Killer whale population declining in puget sound cbs news. Puget sound seaplane tours, which take off from locations such as lake union or friday harbor, are arguably the best and most unique way to see the sound and its surrounds. We are the only company on the olympic peninsula that offers a daylong tour combining whale watching with a port of call on san juan island. Sometimes the action gets started before we even leave the dock as this bald eagle posed nicely. The best whale watching sites in puget sound you dont need a. Our team of highly qualified crew set us apart from the competition.
Saving the southern resident orca center for biological. Whale watching seattle and whale watching washington are commonly associated with whale watching in the san juan islands. You can choose from a fourhour whale watching excursion, which leaves the port townsend marina at 10 am or 2. Washington states best whale watching value and best spot north of seattle to see gray whales in the wild. Whale watching from land whidbey and camano islands. The san juan islands, located 140 km north of seattle in the heart of salish sea, is the most famous place for orca whale watching. To avoid this, cancel and sign in to youtube on your computer.
The best whale watching sites in puget sound you dont. It takes about an hour to get from edmonds to the san juans on their foilcatthen you have a couple of hours to spot whales and porpoises. Enjoy the sights and sounds of seattle from the water on this comfortable, 2hour, cocktail cruise along lake union. If playback doesnt begin shortly, try restarting your device. The seattle metros only halfday whale watching tour. Whale watching cruises san juan cruises puget sound. Tours require a minimum of 15 passengers for departure.
Puget sound express offers a variety of whale watching cruises for you to choose from all easily accessible from the olympic peninsula. This intelligent, social predator is known to form lasting social bonds living in highly organized pods where everyone cares for the young, sick or injured. San juan island is the center of whale watching in the pacific northwest and therefore friday harbor on san juan island is the best location for departing on a whale watch tour in washington state. Puget sound express operates out of edmonds and port townsend less than two hours away from seattle on the olympic peninsula. Puget sound tours is quickly becoming a favorite in seattle washington among locals and visitors alike. For guided kayak tours, check out members of the san juan island kayak. Today we found t7 pod killer whales out near smith island, and we also spotted the first gray whale to return to puget sound this winter. Puget sound tours seattle 2020 all you need to know. Download the watching whales in the san juan islands brochure. Whale watching tours with puget sound express my olympic park.
San juan island whale watching day trip from seattle, wa. While plenty of commercial tours will charter you around the sound, whale watching does not always require a boat. A male gray whale that feasts on shrimp in the puget sound every year was spotted over the weekend, marking the start of an annual stay in washington state inland waters by a small but peculiar. Venturing out onto the water to get up close well, within reasonyou dont want to get too close and personal with the sounds largest residents is an exciting day activity that you can do from a few points in and north of seattle, and its a great way. Fly back to seattle after the whale watch tour or stay the night and return the next day.
Videos you watch may be added to the tvs watch history and influence tv recommendations. We booked our puget sound express whale watching tour the night before we left seattle it was the only thing we planned the entire weekend. This daylong whale watching cruise in the san juan islands is also the official ferry route between port townsend and friday harbor. Im obviously not too familiar with the sound, but heres what i was hoping to do.
We head out towards the san juan islands, or to wherever the whales are on the red head, our comfortable and fast, 40seat tour boat. The puget sound express whale watching tours leaving from port townsend are offered twice daily in the summer months. We just spent a random early spring weekend in port townsend, which is a fun little coastal town. From the hotel, to the food, to the recreation everything was awesome. South puget sound public whale watching tours for family. Shortly after arrival, youll start your watching adventure with us. Anyone can do that by downloading the whale report app on a. Trips to leavenworth, boat cruises, brewery and winery tours, and all combinations of food and alcohol. Were blessed to live in whats been called the american. Seattle whale watching tours maydecember port townsend 4hour whale watching tour mayoctober port townsend san juan island whale watching tour mayseptember port townsend to san juan island passenger ferry. See orcas, humpback whales, and all the majestic wildlife throughout the salish sea on our tour out of. May 07, 2015 guaranteed whale watching tours from port townsend olympic peninsula and seattleedmonds direct to the san juan islands. Jun, 2018 upon arrival, we met up with pete, sherri, sarah, and christopher hankethe family that owns and operates all puget sound express tours.
