Family head. Source of tough love. Our greatest supporter in all we do. Fathers are special people in our lives and a constant reminder that we are loved. This Father’s Day, make Dad feel special with these fun activities that are sure to bring on the smiles and create lasting memories. After all, just like a homemade DIY card, the gift of time is priceless.

Take Dad to a Ballgame

Fans watch an Oakland As' baseball game
Matt Dodd via Unsplash

Channel your inner sports fan and take Dad to a baseball game this Father’s Day. The Oakland A’s will face the Kansas City Royals at home. This three-game series starts on Friday, June 17 and runs through Sunday, June 19. Batter Up!

Classic Car Show Fun

TaLeiza Calloway-Appleton

Rev up the fun at a Classic Car Show. The Garlic City Car Show is back to Gilroy after two years! This year’s car show will take place on Saturday, June 18 from 10am-4pm in Downtown Gilroy. There will be live music, vendors, and over 200 of the coolest classic cars in Gilroy.

Celebrate Heritage and Tradition

A Native American dance group performs at Yerba Buena
Jim Watkins/YBG Festival

Father’s Day is a celebration of family. Enjoy a beloved Father’s Day tradition with the 20th annual Native Contemporary Arts Festival. Part of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival, the special event will showcase a diverse program of native music, dance, spoken word, visual artists, vendors and native crafts. 

Celebrate Juneteeth

Celebrate African-American culture at the Children's Discovery Museum or at Lake Merritt.

Dine on the Water

Treat Dad to an unforgettable meal and memories aboard the Hornblower’s Father’s Day Brunch Cruise. Enjoy chef-inspired, plated entrees, music and more on this picturesque two-hour yacht cruise. Bonus: Seats are assigned and you even get a keepsake photo.

Head Outdoors

iStock

Fishing is a fun pastime to spend with dad and we've got the full scoop on all the great spots in the Bay Area to cast a line. Prefer a low-key, equipment-less outing? Take a family nature walk, join a Bioblitz or tidepool tour. We also enjoy exploring while hiking with our dad and these unique and waterfall trails are perfect for an outdoor adventure everyone will remember. 

Jam at a Music Festival

A father and daughter enjoy a music festival on Father's Day
Brett Sayles via Pexels

The music festival scene in the Bay Area is ripe this summer! Check out San Francisco’s North Beach Festival. One of the city’s largest street fairs, the two-day event will include live music, food, arts and crafts and more Father’s Day weekend. Other fun options include the Stern Grove Festival and Novato Art, Wine and Music festival.

Quality Time at Home

A father gardens with his children
TaLeiza Calloway-Appleton

Nothing beats good ole quality time at home. Does Dad have a green thumb? Plant a garden in your backyard. Here’s our list of fun gardening ideas.

Get Creative with Art

A handmade card speaks to the heart and we’ve gathered some festive DIY ideas to spark your creativity. Kick it up a bit by painting together at a local Paint Nite, Craft Night or even make a scrapbook together.

—TaLeiza Calloway-Appleton and Kate Loweth

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Your little skippers will be ready for a high-seas adventure after learning a few fun words and phrases and their nautical origins. And if you like these, check out our pirate dictionary. You never know, one of these terms just might bale you out of the doldrums in just a couple of shakes. Read on!

photo: andreas160578 via pixabay

Adrift: Evolved from the word ‘drift’ or float, it became a way of describing a ship moved by wind and tides. It is now used to describe anything that is lost, as in, “Her matching sock were adrift among the piles of laundry.”

Bale/bale out: To remove water from a vessel, this phrase now means to help someone out of a sticky situation. (Note: alternate, Old nautical English spelling of bail).

Becalm: To cut off the wind from the sails of a ship. Can be used interchangeably with sooth, as in, “The mother was able to becalm her child temporarily with the promise of a cookie.”

Booby: A fearless little sea bird that is known for being easy to catch. The term booby or boob is sometimes used to describe someone who may not be that bright.

Bumboat: A privately owned boat that sells goods or merchandise. Fun to say.

Caboose: Sure, you know it as the little red car at the end of a train but a ship has a caboose too! It’s the kitchen or galley on a small ship.

Cats paws: A term to describe small waves produced by light, variable winds on otherwise calm waters.

