~ Having a 'whale' of a time
in Alaska ! ~

Whale watching tops the list when it comes to the "must do while we're in Alaska" list.

Alaska's rich waters are home to 17 species of Whales. While many of these species spend summers in inaccessible waters, several species frequently travel into the deep fjords and inlets of southcentral & southeast Alaska, making for terrific sightseeing opportunites.

Sightseeing cruises on average range from two to six hours in length often bringing travelers much closer than they ever thought possible, to these giant ocean mammals. Chances are you'll see other Alaska wildlife like otters, porpoises, seals, sea lions, puffins and eagles.

The most common whale species people will encounter on these cruises are orca, humpback and gray whales. Orca, or killer whales, inhabit Alaska waters year-round. Gray whales pass through Southcentral Alaska and Kenai Fjords National Park from late March through mid May on their way to their northern feeding grounds in the Chukchi and Bering seas. Humpback whales can be seen June through the end of September. While other whales are often seen, these are the most commonly spotted.

Orca Trivia
Males average 32ft in length, weight averages 10 tons, at birth 8 feet long & 400 pounds, live 50-70 years, feed on salmon, halibut, cod, other species of whales, seals, sea otters, sea lions, squid, and sea birds. Females generally weigh less and live longer. They produce a single calf every 2 years.

Humpback Trivia
Males average 46ft in length, weight averages 25-35 tons, at birth 2 tons, live 50 years, feed on Krill, herring, capeline, sand lance, and other small schooling fish. Females generally weigh less and live longer. They produce a single calf every 1-3 years.

Gray Whale Trivia
Males average 39ft in length, weight averages 34 tons, at birth 15 feet long & 1,100 pounds, live 40-70 years, feed on small crustaceans, tube worms and opossum shrimp. They produce a single calf every 2 years.

Campgrounds ~ Costs ~ Fishing
Getting Married in Alaska ~ Glaciers
Northern Lights ~ Lodging ~ Roads
Weather ~ Whales ~ What to do ~ Where to go