This Month at Dana Wharf
Check availability and buy tickets online:
DanaWharf.com
http://www.zerve.com/DanaWharf
Call: 800.979.3370
DANA POINT 41st ANNIVERSARY OF THE FESTIVAL OF WHALES
March 3, 4, 10 & 11, 2012
The 41st Anniversary Festival of Whales starts this weekend!
FESTIVAL OF WHALES EVENTS AT DANA WHARF
Celebrate the 41st Anniversary of the Dana Point Festival of Whales with Dana Wharf! The incredible 5000-mile migration of the majestic California Gray Whale from Alaska to Mexico begins in December and continues through March. During this peak season, 40 – 50 whales pass by Dana Point each day, using the Dana Point Headland’s 200-foot cliffs near the harbor as a landmark to check their migration path. Dana Point offers the BEST whale watching along the California Coast – don’t miss it! For more information on the Festival of Whales, visit http://www.festivalofwhales.com
Whale Watching Cruises
Trips depart EVERY HOUR!
8:00am – 4:00pm
$32 Adults / $19 Kids 3-12
2 and under are FREE!
The originator of Whale Watching in Orange County invites you to celebrate our 40th Anniversary. Take a 2-hour adventure cruise to see the California Gray Whales in their natural environment. Fun for all ages and sightings of whales or dolphins are guaranteed or come back again and ride free! *Take advantage of our 8am trips where trips are only $10 per person! We still have room left on March 10th and 11th for this deal!*
Catamaran Whale Cruises & Marine Mammal Lecture Series
11:30am – 1:30pm – This cruise includes lecture!
1:30pm – 3:30pm
3:30pm – 5:0pm
$42 Adults / $29 Kids 3-12
2 and under are FREE!
Dana Wharf Whale Watching is also hosting a special two-hour Whale Watching excursion following their Marine Mammal Lecture both weekends at 11:30 AM, 1:30 PM and 3:30 PM. A variety of guest marine biologists will present recent findings on local whales, dolphins and other marine mammals aboard their 63-foot, state-of-the-art Ocean Adventures catamaran – featuring an incredibly spacious viewing deck and full-service deli-style gallery – for those that want a one-on-one educational experience. Prior to the 11:30 AM departure, a special lecture session from 10 AM to 11 AM and continental breakfast at Harpoon Henry’s will be included with all 11:30 AM reservations.
March 3 – Mary Blasius – Great White Shark Research
March 4 – Doug Thompson – Gray Whales
March 10 – Alisa Schulman-Janiger – Killer Whales
March 11 – Dennis Kelly – Bottlenose Dolphin and Sea Otters
The Amazing Adventures of Captain Don Book Signing
Sunday, March 4th, 2012
1:00pm – 3:00pm
During Ocean Awareness Day, Dana Wharf Sportfishing and Whale Watching will have a booth to get kids excited about Whale Watching and fishing adventures! In conjunction with this, author Donna Kalez will be signing her book “The Amazing Adventures of Captain Don” from 1-3 pm. Books are just $5, normally priced at $8. This special price includes a signature from the author, Donna Kalez. For those that purchase a book, they get a free spin of the Dana Wharf prize wheel with prizes valued up to $44! Don’t miss this fun event at Ocean Awareness Day Sunday March 4th.
DAILY WHALE WATCHING CRUISES
We have seen over 200 Gray Whales this season! Gray Whale Season is here and will run through the end of April! Each winter, the Pacific Gray Whales pass by Dana Point, many believe that Dana Point is a landmark on their journey. After spending the summer feeding in the food-rich waters of the arctic, the Grays swim south along the coast to the bays of Baja California, where they mate and nurse their young. Along the way they pass Dana Wharf, where you can witness the annual winter journey. We saw over 1,000 whales last year!
Gray Whale Watching Trips
Depart Daily!
