Whale Watching

California is one of the premier destinations in the world for whale watching, and there are numerous boat excursions and shore-viewing options available up and down the state. Each year, about 20,000 gray whales make an epic 6,000-mile journey between Alaska and Mexico—with most hugging the coastline in sight of land. Many other species are commonly spotted off California’s Pacific Coast, including blue whales, humpback whales, and pods of orcas.