I’m was a “boat kid,” so I’m very comfortable out on the water as an adult. In fact, I wish I could be out there more. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to go on a two hour whale watching trip. I got to find out over the holiday weekend. I never get seasick, but my 6 year old hasn’t gotten her sea legs yet. We started our morning at the bagel shop in the harbor and gave her a dose of Dramamine with breakfast.
The Dana Pride is a nice wide boat with plenty of room for spectating. We reserved our place by calling and putting our names on the list. Then we checked in a half hour before it was time to leave and got in line to board.
We decided to stand the whole time and picked a spot along the starboard (right) rail for a view of the harbor going out. We came upon a whale footprint almost immediately. See the slick spot in the water?
We trailed along with this slow gray whale that stayed just under the surface. Our captain told us about how this is called “snorkeling.” There was hardly a vapor plume when the whale came up for a breath and all we could see was the rostrum and the barnacles on its back. Apparently, a gray whale is the only whale with barnacles and the larvae are passed to calves at birth. No harm comes to the whale from the barnacles.
This was the only whale we spotted on our trip. We headed out to meet up with some playful bottlenose dolphins.
My daughter’s favorite part was when we headed back in and the whole dolphin pod surfed our wake! Very entertaining!
Tips:
-The earlier you go in the day, the calmer it will be.
-Bring jackets – it may be 80 degrees on shore, but once you get out on the ocean it can be considerably cooler. We dressed in layers.
-Bring a camera and/or binoculars.
-Wear sunscreen since there’s an extra chance of sunburn from the reflection on the water.
-The boat rides really well and takes the swell without much bounce. It didn’t feel “rocky” to me at all. My daughter didn’t get seasick!
Visit Dana Wharf’s website and follow them on Facebook where they have fun updates of what they are seeing out there. Dana Point’s Festival of Whales is coming up the first and second weekends in March (www.festivalofwhales.com).
The author received two complimentary tickets for the trip and paid for 2 tickets herself.
Michele Whiteaker promotes play on her #1 Unofficial Online Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in Orange County: FunOrangeCountyParks.com.
The Irvine Ranch Conservancy runs some amazing outdoor programs for a range of interests and ages. One of their latest offerings peaked my interest because it’s specifically for the 3 to 6 year old set. It’s a new program called “Sounds of the Season” and right now families will explore the landscape and wildlife from “Winter to Spring.”
Join the Irvine Ranch Conservancy on a fun filled adventure to discover the unique ways animals and birds in Round Canyon adapt their life cycle to the changing seasons. Families will take a short and easy nature walk, stopping several times to make fun nature sounds and wiggle like a real Round Canyon resident! Be ready for their fun outdoor adventure by wearing comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. Off-road strollers are welcome!
This program is perfect for the whole family, including off-road strollers! Parents and children will have an opportunity to take a little stroll through Round Canyon, nothing too challenging for little ones. While exploring the canyon, kids will discover what life is like for Acorn Woodpeckers, how the rain affects life in the canyon, and how flowers grow up nice and strong! In addition to hiking, children will create a fun craft to take home and enjoy! This program is geared for kids ages 3 – 6 years of age, but wee little ones are welcome as well. All children need to be accompanied by an adult or guardian.
You must register for the event, but it’s FREE. The Conservancy plans to offer this as a series, keeping Sounds of the Season but rolling through Winter to Spring, Spring to Summer, Summer to Fall and ending the year with Fall to Winter — so keep your eyes on the IRLandmarks.org website.
I remember being allowed to wander through botanic gardens on my own. I guess my mom was probably watching, but my eyes were facing forward and I was an explorer in a new world! What was around the next bend? What exotic plants made up this new landscape? There are places in Orange County that I bring my kids for those same experiences of wonder.
Fullerton Arboretum has community gardens to see, along with fruit-bearing trees and hidden paths.
