See Blue Whales in the Waters off San Diego

Blue Whale Watching

It's an incredible sight! Blue whales, some as long as 100 feet in length and weighing up to 190 tons (380,000 pounds), are being sighted off the San Diego coast at nine to thirty miles.

Approximately 2000 individual whales make up the population that ranges from Alaska to Costa Rica, and are frequently seen in California in the summer.

Blue whales are the largest animals ever to have existed. They can be compared to the largest-known dinosaur, the Argentinosaurus, which is estimated to have weighed up to 100 tons. Blue whales are rorquals, a family that includes the humpback whale, the fin whale, Bryde's whale, the Sei whale and the Minke whale.

See Sea Life

Dolphins, sea lions, sea birds and other marine life can be expected on every cruise. Cruises include commentary and interpretation by the San Diego Natural History Museum's trained volunteer staff of shipboard naturalists.

All trips include informative narration on whales, their migration and the other marine life and sights you will see on your cruise.

These 6-hour cruises depart at 10:00 AM and return at approximately 4:00 PM. The ticket price is $80 for adults and $55 for children.

Experience

H&M Landing has been operating whale watching and sea-going nature expeditions since 1954. H&M's fleet of whale-watching vessels are built for the open sea. Spacious, safe and comfortable, they provide outdoor and indoor seating, galley lounges with hot food and beverage service.

When you choose to watch whales from San Diego, trust the sea-savvy pioneers at H&M Landing.

For more information or to make your reservation:

Call 619.222.1144 or email hmmail@hmlanding.com

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Take a Walk

In downtown San Diego, visitors find an eminently walkable destination laid out on an easy-to-navigate grid of lettered and numbered streets. With more than 44 diverse hotel properties clustered downtown, there's a wide range of hotel choices. Downtown neighborhoods like Little Italy, the East Village and the waterfront Embarcadero offer ample opportunities for strolling, shopping and dining. The historic Gaslamp Quarter alone offers over 100 restaurants, 35 bars and nightclubs and dozens of charming boutiques to explore.

Downtown San Diego's art and cultural options include the USS Midway Museum, Maritime Museum of San Diego, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, The New Children's Museum, Balboa Theater, San Diego Repertory Theater, San Diego Opera and San Diego Symphony. At the end of a long day, visitors catch one of downtown's people-powered pedi-cabs if they don't feel like walking.

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Cruise the Big Bay

When it's time to hit the beach, car-free travelers can hop aboard Flagship Cruise's San Diego Bay-Coronado Ferry at Broadway Pier for a quick 15-minute cruise across scenic San Diego Bay. Ferries leave on the half-hour and run between 9:00 AM and 9:30 PM. (10:30 PM. on Friday and Saturday).

Upon docking at the Coronado Ferry Landing, visitors have access to the enchanted isle of Coronado where they find small town charm along manicured Ocean Avenue, at the historic Hotel del Coronado and on Coronado Beach - consistently voted the Top Family Beach in North America by the Travel Channel.

Find a place to stay

Book online or call 1-800-350-6205 to speak with a local expert

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A Walk Through Coronado’s History

A place of rich modern and ancient heritage

The modern history of Coronado began in 1886 with the formation of the Coronado Beach Company, which for many years was the driving force behind the development of the peninsula as a town and resort destination. But for generations before that, the area had been inhabited by the Kumeyaay (Iipay / Tipai), who were the San Diego region's first peoples. They established fishing villages in Coronado and used the area for hunting and gathering. The last of the Kumeyaay inhabitants were forcibly removed from Coronado in the early 1900s.

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Whale Watching

Whale Watching in San Diego

Encounter the World's Largest Mammal Up Close

During the summer and fall, marvel at pods of migrating blue whales, plus gray whales, dolphins and other sea life, as they pass by San Diego's coastline.

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Breweries

10 Stop Brew Hop in East San Diego County

East County craft beer itinerary

Try this eastern loop that takes you through El Cajon, Alpine, Julian, Ramona, La Mesa and Santee. If you want to do the full loop, you'll need the entire day, but you could also break it into just the northern breweries (Ramona and Julian) or just the southern breweries (Santee, Alpine, La Mesa and El Cajon). You might also want to consider booking a brewery tour that will chauffeur you around while you enjoy a few samples at each stop.

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Parks & Gardens

Tours through Balboa Park

Led by knowledgeable volunteers and park rangers

Experience Balboa Park like never before. Knowledgeable volunteers and rangers will entertain and educate as they guide you through trails, flora and architecture of this historic and beautiful park.

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