I love articles like this — so useful. Ten spots along the California coast to watch for whale spouts:
- Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Monterey County
Directions: The park is 12 miles south of Pfeiffer Big Sur on Highway 1. Look for a sign on the east side of the highway.
Hours: From 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset.
Fee: $8 per car
Contact: (831) 667-2315- San Simeon State Park, San Luis Obispo
Directions: From San Luis Obispo, take Highway 1 north for 35 miles. Exit San Simeon Creek Road.
Hours: Open 24 hours a day.
Fee: Free for day use.
Contact: (805) 927-2035- Lookout County Park, Santa Barbara
Direction: Take the Summerland exit off Highway 101 and turn south into Evans Avenue.
Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset.
Fee: None
Contact: (805) 969-1720- Shoreline Park, Santa Barbara
Hours: Sunrise to 10 p.m.
Fee: None
Contact: (805) 564-5418- Point Dume State Beach and Preserve, Malibu
Directions: From Santa Monica, take Pacific Coast Highway north 18 miles, turn left on Dume Drive and turn right on Cliff Drive.
Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
Fee: None.
Contact: (805) 488-1827- Point Fermin Park, San Pedro
Directions: Take Interstate 110 south until it ends, then follow south Gaffey Street until it ends at 807 Paseo Del Mar.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fee: None
Contact: (310) 548-7705- The Point Vicente Interpretive Center, Rancho Palos Verdes
Directions: Take Interstate 110 south until it ends, follow Gaffey Street for about two miles, turn right on W. 25th Street until it becomes Palos Verdes Drive South. Look for the park on the left.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fee: None
Contact: (310) 377-5370- Santa Catalina Island (This one does require a boat, if you’re coming from the mainland.)
Direction: From Avalon, take Stagecoach Road about three miles north to a turnoff near Wrigley Reservoir.
Hours: 24 hours
Fee: Hiking permits are free.
Contact: (310) 510-2596- Crescent Bay Point Park, Laguna Beach
Directions: From Laguna Beach, take Pacific Coast Highway about one mile, turn left on Crescent Bay Drive.
Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Fee: None
Contact: (949) 497-0716- Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego
Direction: From downtown, take Harbor Drive past the airport, left onto Rosecrans Street, right onto Cannon Street, left onto Catalina Boulevard. Follow Catalina until it ends.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fee: $5 parking or $3 per person for walk-ins.
Contact: (619) 557-5450
I’ve been meaning to hit up a certain park in Malibu — I’m not sure if its the Point Dume one that’s noted in this article — to have a picnic to watch for whales. I read about it in AAA’s magazine, whose website is down right now. I would go back and get the magazine (since I saved it) to share that info, but Trinity is bugging me for the computer now and I think I’ve shared enough for tonight.