Orca Behaviors: When Do They Breach?!
Whale Behaviors- Focus on Bigg’s Killer Whales Every encounter with whales is so unique and we feel fortunate to share in the moments that they crest the surface giving us glimpses of their stories and personalities. There’s still so much beneath the surface that we don’t witness, but the above water experiences are […]
Formation and Geology of the Salish Sea
What is the Salish Sea? Unless you are a local, the “Salish Sea” might not be the first to come to mind when listing other well-known seas around the globe. This is likely because the name Salish Sea wasn’t actually recognized until 2009 after being proposed as a name 20 years earlier. […]
The Mystery of the Humpback Whale Song
Whale Vocalizations Every moment we witness whales coming to the surface– just brushing the edge of the world we know– is absolutely breathtaking! We wouldn’t have such a fascination with whale watching if it weren’t for these profound moments. And when we are lucky enough to share in their playful and celebratory behaviors […]
Top 10 Things to Do Around Anacortes
What Does Anacortes Have to Offer? Anacortes is highly noted for being a hub for whale watching and scooting out the San Juan Islands at such a convenient jump off point. We love making it easy on our visitors to join us for some epic whale watching at a location that is […]
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 […]
Lighting the Way Through the Salish Sea
Lighthouses of the Salish Sea Over 4,500 miles of coastline and the 419 San Juan Islands make the Salish Sea a beautiful paradise for sea life! It’s exciting to cruise around in pure wonder of what awaits around each corner or little rookery. It also makes for complex navigation especially prior to […]
Seals/Sea Lions of the Northwest
Pinnipeds of the Salish Sea The Salish Sea is one of the most active sanctuaries for an abundance of marine wildlife. Amidst the thrill of whale watching, Anacortes is a fantastic launch point for seeking to spot several other mammals during our wildlife tours. Part of what actually draws our infamous Bigg’s Killer […]
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 […]