Even if we didnt see whales the day we went out, it would have been fun. Puget sound express is a family owned business thats cruised people around the sound for more than 25 years. Seattle whale watching san juan safaris san juan island. Updated february 12, 2020 tours depart oak harbor and langley. Port townsend is also the launching point for whalewatching tours aboard the puget sound express. Puget sound express whale watching tour seattle bloggers.
Puget sound express has been operating whale watching tours for 29 years, and in that time we have always endeavored to make your trip a lasting memory. San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching. San juan cruises scenic whale watching tours in the san juan islands from bellingham, wa. Currently puget sound tours picks up from downtown seattle about us. Resident gray whales return to puget sound the seattle. Watch seaplane arrivals and departures and see landmark seattle locations like the iconic space needle, seattle great wheel, the fremont bridge, gas works park, the university of washington and much more plus a plethora of floating homes, including the one from the popular. Sightseeing tours whale watching washington port townsend. As a familyowned and operated business for over 30 years, visitors return again and again. Gray whale watching near seattle, washington island adventures. Here you will frequently spot gray whales yearround right from the beach. The hanke family has been operating whale watching tours with puget sound express for 30 years. I already knew the answer our whale watching adventure. Puget sound tours is a fantastic way to see boeing factory and the seattle metro area.
Resident gray whales return to puget sound the seattle times. Venturing out onto the water to get up close well, within reasonyou dont want to get too close and personal with the sounds largest residents is an exciting day activity that you can do from a few points in and north of seattle, and its a great way to get in touch with what the area is all about. Ours is a familyrun business, with three generations of knowledge and caring at the ready. Come for the afternoon, or stay a few nights at one of our partner hotels. Orca whales usually pass through the islands in greatest numbers between midmay and midoctober when the salmon runs are strongest, although its possible to spot them. San juan excursions san juan islands whale watching whale. The jamal is an elegantly appointed 75foot luxury yacht skippered by a uscg licensed captain and certified crew who have over 25 years of experience together and puget sound is an amazing location to charter the jamal for just about any occasion. Island adventures holds the industrys highest success rate and was the first company to guarantee whale sightings on every tour. Seattle is a watery place, situated on the shores of puget sound, with lake union smack in the middle and long lake washington on the east side. Upon arrival, we met up with pete, sherri, sarah, and christopher hankethe family that owns and operates all puget sound express tours. Puget sound whale watching tours posted by wes on monday, may 16, 2011 leave a comment one of the best places to watch whales in puget sound is along the boarder of canada and the us, in the bodies of water known as haro strait and boundry pass.
Sea quest kayak tours explore the premiere orca whale waters in the san juan. For 33 years, puget sound express has set the standard for exciting whale watching tours and wildlife tours around the olympic peninsula and the san juan islands. Whale watching with puget sound express visit seattle. Private charters with san juan excursions, whale watching. These planes, as their name suggests, have the ability to take off and land on watera special experience for those not accustomed to this mode of transportation.
Puget sound energy is proud to serve our neighbors and communities in 10 washington counties. Whale watching at olympic national park my olympic park. Nov 27, 2018 with cold water and plenty of prey like salmon to feed on, puget sound is the goto place for whale watching, meaning seattleites dont have to travel far to get a glimpse of these majestic mammals that call the sound their home. Whale watching tours with puget sound express my olympic. The plane arrives in time to enjoy the town for friday harbor and its many shops and restaurants. Puget sound whale watching adventures in washington. Seattle whale watching tours whale watching tours, seattle. Whale watch tours in the san juan islands island adventures. When we were driving home, i started to ask tove what her favorite part of the weekend was, but. Alisa lemire brooks july 8 l12s and l22s were resting off of bellvue pt. Whale watching tour seattleedmonds puget sound express. Spend a day with orcas, humpback, minke whales and more as you cruise through the waters of the salish sea aboard five stars sleek, 40passenger vessel on a victoria whale watching adventure. Three generations of our family have helped visitors have lifechanging experiences with some of the most majestic creatures on the planet. Puget sound tours is a fantastic way to see the seattle metro area.