Chew (chewing) the fat: Salt pork or fatty, jerky-like meat was common food on sailing vessels as it lasted a long time without rotting. Sailors would complain about the food while gnawing away at the fat, thus the term became synonymous with gabbing, casual conversation or gossip.

Cranky: A crank was an unstable ship or vessel, now a term to describe a toddler who hasn’t napped.

Cringle: Not to be confused with Kris Kringle or the delicious pastry, kringle, this nautical term describes a rope loop at the corner of a sail for fixing the sail to the spar (see definition of spar below).

Dinghy: A dinghy can be a small boat carried or towed by a larger ship, often inflatable and used as a life raft; a type of racing yacht; or a rowboat.

Dog watch: A short watch period (for sailors on deck) from 4–6 p.m. or 6–8 p.m. it can also refer to any night shift, most often the last shift. As in, “Tonight Dad was on dogwatch for the little one’s feeding so mom could get some much-needed sleep.”

Doldrums: An area in the equatorial region of the Atlantic Ocean with calms, sudden storms and unpredictable but light winds. Because of the variable weather ships would get stuck in the doldrums. Now we use it as a term to describe being stuck or stagnant. As in, “Our nightly dinner routine is in the doldrums.”

Dolphin: A man-made structure in the sea or river used as a marker.

Earings: Nope, not (earrings) the kind with bling. These are the small lines that secure the upper corners of the largest sail to the yardarms. (See below for yardarms definition).

Fore and aft: From stem to stern or lengthwise of a ship. “Please vacuum your room fore and aft and not just the entryway.”

Ghost: To sail slowly.

Gob-stoppers: Grapeshot put in the mouth of a young, gabby sailor. Now used to describe the hard, chipped-tooth-inducing candy.

Grapeshot: Small cannonballs; basically smallish balls of lead fired from a canon used to damage rigging or aimed directly at sailors on an enemy ship (cannon balls would be used to cause more structural damage and sink the ship).

Hog: A rough flat scrubbing brush for cleaning the ship’s bottom underwater. No comment.

Horse: To move or adjust a sail by hand, using brute force rather than running rigging.

Hulk: An old ship that has become obsolete. (not all that incredible).

Jack, also jack tar:  A sailor. Also sometimes a flag on a ship.

Jury rig: The act of rigging temporary mast or sails, also the actual mast or sail that has been temporarily rigged. This is now used interchangeably with makeshift.

Mind your P’s & Q’s: When sailors would go to a port town and visit the local tavern, the barkeepers would give them credit. A “P” would indicate pint and a “Q” was a quart. So when payday came and it time to pay their tab, they’d be minding their Ps and Qs. It is now considered a term for good manners.

Ship Shape: A term now used to say something is clean, tidy and ready to go, in the 1800s, ships were inspected to make sure they were okay to port. If a vessel was in “ship shape” it was free of disease or other unsavories. “Timmy’s room was in ship shape before the play date.”

Show your true colors: A warship would have many colored flags on board to try and deceive enemy ships. The true color would only be revealed when it was too late. Now it’s a term used to describe someone who has shown their true nature.

Spar: Not to be confused with the verb which means to fight, a spar is a pole, usually of wood or metal, used to support the ship’s sail. Sometimes called a pelican striker.

Spin a yarn: This phrase means to tell a story or a tale and is comes from the stories sailors would tell to pass the time while doing monotonous tasks such as making spun-yarn.

Starboard and Port: Starboard is the ship’s right and port its left. Fun fact: the term “posh” originated from port out, starboard home, said to be the way to get the best view, and so where the elite class was seated or bunked.

Two shakes or a couple of shakes: Used to describe a short period of time, as in, “Give me two shakes and I’ll have your PB&J ready.” Sailors would measure short periods of time by the shaking of the sails.

Whole nine yards: Old ships had three masts, each of which had three-yard sails, so the whole nine yards meant all sails were up. Now it means all of something.

Yardarms: Either end of a yard of a square sail.

What’s your favorite nautical term or phrase? Share it with us in the comments below. 

—Amber Guetebier

If you’re looking for a new place to find kid-friendly content then it’s time to check out Kabillion. The kids and families platform is the perfect place to get “kabillions” of age-appropriate entertainment––for free!

Kabillion offers free content all year long and in addition to favorite shows like Thomas the Train, Barbie Dreamtopia, Sonic X and Ninjago, the streaming provider is also offering special Earth Day content for the month of April through May 29. Keep scrolling to see the entire lineup!

