Whale Watching – The Biggest Show on Earth

by Cliff Calderwood
Whale watching is a spellbinding, entertaining, and thought-provoking adventure trip. It’s a show with the largest mammals on earth as the star performers. Whales are majestic and graceful giants, who’s every move seems effortless, choreographed, and yet playful. In this article discover how to get the most out of your trip.
Imagine a lazy summer’s afternoon on a boat in a gentle rolling ocean. A good breeze softly massages your face where you sit, and you begin to close your eyes and drift away… the sound of the boat’s engine begins to fade and finally stops. The boat, like you, is drifting over the waves and following the breeze. It’s very peaceful and calm and after a stressful week you feel in harmony with the world.
Then something explodes… out of the water… and only a few feet from your nose! A 30-ton humpback… the length of a large house... it breaches… and in another second is gone. And you’re left in disbelief and wonder.
And it’s just the start of your whale watching!
While whales are scattered throughout the world there’s only a handful of accessible locations to view them in their natural environment. The coastal waters of New England and the west coast of North America are prime locations for whale watching. Hawaii and South Africa are also superb locations to spot whales, as are the ocean waters around New Zealand.
So if a vacation or trip takes you to any of these areas make sure you book a cruise and take in the largest show on earth.
Here’s some pointers to make sure you have an enjoyable whale watch.

PLAN YOUR WHALE WATCHING TRIP
In the summer months whale watching is popular and so book early – many tours suggest one week to avoid disappointment.
Whale watching cruises can last anywhere from 3 hours to 41/2 hours. If whales are just playing hard to find, then the captain will make every effort to stay out as long as they can to get a sighting.
While most boats are equipped with a place to buy food and drink they don’t usually mind you taking your own pack lunch or snacks. Because it can be a long ride until they find the whales and then back to port take a novel or your walkman and listen to your favorite music, or even whale song CD. If you’ve got young children take something to keep them entertained as well.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A WHALE WATCH CRUISE
Before you book on a whale watching cruise check into the cruise company. Check out their web site, you’ll usually find information about the fleet’s experience and staff.
Today most whale watch boats have sophisticated equipment and communications that help the captain find the whales. But if a company has been organizing whale watch trips for many years it’s a sign they’re doing something right and a safe bet for you.
My most rewarding trips have been when a naturalist or whale expert has been on board to provide information and narrate the tour.

CHECK FOR A WHALE SIGHTING GUARANTEE
Because of the very unpredictable nature of the whales, they’ll be rare occasions when you just don’t see any. So make sure you book on a cruise that offers a guarantee sighting or you get to cruise again for free.
Offering a guarantee is another good sign of a confident and experienced whale watch company. But remember if they spot one whale and you weren’t watching or somewhere else on the boat when they did – tough!

WHALE WATCHING IS DONE ON THE OPEN OCEAN.
Whale watching on the open ocean means if you suffer with motion sickness at all then take something about an hour before you board the cruise.
Experienced whale watch cruise captains do not go out in rough seas, but it’s not a harbor cruise and the whale feeding grounds are usually miles from land. The open sea can be a little choppy even in the summer months.

QUICK CHECK OF WHALE WATCHING EQUIPMENT.
Recommended things to bring on your whale watch are a camera and plenty of film or memory cards (if you’re digital). If you’ve got binoculars take them as whales sometimes surface yards from the boat, and having binoculars will give you spectacular views and close ups others without them just won’t get.
Wear sneakers or something rubber-soled for good traction on a wet and slippery deck. And take sunscreen, sunglasses, and if it’s got a tie strap – a hat.
Because of the breeze and open water there’s usually a 15-degree difference from land out in the ocean. So take a sweatshirt or windbreaker just in case, and especially for a late afternoon trip. Also the boats will go out in the rain and if you’ve got a poncho take it.
The whales are waiting for you. These mesmerizing animals have traveled thousands of miles so you can view them playing and feeding. It’s really the biggest show on earth. So go ahead and take the adventure - they don’t stay for long.

About the Author
Cliff Calderwood is the owner and contributing writer of www.new-england-vacations-guide.com . You can read other vacation articles and get a free travel report at his New England vacations online guide site.

Enjoy A Memorable Nova Scotia Vacation

Nova Scotia can be found on Canada's eastern coast bordering the Atlantic Ocean. This Peninsula touts dense, rich forests to windswept, rocky shores and fertile inland orchards that make it a perfect vacation spot for scenic viewing and perfect relaxation.

The French first settled in Nova Scotia in 1605 - one of the oldest settlements in North America by Europeans. This is now home to a vibrant ethnic mix of cultures. Nova Scotia offers a unique combination of European history along with its cultural diversity.

On your vacation, visit historical landmarks such as the Halifax Citadel. Go back in time and view the Capital city, Halifax, from the Citadel, a fortress completed in 1856 and in use by British and Canadian Forces until the Second World War. Experience the Victorian age recreations of soldiers training in the courtyard - kilts and all! The Citadel also portrays soldier's wives and civilians in authentic recreations.

