The Who’s Who of Whales

Identifying Whales You’ve been dreaming of seeing whales in the wild, so you’ve decided to go whale watching in Anacortes, Washington! Great choice! But what kind of whales will you see? There are four species of whales that frequent the inland ocean known as the Salish Sea: The humpback, gray, minke, and orca. Depending on […]

“Big Mama” and the Humpback Comeback

The Story of “Big Mama” Of all the animals in the Pacific Northwest, the species that has one of the greatest resurgence stories is certainly the humpback! The “Humpback Comeback” in the Salish Sea is one of my all-time favorite positive conservation tales to tell and it all started with one queen of a whale! […]

Take the Ferry!

Ferry to Explore the San Juan Islands   Here in Washington State, the Department of Transportation is operating the largest ferry service in the United States! With a fleet of 21 vessels that operate over nine routes, there is timely access to places that might take several hours to drive to. In the case of […]

Puffins of the Salish Sea

Puffins of the Salish Sea In the easternmost point of the Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington State lies a couple incredibly important pieces of land. In addition to the seals and sea lions that haul out there, several species of seabird rely on Smith and Protection Islands for nesting. The cliff-like bluffs created […]

Deception Pass

DECEPTION PASS Imagine standing on a bridge 180 feet above the Pacific Ocean. The turquoise water below is ripping through a narrow channel between islands, creating deadly whirlpools and eddies. You are surrounded by a rugged, rocky coastline that drops steeply into the salty body of water. Evergreen conifers and madronas create a dense and […]

What is the best time of year to go whale watching?

The Best Time of Year To Go Whale Watching One of the most common questions we get in the whale watch industry is, “When is the best time of year to see whales?” Like many great questions, this one has the all time favorite answer, “It depends!” Here in the Salish Sea (the inland waters […]