I'm looking for a trip in a couple weeks. Focusing on whale watching- what would your recommend for the area and tour operator for whale watching?? Thanks

I don't know what area you are looking for, but Provincetown on Cape Cod has wonderful whale watching tours. I haven't been disappointed yet. I can't think of any specific companies running the tours, but I am sure someone elkse will be able to give you names.

You don't say what area you're looking at! I know there are whale watching cruises out o both Boston and Montauk (Long Island) but am not sure if they're offered thia time of year - the North Atlantic can be very rough - and even if there are whales now.

You might try checking the appropriate city web sites.

In Provincetown, The Dolphin Fleet is supposedly the best. I don't know what time of year they start their trips.

I have done the Dolphin Fleet tours in Provincetown a couple of times. Never been disappointed. Their tours are about 3 hours, though, not all day.

If you are thinking Cape Cod:http://www.whalewatch.com/rates.html
We did the tour in May & it was very cold & windy!! Made you cry..we have done this tour many times. They are very good and we always have seen whales. Not huge groups of them though. We saw basking sharks, rights, and my FAVORITE, humpbacks.We were able to follow 2-3 of them for over a half hr..I could stay out all day..

Would double check...most whales on the east coast are down in the D.R. wintering and calving..from Alaska they go to Cabo San Lucas.

It's below zero in most of the NE this AM, you said a couple of weeks....everything is shut down for the Winter.....you might want to try something different...perhaps in the Caribean????

Again, no idea what area you are thinking of, but last year at this time I was in Cabo (Mexico) and you could see whales from the beach! We went on a short whale-watching tour and probably saw over ten different whales...at least 20 sightings. Once, four whales came up about 15 feet in front of the boat. Wow!

Best whale watching I've ever done was at a Wal Mart in Minneapolis.

Two Ideas MAUI January and February any operator, they are all lined up together. I would read maui revealed for an operator. People's one time vacation experience can be prejudiced by the excitement of being in Maui.

Tadusac, Quebec in August, only place in the world where 3 types of whale (beluga, blue and minki) all come together. I saw a whale while sitting on a rock jetty, it passed right near the rocks. Moment of a life time!!! I took forever to do a complete dive so I am thinking it was a blue, saint lawrence river is sooo deep.

The northern California coast is great for whale-watching, even from your hotel.

Just noticed the date. For the California coast, whale-watching is at its best in January.

Whale Watch Inn, Northern California.

I've written about it here several times and they have a great web site. do a search.

LMF

Kaikoura on the South Island of New Zealand is nice. It's only a two hour drive from Christchurch.
John

so funny just found this post by searching on the web, not even on fodors sight.