Nova Scotia's history also plays a role in of one of the largest sea tragedies in recorded history, the sinking of the Titanic, and is home to the graves of the largest concentration of the victims.
Do you enjoy the outdoors? Want to take an active vacation? there are several scenic trails that cut through Nova Scotia's inlands and coastal areas. There are also hiking, canoe, kayaking and biking routes and tours.

Spring ushers in the traditional festivities of the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival in May where you can enjoy parades, celebrations and the breathtaking beauty of some of the loveliest apple orchards in full bloom. Fall is equally well admired with the landscape becoming a sea of brightly colored trees painting the hills and valleys with orange, yellow and red.

View the barren, rocky landscape of Peggy's Cove and visit the most photographed lighthouse in the world. You'll also be impressed with the awesome power and beauty of the ocean crashing and spraying over the rocks. Nova Scotia's Bay of Fundy is home to the world's highest tides - so be aware when enjoying the many beaches that dot the coastline.

There are quaint pubs, shops and the art shops of the historic properties in Halifax. Great high end shopping on Spring Garden Road or take a glimpse of works by up and coming artists at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design - a leading visual arts university in North America for more than a century.

Nova Scotia, a beautiful and diverse local, whatever your taste and enjoyment, there is always something for everyone!

Source: Free Articles

2008 Doers' and Dreamers' Guide Now Available

Well it's arrived. The Nova Scotia Tourism department has announced today that the bible for trave in Nova Scotia is now available. The text of the provinces press release is beolw.

Nova Scotia's 2008 Doers' and Dreamers' Guide is on its way to potential visitors around the world.
The 384-page guide, contains listings on about 3,000accommodations and campgrounds, restaurants, museums andattractions, outdoor operations and adventures, signaturefestivals and events, and tour operators. This year's coverfeatures beautiful Peggy's Cove.
"The 2008 travel guide features countless ways for people to experience Nova Scotia," said Bill Dooks, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage. "It will help us to promote the province as a unique, year-round vacation destination that has something for everyone."
The guide features Nova Scotia's new tourism logo and refreshed tourism brand launched in November 2007. The brand highlights old world charm, new world pulse, seacoast culture and genuine, hospitable people.
This year, 350,000 English and 55,000 French guides will be distributed in response to inquiries generated through advertising campaigns, calls to the Nova Scotia Information and Reservation Service, and e-mail and website inquiries. French copies will be available in early April.
Guides are also distributed to travel agencies, tour operators, trade shows, travel media and Visitor Information Centres.
Visitors will have an easier time planning their vacations and finding unique experiences thanks to new tourism regions designated in the 2008 Doers and Dreamers Guide and other marketing materials. Nova Scotia's six regional tourism industry associations provided input into the new regions and how they are presented in the guide."
The new and enhanced Doers' and Dreamers' Guide features the best of what each region has to offer and now uses the regional names that Nova Scotian's use," said Madonna Spinazola, general manager of Destination South West Nova Scotia. "These redesigned elements will help connect our visitors with what there is to see and do and make it easier to get information on the places they want to visit."
Copies of the guide are available by calling 1-800-565-0000, online at http://www.novascotia.com/and at provincial visitor information centres in Amherst, Halifax Stanfield International Airport and the Halifax Waterfront.

Contact: Tina Thibeau
Tourism, Culture and Heritage
902-424-4817
Cell: 902-483-6104
E-mail: thibeatd@gov.ns.ca

Be sure to check out the web site and get your copy today.

Nova Scotia Tourism Showcased On Google Earth

What do you get when you combine Google Earth and the Nova Scotia Doers' & Dreamers' guide? Well you get the best virtual tourism experiance around. The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism has undertaken a project that uses Google Earth to offer a virtual tourism experiance. All you have to do is have Google Earth installed and then visit the Nova Scotia Google Earth page. From there follow the link for the Google Earth download. Once you download the data file you will be able to fly from attaraction to atraction. All aroind the province there are tartan placemarks noting places of interest. You can click on them to find out more information. This is a great tool to start planning you summer of fun in Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia Travel Guides - The key to planning a great trip

If you are planning a summer trip, or a trip any other time to Nova Scotia there is one must have, a Nova Scotia Travel Guide. For 2007 there were 4 different guides each with a specific theme and a scenic travelways map. There was the standard all around "Doers' & Dreamers' Travel Guide" available in both print and CD format. This is the bible for planning your trip in Nova Scotia and will prove an invaluable reference while on the road. The 2007 version was 424 pages packed with all kinds of information on food, accommodations and attractions from all over the province. The 2008 version should be out for distribution in March 2008. You can pre-order it from Nova Scotia's Tourism website.
The 3 other themed guides were "Golf Nova Scotia Travel Guide", "Motorcycle Tour Guide Nova Scotia" and "Festival & Events Guide". These guides offer very specific information that people are looking for when planning their trip to Nova Scotia.

Welcome to the www.SeaScotia.com blog

Well this is the first entry in the www.SeaScotia.com blog. Here we will try to post useful articles for both owners and renters.



Please check back from time to time to see the new articles.