Whale watching in puget sound things to do in washington. Many seattle visitors choose to take in the local sights on a scenic cruise or boat tour. Guaranteed whale watching tours puget sound express. Our 3 12 hour whale watching tours depart at 9am and 2pm 7 days a week. When is the best time for port angeles whale watching. Click here to download all 12 months of killer whale watching data and be. Puget sound whale watching tours highliner 202003t15. Orca whales usually pass through the islands in greatest numbers between midmay and midoctober when the salmon runs. San juan cruises has three whale watching tours a deluxe whale watch including a free salmon lunch and friday harbor visit, a halfday whale watching tour with a free lasagna lunch, and an evening whale watching tour that includes our delicious lasagna and caesar salad dinner. Id like to find a public, halfday or whole day guided tour of at least the south region of puget sound, also leaving from somewhere close to olympia where family lives, on a large, comfortable vessel with snack bar and restroom, that would cruise around the islands in the sound. Take your best shot at kayaking with killer whales near seattle, wa. Kayak whale watching in the san juan islands, seattle, washington. Our 4hour whale watching cruise departs port townsend both in the morning 10am and in the afternoon 2.
Three distinct groups of killer whales orcinus orca occupy the coastal waters of the northeastern pacific. More than 500,000 people annually go whale watching in the waters of washington and british. We will head out in search of orca, humpback, minke, and grey whales. See orcas, humpback whales, minkes, and all the majestic wildlife in the san juan islands departing just 15 minutes north of downtown seattle. Whale watching tours from anacortes the san juan islands provide one of the best opportunities for whale watching washington has to provide, offering protected waters and a huge variety of wildlife, which include our three pods of resident orca whales. Puget sound express familyrun whale watching tours. Whale watching in the san juan islands is a unique opportunity to gain. The puget sound is home to a few species of whales, including humpback and orcas. Three excellent options for puget sound whale watching or sea life viewing while in the seattle washington area. With cold water and plenty of prey like salmon to feed on, puget sound is the goto place for whale watching, meaning seattleites dont have to travel far to get a glimpse of these majestic mammals that call the sound their home. Puget sound express attractions tour operators page. Since 1976, ken balcomb of the research center has been observing the puget sound orcas, or southern residents as.
While resident and transient orca can be found in puget sound almost any time of the year, march and april features the addition of gray whales, and. This deal cannot be combined with promotion codes or other discounts and is valid on whale watching tours only. From your own custom luxury vacation cruise and maybe a. The highspeed victoria clipper passenger ferry from seattle cruises through puget sound enroute to victorias inner harbour. Well also watch for porpoise, seals, sea lions, and various types of birds. The whale trail runs from british columbia to washingtons olympic peninsula, down the. With 3 generations of family dedication and experience, we guarantee youll see whales or your next trip is free. Whale watching cruises bellingham friday harbor puget sound. The smithsonian magazine names port angeles, washington as one of the countrys top whalewatching destinations. If youve always wanted to see whales in the wild, the pacific northwest is the place to go, and puget sound express offers some of the best experiences around, with guaranteed whale watching tours that depart from port townsend at the north tip of the olympic peninsula, and edmonds, located just north of seattle. Chart of sightings by species by month with big thanks to thorsten lisker for researching, designing, and building this incredible map and the printed handouts for participants at the orca network sightings training at the langley whale center sept. Whale watching tours puget sound whale watching and. Guaranteed whale watching tours from port townsend olympic peninsula and seattleedmonds direct to the san juan islands. Mark malleson the center for whale research and others will confirm that indeed all 82 wild orcas, of jkl pods came in.
We boast more than 100 years of combined experience in the islands and have led excursions for hundreds of thousands of satisfied guests over 24. Whether it is a school field trip, family reunion, company outing, wedding group or any other special occasion. San juan island whale watching tour puget sound express. While we have wonderful boat tours that give you a great perspective, sometimes the whales schedule doesnt exactly match tour schedules. We will cruise with puget sound express which is based in langley during gray whale season. Were the states largest utility, supporting more than 1.
Seattle new technology could help ships and ferries navigate around. Puget sound san juan island yacht charters pacific. Want an amazing whale watching experience, but dont have all day to spend on the water. That allows us to cover lots of ground so to speak and show you as many of the whales and other animals that call the san juan islands home as possible. Among these, southern resident and transient killer whales commonly are found in puget sound. The charismatic killer whale, or orca, is the totem species of northwest washington and coastal british columbia. Whale watching from land whale watching is a favorite activity in and around puget sound. With over fifteen years in the tourism industry, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding service. Seattle history seattle, which is in the puget sound, lies on a narrow strip of land between the salt water of the sound and the fresh waters of lake washington. Sound excursions brings you the coolest events in seattle. The lake washington ship canal connects the sound to the lakes, allowing boat travel from one to another. Whale watching adventures in anacortes, washiington.
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