Need info for Boston area whale watching attractions

[thr33boys]

I'm hoping some Boston/Cape Cod locals can provide me with some insight into whale watching excursions in the area. Are there any that you recommend over another? We'll be in Boston area for 3 days in a couple of weeks and then heading to Cape Cod for another 3 or 4 days. We're thinking about doing the Boston Harbour Cruises but I'm not sure if all 3 of my kids would like it. The 6 year old might find it too long. If we did the ones offered through Cape Cod, I can stay back at the campground and that would be fine.

Anyway, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it. Also, if you can offer any ways of helping the budget, that's welcome too

 

[LSKN]

I've never done a whale watch out of Boston, but have done them from southern Maine. The difficult thing is that you have to go really far to see them, like 90 min or so of just sitting around waiting for the boat to get where the whales might be. I would think it would be boring for kids.

 

[nhgirl]

I have never done Whale Watching. The kids might enjoy the Boston Duck Tour. There is a Groupon for it: https://www.groupon.com/deals/boston-super-tours-18. Cape Cod also has a Groupon for the same type of thing but they call if Duckmobiles: https://www.groupon.com/deals/cape-cod-duckmobiles.

 

[clori]

Most people I know take a boat from the Aquarium area. I only went on one which was more than enough for me (sea sickness). Another activity your kids may like if you go there is http://www.plymouthcruises.com/pirate_cruise.shtml the pirate cruise in Plymouth.

 

[katie111]

I believe all of the cruises go to one area, Stellwagen Bank. I think the one from Provincetown is the best as you are closest to the Bank so you spend the least amount of time just cruising around. We did one once and the kids loved seeing the whales, but we only saw them for about 20 minutes out of a 3 hour cruise so some of it was just boring for them. My DDD's best friend went on one last year ad said almost everyone on the boat was getting sick, it was a rough day on the seas but a nice day onshore.

My kids favorite boating activity is the Codzilla out of Boston. It's a large speedboat that goes into the harbor and does 180's. Certain areas of the boat get soaked. My youngest was 4 the first time that we went on it and he loved it. The boat tour to the harbor islands is also fun and very inexpensive.

 

[captainjen]

I would personally stay away from the boats leaving from Boston. I have noticed a serious decline in the safety and maintenance of these vessels. Go with the boats leaving from the Cape. They are safer, cleaner and are better maintained. JMHO Hope you have a magical time where ever you end up!

 

[han22735]

I've gone with Capt. Johns out of Plymouth. Very close to the cape plus you can spend some time downtown. There's lots to do.

 

[vandort]

We always have taken the Dolphin Fleet out of Provincestown. We've always good experiences with them and saw more whales than when we were in Alaska.

 

[lindsmom]

The Boston Harbor Whale Watch is 3 hours - your children should be able to do it based on their ages - like PP mentioned, all boats go to Stelwagen so you will see the same whales. You could drive to PTown (about 3 hour ride each way in summer, possibly longer) but frankly I wouldn't just for a whale watch. You could Ferry from Boston to PTown, but that's a 90 minute ferry each way so that will end up being a long time on a boat. I would highly recommend the watches here in PTown, but if you're in Boston for just a few days, I would just take the Boston one.

 

[thr33boys]

The Boston Harbor Whale Watch is 3 hours - your children should be able to do it based on their ages - like PP mentioned, all boats go to Stelwagen so you will see the same whales. You could drive to PTown (about 3 hour ride each way in summer, possibly longer) but frankly I wouldn't just for a whale watch. You could Ferry from Boston to PTown, but that's a 90 minute ferry each way so that will end up being a long time on a boat. I would highly recommend the watches here in PTown, but if you're in Boston for just a few days, I would just take the Boston one.

We'll be camping in Littleton and heading into Boston on July 3rd and 4th. On July 6th, we head to Cape Cod and are camping in Brewster. I'm leaning more towards going to one of the ones out of Provincetown. I'm worried the Harbour cruise will eat into too much of our aquarium visit.