Sherman Library and Gardens in Corona Del Mar is very small, but their Discovery Garden is a highlight for kids to smell and touch plants.
Centennial Farms in Costa Mesa has lots of animals, but how about the farm? It’s set up in a whimsical way where kids can learn their vegetables and see what they look like on the plant.
What to Do:
*Lay out any rules before you even go in. We use “eyes only” to prevent any picking from the gardens.
*Let your child take the lead. Where do they want to go? What do they want to see? Let them go at their own pace and show you around.
*Don’t forget to look up into the trees. Look at things from close-up and from far away.
*Make sure you have plenty of time to explore so you don’t feel rushed.
*Make your garden trip a “color walk” and have your child point out all the colors they see. We even did this at the Getty Center gardens up in LA. You can photograph them and make a special book of your day.
Earthroots weaves together hands on survival skills, ecological awareness, storytelling & camping programs for children, teens & adult. Jodi Levine is the director of this amazing local non-profit nature connection organization. I first learned about Jodi through word-of-mouth. Her weekly homeschool field classes and summer camps exploring themes of: Wilderness Awareness, Ecological Gardening, Natural Building, Natural Crafts and Whole Food Cooking through hands-on, outdoor activities.
I wanted to sign up right away!! The good news is that Earthroots is offering even more community and family programs. There’s a very special campout opportunity coming up February 3rd through 5th.
Friday: Arrive at or after 2:00pm to set up camp and explore the land. There will be a simple potluck for dinner Friday 5:00pm (bring a homemade soup or homemade bread) followed by a puppet show for the little ones. Teens & adventurous parents will explore their nocturnal senses on a night hike without flashlights, guided by Earthroots Instructors. Evening campfires bring everyone together for music and food. Saturday and Sunday will include making your own fire by friction tools, exploring the land and practicing survival skills.
Come for all the camping — or you even have the reduced price option to just participate in all the day/evening activities and sleep at home.
– serving utensils and plates/bowls for the family
** There is no trash service at Big Oak Canyon, so please bring non-disposable dish ware and be prepared to pack out your trash & recycling.
Earthroots will provide:
– stoves
– water
– firewood
– dish washing station for your cups, plates & utensils
– fire by friction activity, acorn gathering & nature walks led by Earthroots instructors: Evan Brown, Jeannie Lee, Jodi Levine and Caroline Colesworthy
The cost is really reasonable for an entire weekend of outdoor activities with your whole family. Check out the Earthroots website for more details and enrollment instructions.
Michele Whiteaker promotes outdoor play on her #1 Unofficial Online Guide to Parks and Playgrounds in Orange County — FunOrangeCountyParks.com.
The California State Parks Foundation is adopting a battle cry to “Defend Whats Yours.”Saving our California State Parks is a topic I’ve written about ever since June 2009 and as recently as August 2011 (“The Danger of Closing a Park“). I would argue that California’s State Parks are unlike any other line item on the state budget’s chopping block: once we lose them, we can never get them back in their same protected and pristine condition. The investment is SMALL, but the payoff is BIG.
Years of budget reductions to California state parks have forced partial closures and severe service reductions across the 278-unit park system. Cuts enacted in the Fiscal Year 2011-12 state budget include an $11 million cut that was increased to a $22 million cut starting in Fiscal Year 2012-13 and will continue through future budget years.
These cuts enacted by Gov. Brown and the Legislature are forcing the state to close 70 out of 278 California state parks by July 1, 2012, at the height of the summer season. Additionally, his 2012-13 state budget could eliminate all seasonal lifeguards and 20 percent of ranger positions in state parks, if Californians don’t pass the governor’s proposed revenue package slated for the November ballot.
Don’t like this reality? Then, DO something!
Defend What’s Yours is asking Californians to get involved by visiting calparks.org/defend and following these simple steps:
• Be a Defender
• Spread the word
• Volunteer in parks
• Join CSPF to support solutions to keep parks open
