibly magical about whales. Seeing their intelligence and playfulness up close only enhances appreciation of these marine mammals as they make their annual trek down the California coast.

"Whale watching in California is a life-changing experience," said President and Chief Executive Officer Caroline Beteta of the California Travel and Tourism Commission (CTTC) and the national chair of the U.S. Travel Association. "To see these gregarious creatures up close and personal, playfully slapping their tails and fins in the water and spraying water 12 feet into the sky, is a joyful experience words simply cannot describe. What's great is you can see these gentle giants anywhere along the coast of California, so you're still very close to all the other activities the Golden State offers."

The best time to see whales in California is December through March, when approximately 20,000 gray whales, up to 50 feet long and 45 tons each, travel 6,000 miles south from Alaskan waters along California's coastline to breeding waters in Baja California. The whales typically journey in small groups and stay close to the shoreline for protection from predators, such as killer whales, traveling 70-80 miles per day. They can be seen surfacing every three to five minutes to breathe.

California offers several ideal whale watching sites up and down the state. Simply head west, touch water and you're sure to see these majestic mammals making their way south. Some of the best locations are at California State Parks (due to possible park closures, please call before you visit), such as Humboldt Lagoons State Park, Patrick's Point State Park and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park in Humboldt County. Also north in Mendocino County, MacKerricher State Park, 3 miles north of Fort Bragg, is a fantastic location to spot whales, especially when your visit coincides with the Mendocino and Fort Bragg Whale Festivals, March 6-7, 2010, and March 20-21, 2010, respectively, with their guided whale walks, whale boat tours, chowder tastings, family activities and art exhibits.

Farther south, but still along the coast in Sonoma County, the community arts organization Gualala Arts in Gualala celebrates the gray whales' migration with the Redwood Coast Whale & Jazz Festival throughout the month of April. In the past, travelers have enjoyed photo-lectures about whales by international award-winning nature photographers and grooved to the sounds of riveting jazz performers.

Jutting 10 miles into the Pacific Ocean, the Point Reyes Peninsula is one of the state's best spots to view the migrating gray whales, especially the areas around Chimney Rock and Point Reyes Lighthouse in Point Reyes National Seashore. Even better, the region is offering a two-night midweek stay with the third night free at breakfast inns and cottages during whale watching season from November 1, 2009, through March 31, 2010.

San Francisco is uniquely situated at the eastern edge of the Pacific Ocean and in sight of the Farallon Islands, a marine sanctuary where the whales pass every year. Several boat excursions are available to watch the gentle giants. Another good stop is along the San Mateo County coast, where whale-watching tours are conducted from Pillar Point Harbor. Whale-watching excursions in Santa Cruz take off from the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and the Santa Cruz Harbor and are approximately two-and-a-half hour trips. At the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, boats aren't required, as many visitors out on leisurely walks can see whales jumping out of the water.

In San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County, there are also a number of state parks that offer programs and great locations for viewing the migrating whales, including San Simeon State Beach, Estero Bluffs State Park and El Capitan State Beach. In Oxnard, trips are available through Island Packers, Ventura County's official concessionaire, and Channel Island Sportfishing Center and Captain Hook's Sportfishing.

Visitors can literally travel south with the migrating whales as the mammals make their way into the waters of Southern California. Redondo Sport Fishing Pier in Redondo Beach offers two or three-hour docent led trips daily aboard The Voyager, with dolphin, shark, sea lion and marine bird sightings in addition to whale watching. For an absolute luxurious setting, whale watchers can reside at the upscale, Mediterranean-style Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes with its unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean - a stunning venue to see the whales in action. The Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach has a Wildlife and Whale Cruise Combo Ticket, which allows guests to embark on a boat excursion to see whales, explore whale conservation issues, partake in hands-on learning activities and enjoy a day at the aquarium. For those staying overnight, the Catalina Island Whale Watching Package is ideal, with its boat transfer from the mainland, accommodations at the oceanfront Hotel Villa Portofino, whale watching trip and breakfast. Rates begin at $195.50 per person (double occupancy).

In Newport Beach, Davey's Locker Whale Watching Cruises has been providing whale watching cruises and tours for more than 30 years. The Ocean Explorer also departs from Newport Harbor, which is the closest ocean harbor from Anaheim, and offers whale watching cruises, boasting a 95 percent success rate in viewing whales or dolphins on your trip. In Dana Point, Captain Dave's Dolphin and Whale Safari hosts guests aboard a hi-tech catamaran sailboat with its Eye-to-Eye Underwater viewing pod. Held every March, the Dana Point Festival of Whales presents two weekends of whale celebrations with parades, sailing regatta and concerts.

San Diego offers a unique whale watching experience - by kayak. La Jolla Kayak provides guided tours that get guests amazingly close to the migrating whales. Another unique whale watching adventure is aboard the America, a 139-foot-long sailing yacht and a historic replica of the world's first America's Cup winner, available for up to 80 guests through Next Level Sailing. The yacht's low-sweeping deck gives travelers a great vantage point for photographing whales up close. Also based in San Diego, Hornblower Cruises, whose fleet is powered by a 20 percent biodiesel blend, provides whale watching with a green emphasis and features local environmental efforts on their cruise as part of the company's Respect Our Planet program.

Copyright 2009 California Travel and Tourism Commission. All rights reserved. From http://www.visitcalifornia.com.
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