Earth Day on Kabillion and Kabillion Girls Rule! 

Kabillion

Sonic X: Trick Sand 
The crew of the Blue Typhoon go emerald hunting on a deserted planet.

Sonic X: Underground 
Sonic and the gang go exploring another, earth like, planet.

Transformers: Nature Calls 
Prowl, Bumblebee and Sari get more than they bargained for when they head out to the remote woods to investigate a mysterious energy signal.

 

Kabillion Girls Rule!

Bobby’s World: Fish Tales 
The Generics go camping in Canada!

Chloe’s Closet: All Green Thumbs 

The kids have fun making things grow with water, but when they overgrow a mouse, she’s too tall to get inside her home and reach her babies. They enlist Mac who’s short enough to help.

Chloe’s Closet: In The Fix 
Handyman Chloe and friends are called to fix Mother Nature’s run-down cottage.

LEGO Friends: Dolphin Cruise 
Olivia, Stephanie, Andrea, Mia, and Emma enter a science contest at school and win a trip on a luxury yacht – but not everything goes as planned when they set out to sea.

To access Kabillion, families can watch on demand on many cable and satellite providers. You can also stream via the free app on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku and XUMO.

You’ll also want to head to the new Freebies section on the Kabillion website to find printable and downloadable coloring pages feature characters from favorite TV shows streaming on Kabillon, plus word search activities!

––Karly Wood

 

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Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is officially open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World and in in honor of the big occasion, the resort has rolled out some incredible Star Wars-themed treats.

Each of these incredible items are like a work of art and are almost too good to eat. Almost. They are all available for a limited time only, however, so you’ll want to get your taste before they’re gone. Here are some of the best new Star Wars treats.

The Yoda Cone

Available starting Aug. 29 at Pineapple Lanai at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.

Darth Vader Cupcake

Available now at Rosie’s All-American Cafe at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Chewbacca Chocolate Hazelnut Cupcake

Available now through Sep. 21 at Everything POP Shopping and Dining at Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Landscape of Flavors at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort.

The Dark Side Dessert

Available Aug. 29 – Sep. 29 at the Beach Club Marketplace and the Market at Ale & Compass at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resort.

Chewbacca Cake

Available Aug. 29 – Sep. 12 at Amorette’s Patisserie at Disney Springs.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Themeparkoligist via Instagram

 

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Celebs are just like us, kind of. With summer in full swing, celebrity parents are headed off on fab family vacations. From overseas adventures to near-home getaways, these notable names are taking time off work, hanging with their kiddos and making memories.

So what’s it like to go on a celebrity vaycay? According to their Instagram posts, it’s pretty darn awesome. If you’ve ever wanted to travel with the stars, check out these famous faces and their summer plans!

Kristen Bell

The actress/mama, husband Dax Shepard and their kiddos skipped the lux tropical vaycay for some quality family-time in Michigan!

Chrissy Teigen

Teigen, hubby John Legend and their two kids are taking it easy in Portofino. Along with leisurely strolls and yacht-side play, it looks like the couple and their oh-so-cute kiddos are enjoying some serious family time.

James Van Der Beek

The former Dawson and his broad of five kiddos vacationed in tropical Punta Cana. Between the surf, the sea and the palm trees, the Van Der Beek clan ceratinly had a magical summer vaycay.

Busy Philips

The mama of two celebrated her big 4-0 in a Cabo with friends, family and a gorgeous party. Scroll through her IG post for a glimpse at the party decor and the main menu!

Kate Hudson

The actress and entrepreneur got in some sweet snuggle time with daughter Rani Rose on an early-summer trip to the Amalfi Coast.

Khloe Kardashian

Khloe and baby True spent some quality time together in the Turks and Caicos last May as vacation season kicked off!

Gabrielle Union

The actress took some time off to spend with her new baby daughter Kaavia.

David Beckham

In true soccer star fashion, Beckham took daughter Harper to watch some World Cup action in France. And the the seven-year-old even got to meet the England Lionesses.

Victoria Beckham

Her hot hubby may have spent some serious soccer-filled time with daughter Harper, but the rest of the fam still got in some summer vacation action. Posh posted this sweet family pic from a trip to Seville, Spain.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

The actress and model shared this fam photo of son Jack and beau action star Jason Statham.

