Humpback Whale Watching Trips
No, you don’t need to travel to Alaska, Hawaii or the Baja Peninsula to watch the annual whale migration. Just off the coast of Virginia, near Virginia Beach (about 3 hours by car), you can take a winter whale watching boat trip.
Boats depart from the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center in Virginia Beach and take you on a 2-3 hour whale watching tour.
While not always sighting whales, you get a chance to see both fin and humpback whales as they migrate annually to warmer southern waters to mate and calf for the winter and feed in the food-rich Chesapeake Bay along the way.
The adult humpback whales are between 40 and 50 feet long and can grow to over 75,000 pounds. While the Fin or Finback Whale, are the second largest animal on the planet behind only the blue whale, and can grow up to 88 feet long and weigh over 140,000 pounds.
For more information, call 1-866-59-WHALE and select the option to speak with a live operator.
Cruises do not guarantee that whales will be cited. And trips may be canceled due to sea conditions but not generally due to rain. The waters off Virginia Beach can be a bit rough so people susceptible to sea sickness should be advised to use caution.
Cruise Dates
January 4 – March 18, 2007
Cruise Schedule
- Thursdays and Fridays – 2:30 p.m.
- Saturdays, Sundays & Holidays that occur on Mondays - 9:00 a.m., Noon & 3:00 p.m.
Cost
Adults $30 adults (12 and over), kids $25 (4 -11)
Attire
Dress warmly as it’s colder on the water so hats, gloves, warm coats, shoes and socks are strongly recommended.
And don’t forget your binoculars and camera.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Admission is $11.95 for adults, $1.00 less for seniors, kids 3-11 are $7.95. __________________________________________________________
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