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Oregon Watching Whale Event...
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Yep, the Pacific Gray Whales are coming back on their annual migration. And, you get front row seating at this spectular event for FREE! All you have to do is show up.
When?... This fabulous Oregon Watching Whale Event happens twice a year along the Pacific Coast. The Oregon Coast makes for GREAT seating to see this event unfold. The whales can get up to 45 feet in length, topping 35 tons or 70,000 pounds. Makes for quite a site. During the Winter Months... January and February the Oregon Watching Whale Event takes place as the gray whales migrate down the Pacific Coast from their summer feeding grounds north in the Bering Sea. They are heading for the warmer waters off the coast of Baja, Mexico. They cruise along at a steady 5-miles per hour. It takes them approximately 3-weeks to make the migration journey southward. They don't feed much on this southward migration, their anxious to get to warmer water. To survive they rely on the fat that they stored-up while feasting in the Bearing Sea. It's during the Spring Months... March and April the gray whales begin their trip northward to participate in the oregon watching whale event. There's more than 20,000 whales participating in the migration so you should see a few. There are approximatly 200-400 gray whales that just stay around the Oregon Coast. They never make it northward. I guess they think the feeding is good enough for them along the Oregon Coast. Why make the entire trip when they can eat right here. Whale Watch Week... During the Christmas break, end of December and Spring break, the end of March, are designated as Whale Watch Week. These weeks are designed around the school breaks and when most families can get a family vacation and participate in the Oregon Watching Whale Event. They may or may not be the best for Whale Watching. (I don't believe the Whales have organized their schedules with ours yet. When they do, we'll post that crucial information.) During the Whale Watch Week there are a host of volunteers scattered throughout the coast on the lookout for the Gray Whales. If you see a bunch of people, squinting out into the Pacific, you'll know what they're looking at. Feel free to approach them and ask, "did you see a whale yet"? They'll be more than happy to fill you in. They probably have the front row seats at this Oregon Watching Whale Event, but never fear there's always room for more. Where to Get the Best View... Almost any high protruding outcrop with a view out to sea will yield some Oregon watching whale results. As you drive along, look for the scenic viewpoints or groups of people looking out to sea, they are actively participating in the Oregon Watching Whale Event. Some of the good lookouts for the Oregon Watching Whale Event are: Ecola State Park Neahkahnie Mountain Historical Marker Cape Meares Cape Lookout State Park Boiler Bay Scenic Viewpoint Depoe Bay Sea Wall Rocky Creek Scenic Viewpoint Cape Foulweather Devil's Punchbowl Yaquina Head Lighthouse Seal Rock Yachats Devil's Churn Cape Perpetua Cook's Chasm Sea Lion Caves Umpqua Lighthouse Shore Acres Face Rock Viewpoint Cape Blanco Battle Rock Cape Sebastian Cape Ferrelo Harris Beach State Park Crescent Beach Overlook Review the Mile by Mile Tour along the Oregon Coast for additional information about the viewing sites. What to Bring... Now that you have good seats for viewing the Oregon Watching Whale Event you also need some basic equipment. Whether it's spring or winter, you'll need some warm clothes. The breeze can cut right into you. Bring Your Binoculars... If you are serious about getting a view of the Oregon watching whale event, bring your binoculars. It's best to have a wide angle. A 7X35 is an excellent all-around binocular. It's ideal for wide range viewing, like looking out into the Pacific for whales. If you have a more powerful binocular, like a 10X50, you'll get very close BUT it is difficult to scan the ocean with high power binoculars. The viewing area is narrow while a 7X35 gives a wider range of viewing. Magnification is simply the degree the object is enlarged. For example, a 7X35 will yield the object to appear 7 times closer than without the use of the binocular. The "35" appearing after the "7X" is the diameter in millimeters of the front lens. So the 7X35 binocular has 7 times magnification with a 35mm objective lens. It's an all around pair of binoculars. Perfect for sporting events, animal watching and ideal for the Oregon Watching Whale Event. Get Pair of Binoculars... Binoculars vary in price range depending upon the optics. If you have to go out and purchase a new pair, consider what you plan on using the binoculars for; the Oregon Whale Watching Event, sporting events, hunting, etc., and how much time will you actually use the binoculars. If your eyes are going to spend a lot of time peering through the glasses, then we recommend, spend some money and get a good pair. You ultimately get what you pay for. Most sporting goods shops can lead you through the buying process. If you're using them specifically for watching the whales, and you don't plan on making a full-time hobby out of it, we recommned go less expensive. Check out places like Walmart. Enjoy Watching the Whales, The Editorial Staff Northwest Travel Tips
