VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Thar she blows! Condé Nast Traveler named Virginia Beach one of the best places in the United States for whale watching.
This week, a group of tourists onRudee Tours got a rare surprise when they spotted several North Atlantic Right whales about 20 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach. Local tour guides say it's estimated there are about 356 whales left in the entire population and that the last sighting in this area was about 15 years ago.
Humpback whales are the most common species to be found in the area, and they're usually seen passing through in the winter months, specifically January or February.
Below is the full list of cities Condé Nast Traveler noted as your best chance for spotting whales:
- Santa Barbara, California
- Island of Hawaii, Hawaii
- Provincetown, Massachusetts
- Seward, Alaska
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- San Juan Islands, Washington
- Bar Harbor, Maine
- Cape May, New Jersey
