Super size your winter fun with whale watching packages in Virginia Beach

Witness humpback or fin whales as they frolic along the Virginia Beach coastline. The air is cool, but the suspense keeps you warm as you await the moment when you see the magnificent creature – sometimes weighing up to 40 tons – emerge from the water. The season opened with visitors experiencing a rare sighting of a North Atlantic right whale and its calf in early January. The monthly sighting rate for whales last year was a remarkable 61 percent. Fin whales were spotted, along with humpback whales that breached and lobtailed near the boat. Dolphins also added to the mix of sightings.

Each winter, thanks to the food-rich waters of the Chesapeake Bay, humpback whales migrate along the coast. Through March 15, visitors can embark on a 2 – 2½ hour Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center whale watching boat trip, narrated by a trained educator. What surfaces may be just as powerful and amazing as the whales - a little family togetherness.

Humpback whales have made their trip along the shores of Virginia Beach for more than a decade, weighing up to 40 tons and ranging up to 52 feet long. When “spyhopping,” the whales poke their heads out of the water for up to 30 seconds. Whales also engage in “lobtailing” (raising their huge flukes out of the water and then slapping it on the surface) and “flipper slapping” (using their flippers to slap the water). The fin whale also migrates along the Virginia Beach coast, boasting speeds of up to 23 mph. They are the second largest animal on the planet, ranging up to 79 feet long and weighing up to 70 tons.

Additional family fun suggestions to
experience during your stay include:

• Winter Wildlife Festival
• Where the Wild Things Are @ CACV
• IMAX Christmas Carol
• American Indoor Karting
• Holiday Lights on the Boardwalk
through Jan 3
• Restless Planet at the
Virginia Aquarium

Click Here to View our 2010 Whale Watching Packages

3 days / 2 nights hotel accommodations
2-hour Whale Watching Cruise
Tickets to the Virginia Aquarium, including the new Restless Planet Exhibits
A short feature film at the Virginia Aquarium 3D IMAX ® Theater
Daily breakfast (available at some hotels)
Click here to view all packages

Nature's Influence Whale sightings are not guaranteed. Trips may be canceled due to unsafe conditions. The decision to cancel a trip is made as far in advance as possible. No cancellations due to rain. If you are prone to sea sickness, check with your doctor.

Dress Smart It will be a few degrees colder on the water. Wear hats, gloves, heavy socks, scarves and non-skid shoes. Binoculars and cameras are recommended.

Packages available from December 27, 2009 to March 12, 2010. Price based on availability, double occupancy and rates are per person. Taxes excluded. Group rates available. Cancellations: 72 hours in advance.
IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation.

Virginia Beach Whale Watching Information Hotline: Toll free at 1-866-59 WHALE (866-599-4253)

To book or inquire about a specific hotel package,
please call the hotel directly from the choices below.

Check back soon to book your whale
watching package online or call the
hotel of your choice directly to
schedule your visit.

Value Packages including:

Two nights accommodations
Two-hour Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Whale Watching Excursion
Admission to the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center, including the 3D IMAX® Theater
Daily breakfast (available at some hotels)

For more information, call the Virginia Beach Whale Watching Information Hotline, toll free, at 1-866-59 WHALE (866-599-4253).