OC Whale Watching
Here in Southern California, it’s great to be out on the water year round. And OC whale watching is a great way to experience the gorgeous views and the amazing wildlife in the water not too far from shore.
We chose to go on our adventure with Dana Wharf out of the Dana Point Harbor in South Orange County. The harbor is a beautiful place to visit, so you’ll want to allow for a little extra time before or after your whale watch tour to soak up the scenery. Parking is free for up to 4 hours.
Tours are available daily, but we went on a Saturday morning to take advantage of their Wyland Art in the Wild program. Kids ages 3 to 12 can participate in a art class in the galley of the boat prior to the whale watching tour.
Robert Wyland leads the class by video and staff is on hand to help out with supplies and encouragement. The kids had a great time and this was an excellent way to start our day.
~Dana Wharf Whale Watching Photo Gallery~
Beautiful morning in Dana Point
Getting ready to board the Dana Pride
Calm water and blue skies
Wyland’s Art Lessons in The Wild
Art class on board before whale watching
Heading out of the harbor
Seating and good views on the upper deck
Looking for whales
Can you see the gray whale?
Birding
Gray Whale
Whale Tail!
Sea Lions just outside Dana Point Harbor
California Sea Lions
Back at the dock
Free 4 hour parking
Dana Harbor Boat Docks
Dana Wharf Gift Shop and Ticketing
Our day was perfect and we were happy to have gone on this adventure. The captain was able to locate several gray whales migrating to the south and he brought us in to a safe distance. We got good views of the whales without disrupting their journey.
The water was pretty calm, but there were several passengers experiencing motion sickness. You’ll want to plan ahead with seasickness remedies, so you can avoid getting queasy. There are some shaded seats on the upper deck, but sunscreen is also a good idea.
The children’s art class followed by a two hour tour were a lot of fun for us. Call or check their website for complete information on the variety of whale watching tours available.
Dana Wharf
34675 Street of the Golden Lantern
Dana Point, California 92629
Also, check out our additional Orange County articles.
