Patrick

I've done the search here and gotten some advice, mainly about the Mosquito Fleet. Here's the deal. Four of us adults -- all have done Whale watching before and enjoy it. One is not too keen on major boat rides, however, and sometimes gets motion sickness. None of us are big on crowds. So the deal seems to be that we either get up before dawn to drive an hour to Everett, take a 3 and a half hour ride, do the whale watch, spend a couple hours in Friday Harbor, then another 3 hour or so boat ride back to Everett. The other option is to go out of Seattle, but the overall is pretty much the same except there is an extra stop earlier at Friday Harbor when they let some people off and pick up Whale watchers from there only. The boat from Everett holds about 150 people. The boat from Seattle holds about 250. This is starting to sound like a hellish way to spend the day -- jammed on a boat with a couple hundred people for hours at a time in order to see whales for a few minutes. Am I wrong to think this? Was I just spoiled taking a couple hour whale watch out from the Oregon coast on a boat with a total of 6 people? Is there a better way and a smaller boat for a better experience? Would we be better driving to Anacortes or somewhere rather than spend about 7 hours on a boat getting there and coming back? Comments?

LoveItaly

Hi Patrick, I have family on Friday Harbor, they live on the west coast of the island and I know that they see whales from their house. Didn't know you could possibly see whales from the east side (where the town of Friday Harbor is). It does sound like a workout.

I can't remember, when are you going to be in Seattle? I have to call my family on Friday Harbor in a couple of days. I will ask them what they think and post back here. I agree with you, it does sound a bit hellish. Take good care.

wallybrenda

Hi Patrick,
Would you consider an overnighter to San Juan Island??
If so, I can HIGHLY recommend Captain Jim Maya who runs a small, very fast boat out of Snug Harbor Marina.
http://www.mayaswhalewatch.biz/

Otherwise, you could take the one of the larger boats out of Anacortes.

Personally, I am with you on the crowds and the great thing about Maya's charters is that the boat is small( 6 pass max)and very fast. If the whales are around, Jim WILL find them and has the speed to get you there. Very Fun !

Wen are you thinking of going??

Patrick

Well we will be in Whistler on Friday night, July 22. On Saturday we are planning to drive to Seattle and stay there for three nights. Then on to Portland on Tuesday, July 26. Maybe on Saturday we should go somewhere else and be able to do the whale watch later that day or early on Sunday then head on down to Seattle?

Logistically would we drive ourselves nuts getting to Friday harbor by car and ferry on Saturday for a one night stay, and then heading down to Seattle on Sunday? I'm assuming the ferries that last weekend in July will be jam packed as well.

wallybrenda

Given your itinerary you would be better off to stop in Anacortes on your way down from Whistler.
You could catch the 4 pm sunset cruise with Island Adventures
http://www.island-adventures.com/whalewatching.cfm
as I doubt you could make the 11:30am cruise on Mystic Charters
http://www.mysticseacharters.com/whalewatching.htm

It would make for a late day getting back into Seattle but makes more sense logistically.

seattlesue

I second the idea of stopping in Anacortes for a whale watching trip on your way back to Seattle. This is a great tour with really nice people. It's also a nice way to see the islands without the hassle of riding a ferry.