The 45th annual Dana Point Festival of Whales celebration takes place Saturday and Sunday, March 5 & 6 and 12 & 13. This family fun event draws over 100,000 visitors from around the world to Dana Point each year during the height of whale watching season celebrates the once-endangered California Gray Whale with a leviathan-size event. The Festival of Whales is a great opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Gray Whales as they migrate from Alaska to Mexico to give birth or mate. They perform the longest migration of any mammal each year—traveling more than 6,000 miles in each direction.

Over the weekend we were invited to spend a family day with Dana Wharf Whale Watching. We were lucky enough to experience a beautiful humpback whale who was having a great time showing off for us. He breached about 12-13 times, allowing all the photographers on the boat to just snap away!. Then he would roll on his side and slap the surface of the water with his pectoral fins. It really was quite a sight!

Next we came upon a couple of blue whales. Unfortunately I didn’t get a good shot of them, as my little one started feeling a tad bit sea sick. However, it was a spectacular day on the water being able to see these incredible creatures as they are migrating off the California Coast.

The Dana Point Festival of Whales began 45 years ago as an annual seaside event in the picturesque town of Dana Point. The community and visitors celebrate the migration of the California Gray Whale and other marine species with family fun ocean-themed events and activities with an emphasis on education and environmental responsibility.

Spend a day and plan on the BEST whale watching along with a few other family friendly activities during the Festival of Whales:

• Kick-off parade and Street Fair
• Sand sculpting
• Ocean Awareness Day
• Musical Entertainment
• On-the-water concert
• Art and craft displays and shows
• BBQs
• Kids interpretive crafts
• Classic car exhibits
• Educational lectures/seminars at multiple venues
• Historic walking tours
• Run/walk event
• Sailing/rowing/kayak/SUP demos
• Boating Extravaganza and much more!

“Dana Point offers visitors a great opportunity to get up close and personal with these incredible creatures and also enjoy sightings of other sea life unique to the California coast,” said Donna Kalez, chairperson of the Festival of Whales. “Dana Point’s Festival is unique in that there are  so many different events and activities for our visitors to enjoy. Whether it’s the opening parade down Coast Highway, Ocean Awareness Day and our grand finale concert on the water/BBQ/Spirits Garden at Baby Beach, or the Headlands Conservation Park and Interpretive Center, visitors get a real feel for our great destination and can even be transported free of charge on our Festival trolley that offers stops at each event venue. Visitors can actually ‘migrate’ just like the whales and this year we will once again offer them a water taxi to traverse the harbor. However, what our visitors really want to experience is the thrill of spotting a pod of gray whales, a mega pod of dolphins or other sea life, and Dana Point offers the very best location along the California coast.”

Located midway between Los Angeles and San Diego, experts report that Dana Point’s 200-foot cliffs serve as a navigational landmark for migrating whales. Nearly 25 percent of the gray whale population follow the coastline during migration – which means many whales pass by
Dana Point daily. This is a great location to possibly see a few of these beautiful creatures during the day from the Headlands Conservation Park that includes a public trail system that is over 3 miles long.

GIVEAWAY

Win 2 tickets to spend a day Whale Watching with Dana Wharf

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Dana Point Festival of Whales giveaway ends March 1, 2016 at 11:59 PM PST. Open to US Residents 18 and older only.  Tickets will be mailed directly to the winner’s home (or mailing) address.  Winner will be selected at random and be notified by email. Winners have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Not liable for unclaimed prizes or fulfillment. Blog has represented each sponsor with the expectation they will fulfill their prize and in a timely manner. No purchase necessary to enter or win; however you must enter for a chance to win. Purchase does not increase chance of winning. Chances of winning depend on number of entries. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any form of compensation.  Facebook, Twitter or any other social media platform are in no way associated with this giveaway.  By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to this blog.  I do not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of contacting the winner. Winners can only win once per month. Not liable for unclaimed prizes or fulfillment.

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