Pink and Carey Hart

Hart posted these sweet pics of the couple’s kids on a fun-filled (and bike ride-filled) day out in London.

Hoda Kotb

New mommy (for the second time) and Today co-host Kotb showed off her patriotic side during a July Fourth stroll.

Drew Barrymore

Barrymore took to the beach for a summer-time July Fourth holiday getaway.

Molly Sims

The model mama and her daughter got matchy-matchy in coordinating swimsuits at East Hampton Bay Beach.

Andy Cohen

The Bravo-celeb spent time pool-side in East Hampton with son Benjamin.

Jessica Alba

Alba and her broad got in some family vacation time (and a history lesson) during a trip to Rome.

Whitney Port

The Hills’ star snuggled with her little love post-flight in Vermont.

Kelly Ripa

What a difference eight years makes! Ripa posted a throwback pic of her fam and one from this year’s vaycay.

Eva Longoria

Forget about a tropical getaway. This celebrity parent visited London with her kiddo. And, based on her IG post, the family is off to Budapest next.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Chrissy Teigen via Instagram

 

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Missing Game of Thrones already? There’s a cure for those missing-the-Iron-Throne blues: a Game of Thrones cruise.

Pour that goblet of wine and get ready to set sail for King’s Landing. One lucky fan will win a ticket aboard a yacht to Westeros. Hosted by Cruise Croatia, the seven night cruise aboard a luxury yacht will take the contest winner to some of the most scenic filming locations in Croatia, which served as Qarth, Braavos and the Westeros Riverland. The cruise will culminate in a farewell party at King’s Landing.

The cruise will include breakfast and lunch daily, a visit to the spectacular Krka National Park and waterfalls, guided filming location tours and beach side cocktails on the island of Hvar.

To enter you’ll need to put your best writing skills to work penning a short essay about which characters you are most like from the show. Entries are being accepted now through midnight on Jun. 8, 2019. You can get all the details and submit your entry here. The lucky winner will depart for the cruise on Aug. 8, 2019 from Split, Croatia.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

Featured photo: Cruise Croatia via Instagram

 

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Get ready for some serious by-the-sea fun! A new mermaid encounter at Disney World has arrived and your family’s Spring Break vacation just got that much better.

As if a trip to Disney World wasn’t awesome enough, now your kiddo can get in some serious Ariel awesomeness with the park’s new Mermaid School! Make your mini mermaid’s dreams to swim like a fish (or at least a half-fish, half-person) come true with this magical activity adventure.

So what does this new encounter have to offer? Your child (ages four and up) can get their mermaid on at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. Mermaid School includes a one-hour long class with “swimmable” tales! This exceptionally awesome encounter is $50 (plus tax) per child. Book your kiddo’s magical mermaid experience by calling 407-WDW-PLAY.

Looking for even more seaworthy fun? Check out Captain Hook’s Pirate Crew at Disney’s Beach Club Resort (for children ages 4-12). This encounter features a pontoon boat-ride around Crescent Lake, a scavenger hunt and the chance to feast on pirate-themed picks such as Cannon Meatballs or macaroni and “gold” sauce. Captain Hook’s Pirate Crew adventures start Apr. 28 and cost $55 (plus tax) per child. Book now by calling 408-824-KIDS.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Courtesy of Walt Disney World/Matt Stroshane

 

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Beach towns typically focus on one thing and one thing only … the beach. But not Brunswick Islands. From lighthouse climbs to sea turtle sightings, the six coastal towns that make up the Brunswick Islands are teeming with just as much laid back and low key fun offshore as there is on shore. Keep reading to discover seven things you’ll want to add to your itinerary when you check it out.

photo: Nick S. via Oak Island Light House

1. Climb to the tippy-top of a lighthouse.
In this area, multi-level condos and hotels are a rarity. So, the island’s version of a skyscraper? The Oak Island Lighthouse, standing just over 150 feet tall, offers the perfect opportunity for bigger kids and their grown-ups to see amazing coastal views. Venture up the 131 steps to the observation platform, and you’ll be able to capture ridiculous aerial photos of Oak Island and the seemingly endless ocean of Caswell Beach. But this isn’t your normal lighthouse excursion—within the Oak Island Lighthouse, the steps leading to the observation platform are ships’ ladders, not the typical spiral staircase found in most lighthouses. After you climb up and back down, get a friendly bystander to snap a photo of you in front of the lighthouse.

