January, February, and March are the best months for spotting California gray whales making their journey from Alaska to Baja.
Here are three of the top spots to have a whale of a good time this winter.
Whale Watching at Mori Point in Pacifica
(Courtesy of Weekend Sherpa)
Grab some small, portable lawn chairs, a thermos of hot cocoa, and binoculars, then head to the point: Mori Point in Pacifica (part of the Golden Gate National Park system) is an exposed promontory with stunning ocean views. To reach it you have two options—the up and up via Bootlegger's Steps, or the more gently sloping Coastal Trail Trail.
Get more information on whale watching at Mori Point.
Whale Watching at Bodega Head
(Courtesy of Weekend Sherpa)
Just north of Point Reyes, Bodega Head sits high on the tip of a curving, thumb-like peninsula and offers weather-flexible options. On nice days, hike the coastal trails; all are fairly short and have great vantages of the Pacific, where migrating whales might be seen breaching or spouting. If the weather's rainy or gusty, you can just sit in your car and wait for the whales to come to you (arrive early to snag one of the parking spots overlooking the ocean).
Whale Watch + Wine Taste at Pacific Star Winery
(Courtesy of Weekend Sherpa)
Pacific Star Winery is 12 miles north of Fort Bragg on the Mendocino Coast, just far enough off the beaten path that many folks don't discover it. But it's on the map for more reasons than interesting wines like charbono, brunello, and Dad's Daily Red. There are whales to be spotted, too! The expansive bluffside picnic grounds overlooking the coast have big ocean views.
Get more information on whale watching and wine tasting at Pacific Star Winery.
This article was originally published on Weekend Sherpa.
