California Coastal Town is Ideal Place for Family-Friendly Whale Watching

As a Southern California local, I take no small sense of pride in the fact the state is home to some pretty great coastal towns. They each offer their own beauty and unique personalities, along with plenty of ways to entertain a family. But, in Dana Point, a small city in Orange County, you’ll find plenty of reasons why it’s one of the best places to vacation with family, especially if you want to do some whale watching.

The city has been trademarked as the Dolphin & Whale Watching Capital of the World, and for good reason — there are opportunities to see different types of whales year-round. Dana Wharf, serving the community for 55 years, offers whale-watching tours that seem custom-designed to give the whole family a chance to enjoy the experience, especially the little ones. Staff and crew make sure everyone gets the most out of each cruise, and with plenty of sea life frequenting the local area, it isn’t hard.

© Visit Dana Point

Dolphins made regular appearances throughout my recent cruise, with entire pods racing alongside the boat and playing to their hearts’ content in the water. While dolphins launched themselves in the air, others crisscrossed under our boat and swam alongside us as we sailed through the water. During our cruise, crew worked hard to locate dolphins and whales, including one particularly curious minke whale who kept pace with our boat for a good portion of the tour — we quickly learned minke whales tend to swim more erratically and unpredictably, unlike other whales, which made this a special treat.

Our crew was full of great information on the types of whales and dolphins, how each eats and behaves, and plenty more. They shared their knowledge throughout the cruise and were open to questions, which helped the kids learn while they had fun. One fun fact we didn’t know was minke whales, which are baleen whales and much smaller than other types, have a tendency to have exceptionally bad breath. The crew affectionately referred to these creatures as “stinky minkes.” (We never did learn how this interesting bit of knowledge was acquired.)

The crew included a naturalist who, along with the captain, made sure everyone got the best views possible, especially kids, and also made sure everyone was as safe as possible. The naturalist came prepared for little ones with visual aids and models of the different types of whales and dolphins (which we learned are also types of whales) that the kids onboard were allowed to play with. Every question was answered in a way that was kid-friendly and easy to understand.

© Visit Dana Point

The ship was well-prepared for every need, with plenty of seating both inside and out, as well as a snack bar with hot and cold snacks and plenty of beverage options. Tours operate several times a day and range from two-hour tours to all-day excursions, private tours and even half-price Tuesdays. You can simply visit the Dana Wharf office at the pier for tickets or book online ahead of time (to make sure the family doesn’t miss out on this great experience).

Dana Point itself seems to take the family-friendly theme much further with spots like Baby Beach, a swimming beach with calm waters. There is great shopping in a walkable and picturesque area known as the Lantern District, great places to eat and plenty of California sunshine no matter the time of year you visit. The town has a laid-back beach vibe with the quiet, unrushed atmosphere you would want from a family-friendly beach town — in other words, the perfect place for a getaway with kids of all ages.