1100 Caswell Beach Rd. (Caswell Beach, NC)
Online: oakislandlighthouse.org

photo: Ayren Jackson-Cannady

2. Nosh on Calabash-style seafood.
Unique to the Brunswick Islands-area, Calabash cooking includes soaking freshly caught seafood in a thin, seasoned batter, and then deep frying it to perfection. You can score this and more kid-friendly noshes at Fishy Fishy Cafe in Southport. Bonus: The restaurant is mostly open-air and overlooks a historic yacht basin and marsh.

106 Yacht Basin Dr. (Southport, NC)
Online: fishyfishycafe.com

photo: Shallotte River Swamp Park

3. Swing from the trees. 
Calling all adventure (and nature) seekers! The still new-ish 
Shallotte River Swamp Park located on Ocean Isle Beach was created to organically fit into the 300-year-old swamp landscape and enhance the park’s natural surroundings. Featuring boat tours, an educational nature trail and a guided swamp buggy tour showcasing the plant and animal life, this park is just as educational as it is fun. For a thrill, head to the tree-top aerial adventure park, offering 53 challenge elements (think: zip line) with three varying intensity levels perfect for all ages (4 & up).

5550 Watts Rd. (Ocean Isle Beach, NC)
Online: shallotteriverswamppark.com

photo: Ayren Jackson-Cannady

4. Get a history lesson (on a bridge).
If your crew is into trains, planes, automobiles, and BRIDGES, stop by the iconic Sunset Beach swing bridge museum. Once upon a time, the bridge linked the island and the mainland. It was rickety and a little slow, but for most visitors, it was the cue that they were about to cross over from their every day to their vacay. The bridge was decommissioned when the Mannon C. Gore Bridge opened, but a portion of the old structure—bridge and tender house—was preserved and relocated to dry land where it serves as a museum and gathering place for the community and visitors. 

109 Shoreline Dr. West (Sunset Beach, NC)
Online: oldbridgepreservationsociety.org

photo: Ayren Jackson-Cannady

5. Go on a bike ride.
Bikes are the best mode of transportation around Bird Island, a natural area filled with 
pristine sandy white beaches, high dunes and more than 1,200 acres of beautiful salt marsh and tidal creeks. Bring your own or rent bikes, and ride the beach at low tide, when the sand is damp and packed down. Be sure to stop by the Kindred Spirit planted mailbox (right before the rock quarry and the South Carolina border), where residents and visitors from around the world write down fond memories, reflections, wishes, sorrows, prayers and dreams, drawing comfort or sending encouragement from the heart. Kids can draw pictures of the favorite part of their vacation. 

40th St. and West Main St. (Sunset BeachNC)
Online: ncbrunswick.com

photo: Ingram Planetarium

6. Get your star gaze on. 
Sunrises and sunsets on the Brunswick Islands are some of the best in the country. Take sky-gazing to the next level with a visit to this local planetarium. Ingram Planetarium is a 
state-of-the-art high definition digital projection and surround-sound systems with an 85-seat SciDome Sky Theater. Check the calendar for details on special events and music-accompanied laser light shows. 

7625 High Market St. (Sunset Beach, NC)
Online: museumplanetarium.org

photo: Calabash Creamery 

7. Go for an ice cream run.
The ice cream at Calabash Creamery is made of 16% butterfat cream, resulting in a one-of-a-kind taste that kids (and grown-ups) adore. Locals love Cow-a-Bash Crunch, a white chocolate base with chocolate cake crunch. If it’s on the menu, try it!

9910 Beach Dr., SW (Calabash, NC)
Online: calabashcreamery.com

You’ll also love:

13 Offbeat Beach Towns You Need to Visit

The Country’s 10 Best Beaches for Families

Virginia Beach: An Off-Season Weekend Adventure

Considering a trip to Brunswick Islands in North Carolina? Let us know how your trip was in the comments below.

—Ayren Jackson-Cannady

This trip was paid for by Brunswick County Tourism but all opinions expressed here belong to the writer. 

If Finding Dory is on repeat in your house, it might be time to live the life aquatic for real. Grab your binoculars because it’s whale watching season! Whether your little sailors want to set out to sea, or your landlubbers want to look out from shore, read on to find out the best places to spot these magnificent marine mammals.


