March is the Month for Whale Watching in Mendocino, California

If you are looking for a different way for your family to spend spring break but still enjoy a beautiful coastal getaway, California’s Mendocino County has just what you are looking for. March is the season for the gray whale migration, an annual event, and Mendocino has some great ways to experience the migration in person and celebrate the creatures that make it possible.

Located on the California coast, about halfway between San Francisco and the Oregon border, Mendocino County is a coastal community of stunning natural beauty, from sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean to towering redwood forests. The county, home to quaint towns up and down the coast and nestled among the redwoods, has plenty of ways to view the whales as they make their trek north to feed after spending the winter in the warm waters off the coast of Baja California.

The county’s Whale Festival goes all month long with guided whale walks at Mendocino Headlands State Park, Van Damme State Park and Greenwood State Beach, along with adult-friendly events like a Margarita Madness competition and Mocktail Trail, but to truly enjoy the experience, you’ll want to book a stay at a spot like Little River Inn.

Just 2 miles south of charming Mendocino Village, this property offers impressive views of the ocean and the whales as they pass through town. The inn, which features cozy fireplaces and soaking tubs in its rustic-styled rooms, also hosts the annual Little River Inn Whale Watching Festival during the second weekend of March, and offers a special package all month long that includes a whale watching tour for two if you book a two-night stay.