Whale Watching

My wife and I would like to go whale watching during the last weekend in July. Is this a good time or bad time to try this?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Whale Watching

Absolutely, the best time is in the summer. To avoid crowds, go during the week rather than a weekend if you can do so. To spend the longest time at the whales%26#39; feeding grounds due to proximity, depart from Gloucester (Cape Ann), or Provincetown, (Cape Cod). There are also two reputable companies at the Boston waterfront. Departing from Boston is a longer trip out and return. Use Google to find various whale watching tour businesses by searching on ';whale watching'; with either (Gloucester, MA, Provincetown, MA or Boston, MA).

Whale Watching

You should put boston harbor islands on your list as well. Just ask the people in the Whale watching.

If you are staying in Boston then I recommend that you depart there as well for your whale watch or at least take the fast ferry to Provincetown and then embark on one of the local tours there. You do not want to drive to Provincetown just for that purpose. I believe the aquarium is now offering some whale watches on faster boats. This would be the ideal from Boston, as it is a trip to get out to Stellwagen Bank where the whales feed.

I have gone on a whale watch every year for the last 23 or more and have never been disappointed. I try to go on a calm, warm day in July. You are choosing the best time. For the best experience I would plan to go on a weekday. I always go on the morning trip. Don%26#39;t know why except that I am a morning person.

Except for one year (when we were in Provincetown and went from there) I always take the Yankee Fleet out of Gloucester. Always see lots of whales and they have a good guide who talks about the whales you see (and hope to see). Did you know that whales can be identified by the designs on their bodies?

Have a wonderful time and afterwards we always have a nice lunch in the restaurant attached to the wharf where we can look out the window at the next boat leaving! Enjoy yourselves.

There are loads of whale watching options. Long Wharf (by the Aquarium) has boats and...your concierge will have phone numbers, etc. If you want to see whales, they%26#39;re out there.

You might also take the harbor islands option if it%26#39;s not so much whales as a boat ride you%26#39;re looking for. Georges Island is great fun. It%26#39;s a half hour ride out. You wander this historic island with a fort and hiking paths and then catch the boat back. Other boat companies give you island tours that dont%26#39; involve a stop but rather a trip around the harbor.

The whale watch cruises go way out to where the whales are.

July is the best time to go. Prepare for all conditions: a windbreaker (yes, even in July) and sunscreen are a must. It%26#39;s%26#39; also a good idea to pack a few drinks in your tote bag to avoid the high prices on the boats.

Thanks for your comments.

We will be flying into Boston. It sounds like there might be more whale watching time and less boat travel time if we used a charter from Gloucester. What is the best way to get to the whale watching boats in Gloucester?

The whale watching tour I mentioned is on Route 133 in Gloucester. Their phone number is 1-800-WHALING and the website is: www.yankeefleet.com

The MBTA provides train service between Boston %26amp; Gloucester via the Newburyport/Rockport line. For schedules, see

www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/鈥?/a>

Thanks for the train info.

I called and found out it takes about an hour from North Station to get to Gloucester. I%26#39;m not sure if we want to ride on the train that long in late July.

Has anyone had experience with the whale watching charter that runs out of Boston by the aquarium? As long as the waves aren%26#39;t too bad I think we would rather take a boat ride than a train ride. Also, how is the ride on the whale watching tours? Are the boats large and do they take the waves well?

Thanks for all your help.

I used Boston Harbor Cruises last weekend, and it was a really nice trip. It was about an hour ride out to Stellwagen Bank (where the whales feed), about an hour cruising around looking at whales (and we saw quite a few), and then about an hour back to Boston. It is $35 for adults, and they offer several departure times on weekends. I am horrible about guessing how many people can be in any area, but I would horribly guess that there may have been 200 people on board. The day I went the water was pretty calm, so I can%26#39;t speak to how the boat handles waves.