12pm – 2pm
2pm – 4pm
*Times may vary. Please call or look online to verify times.*
Adults – $32
Kids (3-12) – $19
Join us and delight in the exciting sights and sounds of the magnificent ocean creatures at Dana Wharf. Known as a landmark for marine life sightings, Dana Wharf’s ocean adventure cruises offer rare glimpses into a huge variety of underwater wildlife and gorgeous scenic views you’ll never forget. Join us as we search for gray whales, dolphin, sea lion and other exciting marine life! All of our cruises are narrated by our seasoned captains who will educate you on the abundant ocean life on our coast. Trips are all 2 hours long, plenty of time to discover the world that lies beneath! Remember that sightings are guaranteed! If you don’t see A GOOD SHOWING of whales or dolphin, you will get your ticket back and are invited to come out again with us! These “whale checks” never expire.
Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild
Saturdays & Sundays
10:30am – 1:30pm
Adults – $42
Kids (14 and under) – $29
This three hour activity aboard the OCean Adventures Catamaran will begin with a dockside presentation and art lesson, via video feed, by renowned environmental artist, Wyland! Guests will learn how Wyland has created some of the best know marine wildlife paintings and sculptures of our era. The vessel will then depart the dock for a whale and dolphin watching adventure!
Click here for more information and to buy tickets!
Orange County Wine Cruise
$49 per person
5:30pm – 7:00pm
Join us for a 90-minute evening cruise aboard our luxury catamaran through the beautifully lit up Dana Point Harbor. This cruise will feature a sampling of wines from The Organic Cellar which promotes organically grown and pesticide-free wines as well as a sample platter of cheese, crackers, fruits and nuts that compliment the wines. The 63′ Ocean Adventure catamaran also features a full cash bar if you’d like to purchase some additional beverages. Sit back, relax and enjoy the lights of beautiful and charming Dana Point Harbor This cruise includes:
~ 4 tastes of wine from The Organic Cellar which is a winery that infuses great tastes, health, and fine living. Join us in making our lives a little healthier and a whole lot more delicious.
~ Cheese/cracker/dried fruit/nut sampler
Additional wine can be purchased aboard the catamaran.
DAILY SPORTFISHING ADVENTURES
Sportfishing trips are departing daily! Rockfishing reopens on March 1st, so rock cod trips are running now! Our 4th Annual Halibut Derby will also be running through the end of April. Drift days are running Fridays and Sundays. The jackpot is over $3,500! We also have some great kids fishing specials including:
Free Kid’s Fishing Clinic
Every Sunday
12:00pm – 12:30pm
Join us every Sunday for our free kid’s fishing clinic! Dana Wharf is proud to offer a dockside experience for young anglers! Ask the experts and learn new fishing techniques, new hook tying secrets, win raffle prizes and so much more! No reservations are needed! Try out your new techniques on the 1/2 day trip departing immediately after the clinic!
Kid’s Fish FREE!
Every Sunday
12:45pm – 5:45pm
Join us every Sunday (right after our Free Kid’s Fishing Clinic) for our 12:45pm 1/2 Day Fishing Trip and kids fish free! One child will get a free 1/2 Day Fishing Trip (a savings of $25) per paying adult! Rental gear is included for the kids too! A savings of $12!
For our full public fishing schedule, click here!
Find Dana Wharf on Facebook or Twitter for updates and great deals!
ABOUT DANA WHARF
Dedicated to helping locals and visitors alike enjoy the unique wonders of Dana Point Harbor and the Orange County coastline, Dana Wharf hopes for the privilege of escorting you on an awe-inspiring whale watching cruise or providing you with a memorable deep sea fishing adventure. The warm waters right out of Dana Point Harbor are flourishing with sea life including whales, dolphin, harbor seals, and California sea lion. Our thriving coastal waters provide bountiful fishing of sand bass, calico bass, halibut, bonito, yellowtail, yellowfin tuna, bluefin tuna, albacore, and dorado.
Whether coming to Dana Point for fishing or whale watching, or privately chartering one of our fishing or whale watching boats, our catamaran, or our sailboats, one thing is for certain; your trip through the beautiful and scenic Orange County coast will be unforgettable.
Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching is conveniently located in Dana Point, Orange County. We’re located just south of Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, and Laguna Beach. If you’re unfamiliar with the Orange County, Newport Beach, or Dana Point areas, we’re located about 30 minutes south of Disneyland and one hour south of Los Angeles and an hour north of San Diego.
For more information, visit http://www.danawharf.com or call 949.496.5794
Michelle McCann
