Need help planning a Whale watching trip..

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I am planning a surprise bday for DH. I want to go somewhere in the northeast (we are in WNY - so I am looking for an 8-9 hour drive maximum). I will be getting him a GPS for his birthday and then special cards to "navigate" our trip. Like the Amazing Race. We were suppose to go whale watching on our anniversary but he chickened out.. I won't let it happen this time. We will arrive "there" late Saturday and can stay till early evening Monday. (He has to be back at work on Tuesday, but I can drive home and he can sleep). DD16 and DS13 will be with us...

Please help me plan. I can't seem to put this all together. We will need other things to do in the area and switching hotels and states mid vacation is actually a plus...

Can you New Englanders help me.... TIA, Diane

 

[tabby1881]

Sounds like a fun idea! I live on the north shore of Massachusetts. There are whale watch trips out of Gloucester and Boston. I'm not sure how long it would take you to drive here from WNY. Good luck!

 

[Boo'sMom]

Tons of things to do in Boston and surrounding area, plus several great whale watch companies leave from this area.

 

[mrsv98]

Some of the best whale watching I have ever done is off Cape Cod. I have gone from Wood's Hole and Provincetown and both times were amazing.

Sounds like a fun idea, have a great time!

 

[luv2sew]

Love Boston great place with lots to do and there is a whale watching tour that leaves from the docks. We went on that tour and did see whales but not the big ones. I think the better whale watch trips are from Cape Cod I'm not sure you may need to also check the time of year, I think that the good whale watching is time of year specific.

 

[SeaSpray]

We've done a whale watch out of Plymouth, it was great. I think it was called Captain John's. They "guarantee" that you'll see whales; if you don't, they give you a coupon to go back again another day.

 

[funhouse8]

Some of the best whale watching I have ever done is off Cape Cod. I have gone from Wood's Hole and Provincetown and both times were amazing.

Sounds like a fun idea, have a great time!

My DD is doing this today. I'll ler you know what she thought.

 

[Patty3]

We did this last August out of Gloucester. It was wonderful. We saw the big ones, in fact, we saw more on this trip that we did in Maui during their whale season. I do not remember the name of the boat, it was alot of fun.

 

[S. C.]

Hope this helps.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=879458

 

[debster812]

I personally really like the Whale Watch excursions that the New England Aquarium runs. The go right from the Boston waterfront, and the boat is fairly new, catamaran style, and you're out to Stellwagen Bank in about an hour.

We usually go once a year or so, and 'play tourist' for the day. Walk around Boston, take the whale watch, grab dinner in the North End somewhere and head home tired and happy.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Does anyone know the difference between the Cape, Glouster, and Boston?

What else would you do. DD said something about a Ducktour??

 

[debster812]

Thanks everyone for the replies. Does anyone know the difference between the Cape, Glouster, and Boston?

What else would you do. DD said something about a Ducktour??

The Cape is Cape Cod. South of Boston. VERY busy during the summer. Lots and lots of tourists, and kind of hard to get around, especially if you're only there for a short time. It's about an hour and a half from Boston to the bridges without any traffic, on a weekend, you could sit in traffic for an hour at the bridges.

Gloucester is North of Boston, and actually part of a different cape, Cape Ann. Still a fishing town, some parts are very quaint, and some are quite gritty. It's about an hour north of Boston.

Boston is, well, Boston. If you're looking to also do a Duck Tour, this might be your best bet. The Aquarium does Whale Watches, as does Boston Harbor Cruises (I think, they've undergone some changes). You can also do a Duck Tour in Boston, which is a lot of fun. You do some sightseeing around Boston, and then take a small cruise up the Charles River in the same amphibious vehicle. VERY cool stuff.

I think if I were just doing a quick weekend, I'd probably stay in Boston, book the whale watch out of Boston, and book the Duck Tour. That way you would not lose a ton of travel time to get to and from your Whale Watch. And there's loads of other stuff to do in Boston. Fanueil Hall, the North End (our Little Italy), the Freedom Trail, Boston Common, tour Fenway Park if the Sox are out of town.

 

[funhouse8]

My DD is doing this today. I'll ler you know what she thought.

Well she texted me and said they seen so many whales at least ten and they were so close to the boat.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Wow all of those sound great! I want to go to Nova Scotia. Or Boston or anywhere for that matter.

Have fun planning!!!

 

[kidzmom3]

Wow all of those sound great! I want to go to Nova Scotia. Or Boston or anywhere for that matter.

Have fun planning!!!

Nova Scotia is great, but I got so seasick on the CAT

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Let's discuss the "seasick" option. So it looks like Boston is my best bet. Actually staying a bit outside of Boston and using transportation in works even better in the "budget". So we have never really been on a boat. Unless WDW transportation counts! Would the museum or the other tour be better suited to someone new to this??

And since I really am having a very hard time planning this (very unlike me, usually a couple googles and I am done...

We will arrive on a Saturday nights around 7ish. I would like to do some sight-seeing and then a meal, and be back at the hotel around 11ish. Depending on answer to above, Sunday looks like breakfast, aquarium, whale watch afternoon, dinner, then ??? can't find a thing to do. Monday would be breakfast, the duck tour, a little sight-seeing (ideas welcome), lunch, then head home. Can anyone or does anyone want to help fill in the blanks? Thanks.