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Glacier Bay, AK - Whales: Humpback, minke, orca, and blue whales

When to go: June to August

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Glacier Bay, AK - The whales stop here to revel in the nutrient-rich waters before heading to Hawaii and other places for the winter.

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Juneau, AK - Whales: Humpback and orcas

When to go: April to November

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Juneau, AK - Other animals you might want to keep an eye out for include bald eagles, seals, sea lions, and black bears.

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Kodiak Island, AK - Whales: Gray whales, fin, and humpback whales

When to go: April and June to November

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Kodiak Island, AK - Whales stop here to take advantage of Kodiak’s nutrient-rich waters to prepare for their foodless winter.

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Big Sur, CA - Whales: Blue, gray, and humpback whales

When to go: Year-round

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Big Sur, CA - Humpback whales can be seen from late April to early December, while gray whales can be seen from December to April, and blue whales can be spotted from June to October.

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Monterey Bay, CA - Whales: Blue, gray, and humpback whales

When to go: Year-round

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Monterey Bay, CA - Different types of whales show up at different times in this area. April to December brings humpback and blue whales, while December to April brings the gray whales.

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San Diego, CA - Whales: Gray, blue, and fin whales

When to go: December to March and June to September

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San Diego, CA - If you go in the spring, you might catch a blue whale calf swimming along with their mother on the journey back north.

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Santa Barbara, CA - Whales: Gray, blue, minke, and humpback whales

When to go: February to early April and May to September

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Santa Barbara, CA - Whales enjoy the water temperature off the Californian coast to give birth to their calves.

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Jacksonville, FL - Whales: North Atlantic right whale

When to go: November to April

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Jacksonville, FL - Gray whales migrate 10,000 mi every year from the Arctic to Mexico, making this the longest migration of any animal. There are only about 400 of them left in the western North Atlantic Ocean, so consider yourself very lucky if you spot one.

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Maui, HI -

Whales: Humpback whales

When to go: December to April

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Maui, HI - About 3,000 whales mate here. Maui is also one of the few places you can hear them serenading potential mates.

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Cape Cod, MA - Whales: Minke, fin, and humpback whales

When to go: April to October

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Cape Cod, MA - Local companies claim a 99% whale-spotting success, and the World Wildlife Fund has named Massachusetts one of the top 10 whale watching spots in the world. So your chances of seeing these beautiful mammals are pretty good here.

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Bar Harbor, ME - Whales: Fin, minke, and right whales

When to go: Mid-April to October

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Bar Harbor, ME - After a meager winter, hungry whales come here to feast in the local waters, as they are rich in sand eels, copepods, plankton, and fish.

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Long Island, NY - Whales: Fin, humpback, minke, sperm, North Atlantic right, blue, and sei whales

When to go: July to early September

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Long Island, NY - A great variety of whales cross through here to take advantage of these nutrient-rich waters.

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Virginia Beach, VA - Whales: Humpback and fin whales

When to go: December to March

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Virginia Beach, VA - Whales stop by Chesapeake Bay during the winter on their way up north.

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Depoe Bay, OR - Whales: Gray whales

When to go: Mid-December to June

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Depoe Bay, OR - About 20,000 whales migrate south between December and January each year. The same whales return north throughout different months, so your best chances of spotting a whale off the Oregon coast is in the winter.

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San Juan Islands, WA - Whales: Orcas

When to go: Mid-April to early-October

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San Juan Islands, WA -

San Juan’s largest island is called Orcas Island, so that’s your hint. You might also spot the occasional humpbacks, minkes, and even gray whales.

Source: (Local Adventurer)

See also: How whales help to combat climate change

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