 

[thr33boys]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I think we'll bite the bullet and do it anyways. I'm sure it will be memorable no matter the outcome

 

[laughinplace199]

The aquarium is pretty small, so you don't need to worry about having time to do it with the whale watch. You should be able to fit both into your day.

 

[thr33boys]

Ok, thanks laughinplace.

 

[KCmike]

We always have taken the Dolphin Fleet out of Provincestown. We've always good experiences with them and saw more whales than when we were in Alaska.

We did the same one two years ago and had a great time!

 

[captainjen]

I love the Dolphin Fleet. The boats are awesome, the crew professional and I always have a great time when I am on their boats Best way for a family to enjoy a beautiful summer day !

 

[kymom99]

We used Dolphin Fleet out of Provincetown. It was a good time. It rained and was freezing, but we saw whales. I also got nauseous, but did not get sick.

 

[nhgirl]

While in Brewster, if you have the time, check out the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. We went last year and loved it.

 

[3boymthr]

I'm guessing that if you are camping in Brewster then you will be camping at Nickerson State Park (great campground BTW - my kids went camping there with their troop in May). If that is the case, then you should be aware that with traffic you will be about 1 hour drive from the pier in Downtown Provincetown. The parking at the pier in P-town can be tricky if going mid morning or later in the day. There are a couple of other places with public parking, including a public lot on the outskirts of town (entrance to the lot is across the street from the Cumberland farms right near the TD Bank). Also, there are usually discount coupons for the whale watches in the local tour guide books. There is a Tourist Information kiosk on Route 6 in Eastham that generally has all kinds of coupons.

Also, if you have space bring your bikes! The Cape Cod Rail Trail bike path runs from Dennis to Wellfleet and goes right through Brewster. It's 21 miles end to end and is mostly flat. One of the main joining points for the bike is at Nickerson State Park. If you can't bring your own bikes there are a bunch of places to rent them as well. The path goes right by the entrances to several of the National Seashore beaches. You can bike to the beach from the path. The total round trip distance from Marconi Beach to Nickerson SP Area 1 is a little over 26 miles (yup this is what my kids did when there in May).

Also, if planning on going to the beach on the National Seashore or any of the ocean beaches on the Cape from Chatham to Truro be prepared to seek out alternate beaches. July is seal season - which means it's also great white shark season. On a positive note, the seals are not a problem on the bay beaches. The beaches in Brewster are bay beaches.

 

[3boymthr]

I'm guessing that if you are camping in Brewster then you will be camping at Nickerson State Park (great campground BTW - my kids went camping there with their troop in May). If that is the case, then you should be aware that with traffic you will be about 1 hour drive from the pier in Downtown Provincetown. The parking at the pier in P-town can be tricky if going mid morning or later in the day. There are a couple of other places with public parking, including a public lot on the outskirts of town (entrance to the lot is across the street from the Cumberland farms right near the TD Bank). Also, there are usually discount coupons for the whale watches in the local tour guide books. There is a Tourist Information kiosk on Route 6 in Eastham that generally has all kinds of coupons.

Also, if you have space bring your bikes! The Cape Cod Rail Trail bike path runs from Dennis to Wellfleet and goes right through Brewster. It's 21 miles end to end and is mostly flat. One of the main joining points for the bike is at Nickerson State Park. If you can't bring your own bikes there are a bunch of places to rent them as well. The path goes right by the entrances to several of the National Seashore beaches. You can bike to the beach from the path. The total round trip distance from Marconi Beach to Nickerson SP Area 1 is a little over 26 miles (yup this is what my kids did when there in May).

Also, if planning on going to the beach on the National Seashore or any of the ocean beaches on the Cape from Chatham to Truro be prepared to seek out alternate beaches. July is seal season - which means it's also great white shark season. On a positive note, the seals are not a problem on the bay beaches. The beaches in Brewster are bay beaches.

 

[MickeyLovestheU]

Dolphin fleet out of Provincetown, research and education is their priority. We go every summer and have always seen whales.