Witnessing a Miracle: Winter Whale Watching in San Diego

A new year brings new goals, hope and energy. And, what better way to feel reinvigorated in the first few months of 2008 than to witness the 5,000-mile journey of the California gray whales!

From now until March, tens of thousands of these "peaceful giants of the sea" travel from the Alaskan seas to the warm waters of Baja California to birth and raise their young. The migration is the longest of any mammal and the whales come within a few miles of the San Diego coast during their journey. The migration peaks in mid-January, where as many as 200 whales per day have been sighted off of San Diego's shores.

The Birch Aquarium at Scripps offers 3 hour naturalist-led cruises to watch the whales in San Diego Bay, as well as 4 to 6 day excursions to Baja's Magdalena Bay for a more intimate adventure and exploration of the gray whales in their birthing grounds. Tours run until March 31, 2008. Click here for more details.

If you'd rather stay on land, the Aquarium's outdoor tide-pool overlooking the La Jolla shoreline provides an excellent view of the whales. Also, enjoy special whale exhibits and activities inside the Aquarium.

Or, relax and view the whales aboard a beautiful 40 ft sailboat. Sail San Diego leads trips twice a day until March 28, 2008, which include complementary snacks, beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, sunscreen and blankets for the chilly days. Click here for more details.

Or, check out the migration from 1,000 ft above the ocean! Biplane, Air Combat & Warbird Adventures offers picturesque flights along the coast so you can watch the whales at full length, swimming in pods. Flights depart from McClellan-Palomar Airport in the North County city of Carlsbad. Click here for more details.