Do you guys have a bucket list? I’ve always had one and have actually checked quite a few things off my list before marriage and motherhood. When Sam and I started a family I began a new “family bucket list” of adventures I wanted to experience with my children. Recently we set sail with the whales on a tour with Birch Aquarium and Flagship Cruises and it was such a fun experience… sometimes I pinch myself that we live in San Diego and that adventures like this are literally outside our sunny backdoor.
Our oldest son Waylon is very interested in all things sea life. Seeing these beautiful gray whales in their natural habitat, migrating south with their young was exactly the way I wanted our boys to see whales for the first time. Birch Aquarium and Flagship Cruises depart twice-daily from Downtown San Diego from December 4- Late April 2018 at 9:30 am-1:15 pm and 1:30 pm-5:00 pm. Click here for ticket info.
We’re giving away 4 tickets on Instagram so find the Birch Aquarium Post over there and enter to win!
I love the anticipation of a new adventure!
Waylon was so excited to board the Flagship boat especially since we brought his grandparents along.
I have a thing for nautical ties and Old Skool Vans.
The Marietta is a beautiful ship but when you board head to the top deck for the best views.
So many beautiful whale species… the whale on the top right is the Gray Whale that we saw many times while out to sea.
Spotting a pod of dolphins surfing in our wake!
Gosh we couldn’t have had a more beautiful day out to sea! I was drooling over this view. I’ve lived in San Diego for a total of 13 years and have only seen this view twice.
Zeke loved frequenting the snack bar below deck… we went back several times for hot chocolate, cookies, chips, and popcorn. Yes feeding this kid is a full time job.
Everyone on the ship was on the look out for spray from the whales blow holes…the ship would slow down to view the whale or whales in a respectful way so as not to disrupt the whale on it’s path of migration.
While on the tour we learn seeing a whale tail is called a “fluke” and it usually means that the whale is driving deeper under water and will come up for air in a few minutes.
When I was in college I used to run on this peninsula to the Cabrillo monument so it brought back beautiful memories that I got to share with my family.
Another amazing sight was the pod of dolphins we passed by multiple times that loved surfing the boat wakes.
Zeke would be in this photo but he fell asleep in his grandma’s arms.
We ended the day with burgers, tacos and soft serve at Carnitas Snack Shack which is located on the Embarcadero close to the Flagship Cruise kiosk at 1004 N Harbor Dr.
*This is a sponsored post for Birch Aquarium but as always all words and thoughts are my own.
xo,
Chrissy
