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    Oceanic Society Whale Watching

    3.3 (66 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

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    Photo taken by our nature guide
    Leeyen R.

    I went on the Farallon Islands whale watching tour on Sunday. It was an incredible, truly epic all day (7.5 hours) experience. A bucket list item for sure! Michael was a fantastic guide - he shared a lot of interesting information throughout the tour and we all appreciated how knowledgeable he was. You'll definitely learn about the wildlife in addition to seeing and experiencing it! the Farallones are gorgeous and the area is absolutely teeming with wildlife - seals jumping all in a group in the water like they're dolphins, sea lions in massive numbers, different species of birds just taking over the rocky cliffsides. It takes 2 hours to get to the Farallones, and the journey is awesome in and of itself. Whales, common murres (they look like penguins), jellyfish and sea nettles, fish, the list goes on there is a lot to see. TIP: 1. Take Dramamine the night before and the morning of. I went on a wind-free day with great conditions and took Dramamine and still ended up feeling a bit seasick towards the end. It was worth it of course but just advising you to make sure you don't skip this necessary precaution. FYI my husband and friend both did not feel seasick at all after taking Dramamine so your results may vary. 2. Take some videos on your phone! I barely took any videos and after watching the couple I took afterwards, I wish I took more. The wildlife footage you can capture is world class. After the trip you'll receive professional photos via email. They are amazing and worthy of framing. I love this perk as it lets us stay in the moment and observe, cool moments are gone before I'd be able to capture them by camera anyways so it was cool that our naturalist guide was able to catch and share so many great shots. 3. Bring enough water for the whole day While the boat has a sink, the water was kinda warm. In any case you'll want to be hydrated on the water. I will definitely go on more trips with the Oceanic Society and will be recommending them to friends and family. Thank you for the memorable trip!! Ok

    The Puffin!

    We went to Farrallones and were so very lucky to see the whales putting on a magnificent show. I've lived by Ocean beach in SF for 15 years and never saw a whale so it is such an amazing treat to see them. We also saw many different types of sea lions and birds, including the Puffin which my daughter recognized from the Trader Joe's cereal. Our guide Michael is a passionate naturalist and excellent photographer. Some pics attached. The ride out was a bit choppy but made the experience even more exciting. I recommend dramamine, waterproof shoes/boots, warm coat, hat and mittens and a thermos with hot cocoa. We motored along the western coast of Marin which was really cool to see from the water side. I I had such a fantastic experience and highly recommend it if you like adventure and marine life.

    Artem R.

    Probably, an exclusive company in 2019, which provides public tours to the Farallon Islands. The organization, access to information and service on a high level. We took a tour to Farallon in June. Got a message with all instructions about seasickness and how to avoid it. The lessons that we have learned after the trip: 1) do not drink 2 pills of antihistamine (Bonine) or you will feel dozy all trip, 2) if you think that you put on warm clothes pretty enough, add one more jacket, 3) Have decided to not use sunscreen because there is not the sun? Bad idea, you will get burned, 4) Don't plan anything in the evening, you'll be too tired after a long day spent in the ocean. Just one complaint. From our perspective, the boat isn't big enough to accommodate 40 or more people we had on it during our trip. There wasn't free space to sit in the back of the boat most of the time. Nevertheless, it was a great opportunity to see the Farallon, meet around 10 whales and dolphins and learn some facts about marine life from the biologists.

    Emily L.

    This was one of the highlights of my life, other than my camera battery failing it was stellar. The boat was called the "Salty Lady " for god' s sake! A friend was coming up for her birthday so my hubby and I surprised her at the dock with a Whale Cruise, how fun! She usually has great sea legs, but got a bit tipsy last night and was hurting for the beginning of the ride. It took about 2 hours to get to the Farallon Islands and along the way we saw tons of Sea Lions, Seals birds galore and a few Harbor porpoise (they were really close to the bay...get the name?) Once we got to the Island we killed the engine and enjoyed the view, and all of a sudden my Husband shouts "Oh my God Shark" There was a Great White who showed its teeth and quickly left. Wow that was exciting, what else will we see? Oh more birds....I don't like birds too much as I get pooped frequently. And I know it is not good luck Aunt B, you will never convince me of that. We cruised around the Islands a bit then went to the edge of the Continental shelf, you know where the ocean drops off about 2700 feet? This is where the fun begins, we started to smell this smell. Like ammonia, fish, and something nasty. That is what a whale smells like, gross. Then one surfaced and we forgot all about the smell. Blows began to show and we all shouted and pointed like kids in a Zoo. They were everywhere around us, about 12 in all feeding like mad. You could see all sorts of dolphins, they rode with the front of our boat and were a joy to watch. The Whales were majestic, flipping their tales up and eating tons and tons of fish. People were in complete awe and laughed when they came up. I have never felt so amazed at nature in my life. We stayed there for an hour or more watching the whales, the fish under the boat (clear water!), the dolphins and everything. It was such a wonderful day. We turned back when the whales seemed to be done eating, they breached a few times and it was again amazing. On the ride back some of the dolphins rode with us back to the Islands, like a farewell party if you can call them one. The boat was clean, the crew was great and our guide was amazing! Juan-Carlos, thank you!~ Also this is a non-profit tour, which makes me feel good about driving out to the Farallons. I have been on many boats and have seen many things, but today was the best day ever.

