Lastly, we did a pricey whale-watching tour that paled in comparison to our affordable ferry ride.
Wildlife sightings on land or a ferry are never guaranteed, so I’d also booked us a $300 whale-watching tour.
Our tour was on the “mainland,” so we drove up the bridge on the north end of Whidbey Island to get to the boat. It took us to San Juan Islands, an archipelago known for its orca-watching opportunities.
Unfortunately, we only saw one orca during our four-hour excursion.
It was beautiful, but the whale’s distance from us, combined with the numerous other tour boats in the area all vying for a prime viewing position, made the experience feel crowded and sort of artificial.
After this tour, I realized we preferred the more natural and spontaneous feeling of encountering wildlife during our ferry ride.
We actually saw more animals from the ferry than we did on the tour. Even if we hadn’t, we would’ve still gotten to enjoy beautiful scenery as we sailed through Washington.
Spotting animals in the wild can be unpredictable, so I’d rather take my chances on a laid-back, inexpensive ferry instead of pricey excursions where tourists compete for the best views.
