Whales on Land: A Scavenger Hunt

Golden West Mural

Whale watching on the California north coast thrills locals and visitors alike. The blast of excitement you feel when that spout of water appears is reminiscent of childhood easter egg hunts. But plenty of visitors are not so lucky—maybe the ocean is too rough and the whitecaps obscure the spout, maybe inclement weather keeps you indoors during your visit, or maybe you just can’t seem to spot the spout when all around people are saying “Look, look, it’s right there!”

But whale watching rewards patience, so just accept that today is not the day to see one and try again later. And it does not mean that you can’t indulge your whale curiosity in other ways. Because we are a coastal community, whales are abundant on-shore, so I’ve prepared a little scavenger hunt for whale lovers of all ages!

Find the Whale Skeletons

We are fortunate to have 2 intact, fully articulated whale skeletons in Fort Bragg so you can get up close and personal with their anatomy.

Grey Whale at MacKerricher

• Check out the 30-foot grey whale skeleton displayed near the visitor center at MacKerricher State Park just north of town. The docents here also lead whale watching tours during migration season, For extra credit, find the wooden bench sculpture nearby of a mama whale and her baby.



Noyo Center Orca

• To pose with your head in the mouth of a killer whale, stop by the Noyo Center for Marine Science, where an Orca skeleton was articulated (aka assembled like bone Legos) by the community several years ago. The Orca is just one of many exhibits, so plan to spend some time here learning about marine life off the coast.

Find the Art Whales
We are a community of artists, so dip into any gallery to be rewarded with photos, prints, and sculptures. Here are a few that are easy to spot around town:

• This graceful wooden bench on the Coastal Trail in Fort Bragg reminds me of a mama whale swimming next to her calf. Sit and contemplate the spectacular views, look for passing whales or seals that sometimes swim in the cove below. Crafted by local artist, Yorgen Quent Kvinslend, this is one of many benches on this trail created by local woodworkers. You can’t help but run your hands along the smooth grain of the wood while relaxing here.
• The "Greetings from Fort Bragg" mural pictured above appears on the side of the Golden West Saloon (one of the only brick buildings to survive the 1906 earthquake and a still-great watering hole) is ready-made for selfies. Artist: Wilfried Sieg III 



Whale sculpture in Mendocino

• The whale sculpture that welcomes you at the entrance of the MacCallum House in Mendocino is beautiful and historic, created by a local sculptor namedByrd Baker. Baker was a founding member of the group who started the Mendocino Whale War, an attempt to stop Japanese and Russian whale hunting off the north coast, which resulted in the first Whale Festival in 1976.

Drink or Eat a (replica of a) Whale

• Indulge your sweet tooth with a chocolate whale from the MendocinoChocolate Company. 
• Drink for Science! Fort Bragg’s renowned Northcoast Brewery features a Stellar Seal IPA, with proceeds benefiting marine science efforts. Their Laguna Baja dark lager celebrates the grey whales’ annual 12,000-mile migration.

Wooden puzzles at Noyo Center

Shop for Whale Souvenirs

• You will find whale souvenirs in any shop along the coast, but at the Noyo Center for Marine Science’s gift shop your purchase goes toward marine conservation. Take a reusable lunch bag imprinted with whale graphics to work or school, buy a logo sweatshirt or beanie to stay toasty during your visit, or treat the grandkids to a whale stuffed animal or wooden puzzle.

Enjoy your whale scavenger hunt!