    Passing by the Golden Gate
    Danielle M.

    Went out on the first whale watching tour of the season yesterday. Our group was fortunate and saw several humpbacks, a mola mola, Dolphins, a puffin, and many seal lions. The islands were absolutely stunning, and on our return home we saw a whale under the Golden Gate! The journey is a long one (about 8 hours total) and definitely chilly and strenuous. Our boat had about 13 passengers on board which were accommodated somewhat comfortably. Seating is limited, so you need to be prepared to stand sometimes and make due. The boat is also small and if you're prone to seasickness it could be a rough ride just given the duration of the trip. The crew was very nice, however, and brought complimentary coffee and bagels. They were also very eager to answer any questions on the journey. Overall, if you're a nature enthusiast and are okay with braving the elements for a day, I'd highly recommend this trip! It was absolutely incredible to see the remote Farallon Islands and all the wildlife. It's truly a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I think many people will truly love this trip. However, be fully aware you're embarking on an 8 hour adventure in the open ocean, and be prepared.

    Mariella G.

    I went whale watching last weekend and it was the best experience, on time, lots of information given and yes, tons of whales. The people on the boat where enthusiastic and helpful. If you want to do some whale watching I highly recommend this nonprofit organization. I copied and pasted this review from the SF. Gate Farallon Islands: Last Saturday's trip was the most spectacular of the year for the Oceanic Society out of San Francisco: 78 humpback whales, 9 blue whales, 1 gray whale, along with harbor porpoises and shorebirds. Vast acres of krill have brought the whales to the Gulf of the Farallones. Humpbacks were tail slapping, lunge feeding and breeching within 20 feet of the boat, and blues came within a body length. Whale hotline, (415) 474-0488; Oceanic Society, oceanicsociety.org.

    Blue whale fin

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    Wonderful people. Smart, professional. Invest in electronic wrist bracelets for sea sickness.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Oceanic Society Whale Watching

    Review Highlights - Oceanic Society Whale Watching

    Learned some good history about Farallon Islands and then motored out to whales right on continental shelf.

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    Marquis Charters - Luxury Private Yacht Charter, Date Night, Sunset, Dinner, Brunch, SF Bay, Proposal, Birthday, Anniversary, Fireworks, Airshow, New Years Eve

    Marquis Charters

    5.0(6 reviews)
    21.9 mi
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    Everything about Marquis Charters was first class. Captain Dave has EXCELLENT communication…read morethrough the planning, and the voyage. The crew were all friendly and real pros as well. When we charter again in the SF Bay, we will defintely use Captain Dave and Marquis Charters again!!

    What an amazing silver soirée 40th birthday for my sister!!! Dave was very professional and detail…read moreoriented from the booking process, to the planning of the event, to the day of festivities, we were pampered and taken care of like Queens and Kings!!! Dave made this so easy, I give him a few ideas and he cultivated and crafted it to life. I couldn't believe how meticulous and beautiful the day was. My sister was truly brought to tears. There was a customized champagne flute, a customized birthday welcome sign on an easel, fresh flowers, balloons, the colors and decor were honestly all on point!!! We were even able to come up with a chef inspired menu to hit the notes of our food favorites and Dave even has menu customized and laminated for the event. The crewmembers were some of the nicest top-notch service personnel we've ever met. We were even able to come up with a drink menu and they were bartenders on deck too! Truly was white glove service all around. If you put your contract in with Marquis Charters, you will not be disappointed as every dollar will be worth it!!!

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    Far Horizons Archaeological and Cultural Trips - Egypt group in Nubia

    Far Horizons Archaeological and Cultural Trips

    3.7(3 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    I have traveled with Far Horizons Archaeological and Cultural Trips on several occasions and I will…read moretravel again with this great organization. The study leaders are amazingly talented storytellers who weave historical facts with onsite visits to help travelers better understand and appreciate the archaeological wonders they visit. Plus the staff at Far Horizons has the uncanny ability to find the most outstanding hotels and food in the world's most remote locations. I am a big fan - thanks to Far Horizons for the many great adventures they have taken me and my family on!

    We've traveled with Far Horizons once but would certainly do it again if timing and trip work out…read more We went to Egypt with Bob Brier and his wife. The group was small and generally educated and very interested in learning about Ancient Egypt. Far Horizons specializes in tours with an academic as a leader/teacher. Many of us had chosen this trip because of familiarity with Bob Brier. The tour company performed excellently. We had a home office guide with us as well as local Egyptian company taking care of the arrangements. The trip flowed without a hitch. Bob and Pat were not just leaders they were warm and friendly hosts. The Group bonded rapidly and there were no people problems, the hotels and food were all excellent. The insights and experiences going with an experienced Egyptologist were outstanding. We have done other trips with another similar company and they were comparable. We are very interested in learning on our trips and find the 'Far Horizons' genre of company very satisfying. As tour company they are first rate, as educational experience providers we found the trip a favorite. They have a repeat clientele and we will likely join the repeat group when timing/academic and locus come together for us again. We can unreservedly recommend this company.

