Community Corner
Great Escape: Whale Watching in Our Own Backyard
Excursions to watch dolphins, porpoises, whales and other wildlife depart from San Francisco every day of the week.
Depart San Francisco and cruise to the Farallon Islands for a visit to the waters where whales, sea lions, birds and other species make their homes.
SF Bay Whale Watching tours leave from Gashouse Cove Marina, just outside the entrance to Fort Mason at 10 Marina Blvd. Expeditions include opportunities to see gray, humpback and blue whales, dolphins, seals and orcas. SF Bay Whale Watching operates every weekend in May, June and July, with special rates offered on the Fourth of July.
Check the SF Bay Whale Watching migration calendar and plan your getaway under the Golden Gate. The regular price per person is $110. Tour boats leave at 8 a.m. and return to the marina between 3 and 4 p.m. Contact vern@sfbaywhalewatching.com or call 415-331-6267 for reservations or information.
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San Francisco Whale Tours, has boats departing from Pier 39, Dock B, for a cruise nearly 30 miles out to the Farallon Islands, where whales can be seen during year-round feeding. Expeditions last five to six hours, depending on the chosen trip. If there's no whale sighting, the company says the next trip is on them. Tickets range from $60 for children (3-15 years) to $89 for adults. (If you book through an S.F. Whale Tours trip through through the Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association, that nonprofit will receive a donation.) San Francisco Whale Tours also offers San Francisco Bay Explorations trips to observe the diverse bay marine life. Adults $34, Children $24 (ages 1-15).
Whale watching trips are also available through the Oceanic Society.
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To do further research on the whales you might see, visit the American Cetacean Society fact sheet at www.acsonline.org.
Upon returning, one option for dining is the Waterfront Restaurant, Pier 7 at The Embarcadero. Choose from appetizers such as oysters on the half shell and entrees including prime New York steak. For reservations, call the Waterfront at 415-391-2696.
