SoCal sunset |
Since the Thanksgiving tournament fell late in the month this year, it overlapped with the beginning of the gray whale migration. I have been hearing that marine mammal sightings along the California coast have been exceptional this year, they’re having a feeding frenzy due to unusually high numbers of anchovies. Passengers on whale watch cruises are being treated to some of the best shows in decades, amazing even experienced marine biologists.
Paddleboarder at Dana Point |
Ready to cruise with Dana Wharf |
Catching some rays |
It wasn’t long before the captain announced that he spotted a gray whale, and he quickly turned the boat to follow it. We cruised slowly as the whale swam parallel to the coast, dipping in and out of the water and giving us a good look at the barnacles on its back. Fortunately for us, it was a “fluker.” Each time it went into a deep dive, it gave us a nice flip of its fluke before disappearing for 5-10 minutes.
A whale watching highlight |
Laguna Niguel shoreline (Ritz Carlton on the bluff) |
I am eager to go whale watching again soon, as every trip is different and you’ll never know what you might see. As we get further in the season there will be more whales, and they’ll be traveling closer to shore with their babies as they had back north.
Huge gingerbread display! |
Surfboard Auction |
We also enjoyed looking at the custom-painted surfboards lined up for their annual holiday auction to benefit Surfers Healing, an organization that helps people with autism experience surfing. Virtuoso amenities for my clients are daily breakfast, an upgrade based on availability, and a $100 resort credit.
View of beach from the resort |
This Ritz Carlton was one of the first resorts to offer the award winning Eco Adventure Program, created by Jean-Michel Cousteau, which offers unique excursions for children and families to showcase the area’s natural wonders and promote environmental responsibility. In fact, on our whale watch cruise, two Eco Adventure staff members were escorting a family as part of their whale education program. The program is being expanded to more resorts, including Dorado Beach (Puerto Rico), St. Thomas, and Grand Cayman.