Photo: Sho Hatakeyama via Unsplash

Whale Watching Adventures at Sea

Hornblower Cruises
The Hornblower might be best known for their dinner cruises around the harbor, but they’ve also partnered with the San Diego Natural History Museum for their whale & dolphin adventure excursions. For 3.5 hours, you and your whale spotting entourage will cruise around enjoying expert commentary from the captain and naturalists from theNAT. Sightings are guaranteed, but since migration activity isn’t always spot on, Hornblower Cruises will extend a pass to you and your party for a complimentary Harbor Cruise if a whale does not make an appearance.

Good to know: Outside snacks & beverages are not permitted, but there’s a snack bar on the yacht.

Cost: Starts at $23/person
1-888-467-6256
Online: hornblower.com/home/sd

Photo: fortherock via Flickr

San Diego Whale Watch
It’s always a bonus when businesses go the extra mile to make kids feel welcome. At San Diego Whale Watch, younger ticket holders will be given an activity pad and crayons so they may color or jot down their own observation notes. Your tour will be narrated by a certified marine biologist, and this company offers a “legendary whale guarantee,” which means if you don’t spot a whale or dolphin during your excursion, you can go on another tour for free. Note: San Diego Whale Watch also offers whale watching year round.

Insider’s Tip: If you’ve booked a morning tour, try to wake up even earlier and have breakfast at The Landing Grille. This dining nook is just steps from where you need to board, and you’re likely to hear stories from neighboring dining fishermen.

Cost: $48/adults and $44/military, senior citizen and children ages 2-17
619-839-0128
Online: sdwhalewatch.com

Birch Aquarium at Scripps & Flagship San Diego Harbor Excursion
If your little whale watcher loves your visits to Birch Aquarium, he/she will be an even bigger fan after journeying to where the whales are with Flagship Cruises. Birch Aquarium ocean experts will be your guides as you embark on a 4-hour tour with the century-old cruise line. Visit the website before your charter to download a printable whale watching guide.

Cost: Starts at $20/person
1-800-442-7847
Online: aquarium.ucsd.edu

Photo: Eric Neitzel via Flickr

H&M Landing
They’ve been in business since 1935, and we’re guessing the folks at H&M Landing are experts on whale migration. The prices here are affordable and they offer multiple discounts for their three and five hour tour times. Their fleet of boats is good enough for the U.S. Coast Guard, so you can rest assured that they’re well equipped to take you up close to the belly of the great grey whale.

Cost: Starts at $24/person
619-222-1144
Online: whalewatchingathmlanding.com

San Diego Maritime Museum & Next Level Sailing
The America yacht whale watching vessel is a 139-ft. beauty that’s likely to bring out the Jack Sparrow or Elizabeth Swann in you. Here, you’ll get a 4-hr. tour and the option to bring your own adult beverages. In other words, this is your opportunity to responsibly sip something sweet or something malty in San Diego’s slice of the Pacific without forking out lots of cash for your own yacht rental. Added perk: you’ll also get complimentary admission to the Maritime Museum.

Weekday cost: $75/adult; $37.50/children 18 & under
Weekend cost: $85/adult; $42.50/children 18 & under
1-800-644-3454
Online: nextlevelsailing.com

Where to Spy Whales from Land

Photo: Beth Shea

Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
When you prefer to spy whales from land, terrain that affords a panoramic view is a must. This La Jolla recreation spot offers expansive, breathtaking ocean views, after an easy climb to reach the crest of your hike. From this vantage point, you’re likely to spot a whale or two, so bring your binoculars for a closer look at these stunning creatures.

Cost: See website for vehicle fees at each parking entrance.
858-755-2063
Online: torreypine.org

Photo: Cindee Swanson

Cabrillo National Monument
Whale watching at the Cabrillo National Monument is a package deal by natural design. In addition to the sweeping ocean views and viewfinders to help hone your search for whales, your family will enjoy a smorgasbord of nature-filled activities and learning opportunities. Bonus: Kids will love visiting the historic Old Point Loma Lighthouse, and exploring the tidepools here if it’s low tide.

Cost: $10/vehicle; $7/motorcyclists; $5/walk-ins, bicyclists
619-557-5450
Online: nps.gov/cabr/index.htm

Where is your favorite place to spy whales? What are your tips for a successful whale watching adventure?

–– Jeannette Swanson