IT'S WHALE WATCHING SEASON: 3 OPTIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO

Photo by Eric Neitzel / CC BY-NC-ND

December through April and the summertime months means that some of San Francisco’s biggest visitors will be passing through town. Gray whales are making their annual migration north to Alaska where they spend the summer feeding in bountiful waters.

San Francisco Travel partners with a number of whale watching tours and charters that can get you out onto the high seas for an up-close look at these massive and magnificent creatures.

SF Bay Whale WatchingSF Bay Whale Watching provides whale watching and natural history expeditions, departing from Pier 39 to the Farallon islands. Journeys to the so-called “Devil’s Teeth” can get wet and wild, so be prepared for a true adventure. www.sfbaywhalewatching.com

San Francisco Whale ToursSan Francisco Whale Tours offers regularly scheduled tours as well as private charters. The experienced crew and knowledgeable experts are committed to giving customers a great experience—and to saving the whales you’ll see on your trip. The company pledges 25 cents per full price ticket purchase to the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. www.sanfranciscowhaletours.com

Oceanic Society Whale Watching

Oceanic Society is a non-profit ocean conservation organization based in San Francisco. Their mission is to conserve marine wildlife and habitats by deepening the connections between people and nature. Their whale watching boats depart from docks in both San Francisco and Sausalito.