Any recommendations for whale-watching with the kids on our vacation to Massachusetts? We will be spending a couple of weeks in the state, spending time both near Boston and on Cape Cod, so either area would work from us. Are there age restrictions in place for this? Does anyone else have previous experience with taking younger children (toddlers) on a whale-watching excursion?

Our 3 year old was a little seasick on a whale watch we did last summer, but nothing terrible. He just looked a little pale and was lethargic - no vomiting. It's always a risk, depending on the weather conditions. He was so excited to see whales though! We've been on a few whale watches and liked the ones out of Provincetown on Cape Cod - saw the most whales (May-July).

Hope this helps,
John

Unless you know your child - and yourelves - don;t get seasick (and the North Atlantic can be rough) consider dramimine. I've been twice from Montauk - and both times the crew asked each person getting on if they had taken any (this was early October).

The only problem with dramamine and the like is that it will put your kids to sleep. The crew on the boat sugggested ginger capsules, which settles the stomach without the drowsiness.

Hi

Your child will probably be fine. Not everyone gets seasick. I guess it doesn't hurt to be prepared though. I went on a boat ride on quite choppy waters with my 4 year old neice who came through like a champ.

Check out the website for the Portuguese Princess out of Provincetown. The big plus from leaving from Provincetown is that you tend to see more whales due to the location. I have seen whales standing on Race Point beach in Ptown! and I have seen just one whale tail on a whale watch that left from Boston Harbor...although I just believe that was an unlucky day for whale watchers like me.

Happy planning!

oops sorry, the Portuguese princess website is:

http://www.provincetownwhalewatch.com/

We stayed in Falmouth & booked a trip from the motel at discount for a superb trip that departed Barnstable. I get sea sick in the bath but the water that day was very calm with very little swell & I survived without feeling any discomfort or taking any medication. The trip was well worth it - the boat took an hour to get out to sea & we spent an hour watching wales rise up & swim around. The kids enjoyed themselves with the coastal views, whales & onboard commentary.
Had it been rough we had wrist bands for the kids & tablets for me.

The best whalewatches leave from Provincetown...if you look at a map a realize that whales go where the food is (Stellwagan Bank) you can see why! Our favorite is the Dolphin Fleet, www.whalewatch.com

For small children, you might consider a seal cruise out of Chatham to Monomy. Now that Mother Nature has recently reconnected Monomoy Island to the mainland (something that happens every 150 years or so) they may be changing the regulations about boat tours or there may not be easy access as some harbors are now cut off. You can check it out by calling 508-430-7772, Monomoy Island Excursions. If you want something geared to kids, gentle, lots of fun and not too long, call Captain Storey Fish (no kidding...that's his real name!) at 508-945-3073

I would agree with all yellowbyrd has mentioned! Our grandchildren ages 5, 7 ,and 10, loved the trip to see the seals on Monomoy. By the summer, it may indeed be separated from the mainland again, but they will be ferrying you there by boat, even though it is now connected.
Stellwagon bank, and the Dolphin whale watching boats have a guide from the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown on board, and it is very rewarding.
Another fun thing to do with the toddlers is to have lunch at the little cafe above the Chatham Airport. A private field, the cafe overlooks the field, and one can watch the airplanes taking off and landing.

We have done whale watching in P.Town from both the Portuguese Princess and the Dolphin Fleet and find that The Dolphin Fleet is better only because you can hear the guides when you are sitting out on deck. This past summer we went and saw breaches and there was a baby whale (calf?) that was with its mother and another whale and they all showed there tails and did some other cool things. My friends had a tot and she was totally into the whales.