A special program called Whale Watching Spoken Here places volunteers at selected sites along the coast during the last week of March and the week between Christmas and New Years. A third week was added in 2004 during the last week of August through Labor Day, but volunteers are focused along the central coast during this time.

I’ve highlighted the ones closest to our beach house.

Where to Spot Whales

Listed North to South, these 26 locations are the best for spotting whales and usually have a Whale Watching Spoken Here volunteer during the program weeks.

· Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Ilwaco, Washington

· Ecola State Park

· Neahkahnie Mountain Historic Marker Turnout on Highway 101

· Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint

· Cape Lookout State Park – 2.5 mile hike to site at tip of Cape

· Cape Kiwanda

· Inn at Spanish Head Lobby on 10th floor

· Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint

· The Whale Watching Center/Depoe Bay Sea Wall

· Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint

· Cape Foulweather

· Devil’s Punchbowl State Natural Area

· Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

· Don Davis City Park

· Cape Perpetua Interpretive Center

· Cook’s Chasm Turnout

· Sea Lion Caves Turnout – large Highway 101 turnout south of tunnel

· Umpqua Lighthouse, near Umpqua Lighthouse State Park

· Shore Acres State Park

· Face Rock Wayside State Scenic Viewpoint

· Cape Blanco Lighthouse, near Cape Blanco State Park

· Battle Rock Wayfinding Point, Port Orford

· Cape Sebastian

· Cape Ferrelo

· Harris Beach State Park, Brookings, Oregon

· 9th Street Beach, Crescent City, California

Whale Watching by Sea and Air

For a closer look, boats and planes are a fun excursion, but these are best experienced in the spring through fall when the trip will be smoother. Charterboats:

· Linda Sue III Charters & Troller, Rockaway Beach, 503-355-3419

· D&D Charters (spring through fall), Garibaldi, 800-900-HOOK (4665)

Scenic & Whale-Watch Flights

Most flights carry from one to three passengers. Rates vary and reservations are recommended but not always required. Please call for more information. All flights are dependent upon the weather.

· Twiss Air Service/Astoria Flight Center, one to three passengers, Astoria 503-861-1222

· Tillamook Air Tours, one to four passengers, 503-842-1942

· Florence Aviation, one passenger, Florence 541-997-8069

· Crosswind Air Tours, two or three passengers (minimum two), Florence 541-997-8069

· Coos Aviation, one to three passengers, North Bend 541-756-5181

· Frank’s Flight Service, one to three passengers, Bandon 541-347-2022

· Tradewinds Charters, Depoe Bay, 800-445-8730

· Dockside Charters, also have Zodiacs, Depoe Bay, 800-733-8915

· Marine Discovery Tours (spring through fall), 65-foot Discovery, Newport 800-903-BOAT (2628)

· Bayfront Charters, Newport, 800-828-8777

· Sea Gull Charters, Newport, 800-865-7441

· Newport Tradewinds, Newport, 800-676-7819

· Newport Marina Store and Charters, South Beach, 541-867-4470

· Betty Kay Charters, Charleston, 800-752-6303

· Tidewind Sportfishing, Brookings, 800-799-0337