Cat at East Anacapa Island Packers. Courtesy Doug Mangum.
VENTURA — Island Packers, the official boat concessionaire to the Channel Islands National Park, now makes it easy to shop for the upcoming holidays by offering seasonal whale watching holiday gift certificates that can be purchased via phone. The family owned and operated company provides shoppers with the convenience of having gift certificates mailed or emailed to friends and family.
The company suggests a gift of an Island Packers excursion for the nature enthusiast on their list, and gives shoppers a myriad of options in which to choose that include everything from half-day Whale Watching trips to an all-day excursions to Anacapa or Santa Cruz islands. The company offers daily departures from Ventura Harbor Village in Ventura, California. Visit www.islandpackers.com.
A winter Whale Watch is a perfect way to gather with family and friends to view Pacific Gray whales migrating through the Santa Barbara Channel from their feeding grounds in Alaska to their breeding grounds in Baja. Pacific Gray Whales are normally sighted in the National Marine Sanctuary near Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island starting mid-December and extending through early April. This mammoth migration of over 10,000 whales and 6,000 miles remains a major attraction in Southern California.
Other possible sightings include Humpback, Fin whales, and occasionally Orcas, all of whom visit the productive waters of the Channel to feed on the rich resources found here. Common Dolphin are enjoyed year-round, delighting passengers as they frolic with the boat, and ride the bow and stern waves.
The half-day Winter Whale Watch Cruise provides stunning views of the Ventura coastline or the Channel Islands; depending on where the whales may be sighted.
Whale Watching:
Winter whale watching off of California’s beautiful coast begins December and extends to mid-April. Rates for half-day trips are $40 for adults, $36 for seniors, and $29 for children 3-12. Children 2 years old and younger ride free.
Island Packers starts Whale Watching tours beginning Dec.26thwith scheduled winter whale watching excursions from Ventura Harbor Village and Channel Islands Harbor departing at 9:30 a.m. and/or 1:30 p.m.
All-day trips with landings to Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island are also available year-round. All-day trips run from $ 59.00 to $ 82.00 per adult. Camping is also available on the Channel Islands.
Prices for camping range from $ 79.00 to $ 147.00 per adult depending on island. Advance reservations are advisable by calling 805-642-1393 or visiting our web site at www.islandpackers.com.
About Island Packers:
Island Packers is the authorized concessionaire servicing the Channel Islands National Park and has been family-owned and operated since 1968. For information, reservations or to purchase gift certificates: Visit www.islandpackers.com, call 805-642-1393, or visit Island Packers at 1691 Spinnaker Dr., Suite 105B, in Ventura Harbor Village. Visit www.islandpackers.com or find us on Twitter to follow Island Packers most recent marine life sightings.
About Ventura Harbor:
Situated along the picturesque California Central Coast, endowed with breathtaking views, Ventura County’s Ventura Harbor is bordered by the City of Ventura on three sides and the Pacific Ocean on the west, the site of one of the largest squid offloading harbors in North America. Ventura Harbor has a total of 1,500 boat slips, 40 unique shops and dockside restaurants, two waterfront hotels, beaches, green spaces, water sports, and boating and cruising options, all part of an affordable, multigenerational vacation destination. Ventura Harbor is 20 miles from Santa Barbara, within 15 miles of Oxnard and is 60 miles from Los Angeles International Airport. It is accessible in just minutes from scenic US Highway 101.
From 6-foot dinghies to 88-foot commercial fishing seiner boats, scores of pleasure boats call Ventura Harbor home. Ventura Harbor Village marina is one of the top offloading squid harbors on the Pacific Coast and in the nation and Ventura Harbor Village marina is home to some of the largest fishery companies. Ventura Harbor Marina & Yacht Yard, Ventura Isle Marina and Ventura West Marina service recreational and some commercial boaters. Ventura Harbor has two yacht clubs, two boat yards, and Ventura Boat Rentals in Harbor Village. Other boats docked at the Ventura Harbor include dive boats, 64‘Catamarans (concessioner for the Channel Islands), Vessel Assist, National Park Service Vessels, and two oil recovery vessels.
For visitor information, contact Ventura Harbor Village at 805-477-0470, online at www.VenturaHarborVillage.com. Ventura Harbor Village is located at 1583 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura. Post, share, and like #VenturaHarbor