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    ACsailingSF

    ACsailingSF

    4.9(43 reviews)
    13.3 miNorth Beach/Telegraph Hill, Fisherman's Wharf

    Fantastic experience! I had done sailing couple of times in smaller boats. But this was…read moreexhilarating. You get ample chance to work on "grinders" when sails have to unfurled and / or adjusted. Crew is very friendly and humors all naive sailing related questions without snickering. We were also lucky with co operating weather - high tide co in coding with same wind direction. Main attraction was the fact that it was a racing boat. I was skeptical about how much of "racing" experience I was going to get. As we got on the boat, instructions were given. When they say "boat will tilt 30°", they mean it! And thanks to colleague's app, we could verify that speed while going against the wind was around 5 miles/hr but along with the wind while coming back was almost 14 miles / hour. That was mind boggling! Will definitely do the excursion again.

    Thank you John, Will n Pete for an AMAZING time onboard USA 76 sailing the Bay…read more These guys are down to earth, fun and encourage your participation while sailing. Not set route...it's where ever the winds take us. Headed out of Pier 31 to the East side of Alcatraz Island, out towards the Golden Gate Bridge...we even went outside the gate and back around. Be sure to have your cameras ready for photo opportunities because you wont see these sights from land. Not only do you get to sail on an America Cup's vessel USA 76, you have opportunity to take the helm and steer the vessel n set the sails throughout the trip. Besides the scenery and being on the water, passenger participation is what really makes this adventure fun. Weather was perfect...little overcast, got some rain and the sun popping through the clouds ever so often. If you didnt bring a heavy enough jacket, they will provide. Dont be afraid of getting motion sickness...it's all good. Special shout-out to my friend Bernadette for booking this excursion. She is one of the Concierges at the Argonaut Hotel.

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    Imagination Park - Sign and beautiful floral display at the park

    Imagination Park

    4.3(17 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    In the quaint little town of San Anselmo, CA (which happens to be tucked in between San Rafael and…read moreFairfax) lies "Imagination Park". For those that choose to visit, this is a very tiny park with only a couple of benches for sitting. Do not expect to see a playground nor is there even a water fountain or public restroom. And keep the dogs at home as this is not a pet-friendly park. The space itself is equivalent to that of a backyard of a standard house. Located right off of San Anselmo Ave. and tucked right in between Magnolia Ave. and City Hall Ave. in downtown San Anselmo, this park eventually came to life back in June 2013. This idea was spearheaded by film director George Lucas who directed mega blockbuster films such as the entire Star Wars Saga, the Indiana Jones franchise as well as American Graffiti. It is very easy to find as the location itself is just steps away from the San Anselmo Public Library as well as the Town Hall. I came here on a warmer than normal summer day on 7/15/2023 at around 4:10pm. After parking my SUV just a block away, I was awed with the beautiful collection of pink/lavender flowers with the plaque that reads Imagination Park directly above it. But the real treat here is the life-size statues of one of Star Wars most recognizable and beloved characters, "Yoda", And directly on the other side is a statue of Harrison Ford who played "Indiana Jones" in all 5 of the movies spanning from 1981-2023. While you're here, its nice just to let your imagination run wild (hence the name "Imagination" Park) and just appreciate how influential George Lucas is in all of his movies. He actually used to have a residence in San Anselmo before relocating to the more private and open Lucas Valley. So for all you movie fanatics young and old, do yourself a favor and check this place out if you're in the area. My rating, a unanimous five stars.

    Once again, I've warned you my fellow Yelpers and random visitors perusing the Yelp app, don't set…read moreyour expectations too high when it comes to the size of the park. It's situated next to the San Anselmo Library, extremely small and not what you imagined (no pun intended). There are two statues here - Yoda and Indiana Jones, don't expect anything else. Be respectful when visiting this park. It's a lovely hangout spot like one of the Yelpers mentioned, go get some coffee and sit here and reminisce, or do whatever you want to kill time. It's definitely not a park with monkey bars and swings for the kids, so carry on. No hiking and no trails. Stop by if you're in the neighborhood and chillax. 'Til next time ~ cheers and see you on Yelp soon! https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/imagination-park-san-anselmo?select=c6MF24JXpCU3GQUUhgfMDQ

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    Imagination Park - Posing a picture with a Yoda statue

    Posing a picture with a Yoda statue

    Imagination Park - Posing a picture of a Yoda statue

    Posing a picture of a Yoda statue

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    Oceanic Society Whale Watching - whalewatchingtours - Updated May 2026

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