Pacific Northwest From North to South, here are the 30 Sites 1. Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Ilwaco, Washington     (note: Fort Stevens is no longer a whale watch site) 2. Ecola State Park 3. Neahkahnie Mountain Historic Marker Turnout on Highway 101 4. Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint 5. Cape Lookout State Park - 2.5 mile hike to site at tip of Cape 6. Inn at Spanish Head Lobby on 10th floor 7. Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint 8. Depoe Bay Sea Wall 9. Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint 10. Cape Foulweather 11. Devil's Punchbowl (Otter Rock) State Natrual Area 12. Yaquina Head Lighthouse 13. Don A. Davis City Kiosk 14. Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site 15. Seal Rock State Recreation Site 16. Yachats State Park 17. Devil's Churn Viewpoint 18. Cape Perpetua Overlook 19. Cape Perpetua Interpretive Center 20. Cook's Chasm Turnout 21. Sea Lion Caves Turnout - large Highway 101 turnout south of tunnel 22. Umpqua LIghthouse, near Umpqua Lighthouse State Park 23. Shore Acres State Park 24. Face Rock Wayside State Scenic Viewpoint 25. Cape Blanco Lighthouse, near Cape Blanco State Park 26. Battle Rock Wayfinding Point, Port Orford 27. Cape Sebastian 28. Cape Ferrelo 29. Harris Beach State Park, Brookings, Oregon 30. Cresent Beach Overlook, Crescent City, California (Aleutian Goose Festival is March 22-25, 2002) Whale Watching History: In 1953 Whale Watching was developed and soo expanded into a commercial activity along the southern California coastline in 1955. Today, some 40 countries participate in Whale Watchingwhich has contributed to the changes in public awareness of cetaceans, environmental education and cetacean research . . . All large whale species, many dolphins, porpoises, sea lions and a variety of seals can be sited reguraly from various viewpoints, eating establishments, parks or scheduled tours. 1970 brough Whale Watching of the Gray Whale's migration off the Oregon and California Coastlines. Shore-based whale watching from headlands along the Oregon Coast highway begins as far north as Astoria and winds it's way south through various ports, viewpoints and overlooks far beyond the Oregon-California border. Migration: Whale Watching is a favorite pas-time on the Oregon Coast. Gray whales can be seen on the southbound migration from November to December or on the northbound from February to April. From the Bering Sea, a 6,000 mile journey to the warm waters of teh Baja's where mating and calving occurs. A return 6,000 mile trip begins at a slower pace and closer to the shore due to the new offspring. Spotting the Herd: As air-breathing sea mamals, whales rise to the surface routinely to breathe. At the surface, they exhale with great force through blowhoes located on their head. The whale's warm breathe pushes the water upwards in a 6 to 10 plume. This is known as "spouting" and is what can be seen for great distances. The whale dives back into the water exposing the back portion of their grand body with a rolling motion. Requirements for Whale Watching would be warm, waterproff clothing, binoculars, cameras, and a good viewpoint of the ocean. Some of the more popular locations are Astoria, Garibaldi, Cape Foulweather, Depoe Bay, Newport, Seal Rock, Winchester Bay, Charleston, Cape Arago, and Port Orford. It is also possible to participate in formal tours on the ocean at many of these location. The cost will range between $7 and $20 with a duration of 1 to 3 hours.