Living in Malibu brings you close to many natural wonders, and a favorite local activity is watching whales as they make their yearly migration along our coast. Southern California is one of the best places in the world to see gray whales, and Point Dume provides a wonderful vantage point- a short hike up to the bluff provides panoramic ocean views and the chance for a spectacular show. You might see one of these giants breach, slap, spout, log, spyhop, or lobtail as it passes by our beautiful coastline. Deep waters close to the shore make an ideal path for the whales to pass right by the coast, and plentiful nutrients and krill provide an extra draw.
Peak whale watching season lasts from early December through the end of May, as gray whales make the 10,000 mile journey from the Arctic down south to the warmer waters of Mexico for the winter. You may be lucky to spot an additional member or two of a pod of whales, as mothers guide their young calves on the return journey north in the spring. Gray whales are the most plentiful, but you may also spy blue whales, humpback whales, fin whales, minke whales, and (if you’re especially lucky) killer whales. Other marine mammals love to frequent these waters as well, so keep your eyes peeled for dolphins playing in the surf and sea lions lounging in the sun.
