The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum has created a whale of an attraction by expanding and enhancing the experience of whale watching in Southern California. To help visitors better understand whales and the experience of whale watching, the Museum has added a docent-led, hands-on interactive tour of related Museum exhibits, providing a more in-depth element to the spectacular experience - taking it to an all-new level.

But first, visitors have an opportunity to view migrating whales and other native marine life aboard a coastal cruise from Newport Harbor provided by Newport Landing, our exclusive partner for viewing Pacific gray whales as they migrate along the southern California coastline. Afterwards, a hands-on interactive experience featuring a collection of Museum exhibits and activities guarantees to stimulate all the senses and satisfy curiosity about these magnificent creatures.

The Whale-Watching Ocean Cruise

This 2 - 2 1/2 hour whale watching experience will bring into view whales, possibly of several kinds, as well as other marine creatures, including dolphins, sea lions and seals. Each trip is a unique experience, full of surprises.

Comprehensive onboard narration provides informative and stimulating details on all aspects of the southern California coastal habitat and the gray whale.

The Museum Experience

This one hour, 4-part multimedia interactive experience includes:

What’s Out There? featuring models & biological specimens
Pacific Whaling History through artifacts & models
Whale Relatives & Ancestors showing fossil specimens, and
Conservation Celebration with a spectacular underwater video experience

With your paid admission to the whale watching package, you will be welcome to a tour of the East Wing Gallery, which includes a Minke whale skull, a collection of scrimshaw, whaling artifacts, a hands-on touch tank featuring up-close interaction with live inhabitants supplied by the Aquarium of the Pacific, and more.

You can also take your own self guided tour of the Model Gallery, including 35 award winning ship models each with unimaginable detail, Age of Sail artifacts, a full size wooden sail boat circa 1930's Newport Harbor, historic photos and videos chronicling Newport Harbor's impressive nautical and maritime past.

Program Schedule

The program is being offered three times each Saturday and Sunday through the end of March: 11AM, 12:30PM and 3PM. Times are synchronized with Newport Landing’s whale watching departures and arrivals, so you won’t miss the excitement on land or sea. And a similar program is offered to schools during the week. Be sure to inquire.

Over 10,000 people annually have taken advantage of Newport Harbor’s whale program to see some of the ocean’s – indeed the Earth’s -- most majestic marine mammals. Be among the first to enjoy this new and unique land and sea partnership experience, loaded with exciting and invaluable educational benefits in its premier year.