Tag Archives: whale watching

Travel Tidbits—Vehicle Safety Programs for Seniors and a Whale of a Good Time on the Big Island

It’s the program many parents want their parents to attend… and for good reason. The national CarFit program, sponsored by the American Automobile Association (AAA), is designed to reduce the risk of accidents among older drivers (age 65 and up)… and it’s coming to a city near you. During 2008 trained professionals will be visiting all 50 states to evaluate the “fit” of the driver to the vehicle. The program assesses features such as safety belt use, head restraint setting, position of driver to air bags, mirror adjustment and line of sight, and operation of vehicle controls. The service is … Continue reading →

Winter Travel Deals—-Hawaii

Whale watching season is in full swing in Hawaii. Numerous cruise companies throughout the Hawaiian Islands are currently running deals on popular whale watching adventures, but there’s one operator who is offering a special that’s almost too hard to pass up. Atlantis Navatek Cruises is one of the foremost whale watching cruise operations on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. It offers 2 1/2-hour mid-day cruises along the picturesque Diamond Head and East Oahu shoreline and it includes a lunch buffet. And now, all cruises come with a company-backed guarantee: “See a whale or sail again for free!” Navatek operates Small … Continue reading →

Whale Watching in California

Who says you have to travel to Hawaii to take in the breathtaking images of whales making their annual trek across the Pacific? From mid-December through mid-March the massive mammals pass the California coast giving visitors and residents there a chance to watch the majestic animals performing their trademark moves. Puffs of wet air rise dozens of feet in the air from the behemoths’ blowholes. That move is usually followed by breaching—-basically when a whale launches its body out of the water and returns to the sea with a dramatic bellyflop. You might also see “fluking,” when the whale’s tail … Continue reading →

Say “Aloha” To Whales in Hawaii this Winter

Many travelers head to Hawaii during the winter months to escape the subzero wind chills and snowy sidewalks. Others visit the “Aloha State” when the mercury plummets because they know that’s when some of the world’s largest tourists migrate to the waters off the Hawaiian Islands. Winter is peak season for whale watching. Each year, Humpback whales swim more than 3,500 miles from the North Pacific to Hawaii to breed, calve and nurse their young. Just in time for whale watching season Outrigger Hotels is offering guests a front-row seat to take in all the action. From December through March … Continue reading →

East Coast Whale Watching Adventures

It’s no secret; whale watching tours abound in places such as Hawaii and Alaska, but watching a humpback whale breach from the murky depths of the Atlantic Ocean is not something travelers get to see everyday. Just ask vacationers who visit the waters off of Virginia Beach. The whale-watching season wraps up along the East Coast at the end of the month. Which means you still have a few weeks to gather the family and sign up for a tour. The Rudee Flipper, which departs from the Virginia Fishing Center at Rudee Inlet on the south end of Virginia Beach … Continue reading →

Adventures in Whale Watching

Looking for a whale of a trip? Then load up the family and head to an area where you can get up close and personal with some of the largest creatures on Earth. My family enjoys whale watching off the Hawaiian Islands, but I recently learned about another group of islands where the whale watching has been hailed as some of the best in the world. The San Juan Islands, a group of small islands off the coast of Washington state, is considered by naturalists as a must-stop destination for whale watching enthusiasts. And the experts aren’t just referring to … Continue reading →

Alaska’s Hidden Treasure

Typically, you’ll find me blogging about the 50th State (where I was born and raised), but today I will be singing the praises of the 49th State—Alaska. Believe it or not, Alaska is a prime travel destination for residents of Hawaii (they love the fishing). Regardless of where you live, I’m sure you will find an Alaskan vacation is one you won’t soon forget. Locals call it a “hidden treasure,” while tour guides call it the “Paris of the Pacific.” Whatever you call it Sitka Sound is a sight that will stay with you for years to come. Sitka Sound … Continue reading →