Whale of a Time

Bucket List Adventure: Whale Watching at the Jersey Shore

Whale watching has always been high on my bucket list, and this summer, I finally got to check it off in the most unforgettable way. Last year, we had taken a trip out to sea with high hopes but only spotted dolphins (still amazing, but… not quite a whale!). This year, we were feeling lucky — and as it turned out, luck was definitely on our side.

We boarded the Jersey Girl, a charming whale-watching boat that departs from Belmar, NJ. We scored a great deal on tickets through Groupon, which made the experience even sweeter. It was a sweltering day — the kind where the heat clings to you and even the ocean breeze feels more like a hairdryer than a fan — but we didn’t care. We were chasing whales.

The boat cruised north along the coastline, giving us stunning views of familiar Jersey Shore spots like Asbury Park, Long Branch, and Sandy Hook. The ride took a couple of hours, but anticipation kept us all buzzing. We struck up a conversation with a friendly couple onboard who had gone out on several trips before. They told us they always see whales, which gave us even more hope.

As we neared the Scotland Buoy, a marker for ships entering the Manhattan waterways, we noticed a cluster of boats in the distance. Something was happening. And then — it happened.

We saw it.

A spout of mist shot up from the surface, and then the unmistakable back of a humpback whale arched above the waves. The Jersey Girl’s captain expertly repositioned the boat to give us a perfect view, and we watched in awe as the whale surfaced and submerged multiple times. Each appearance was just as thrilling as the last.

On one of the nearby boats, the American Princess, professional nature photographer Steve Sachs was snapping away — and he managed to capture a breathtaking shot of the whale with our boat in the background. That photo now stands as a stunning reminder of a truly magical experience — not just spotting a whale, but sharing the moment with a boat full of excited strangers who all felt the same collective joy.

Whale watching at the Jersey Shore is more than just a fun summer activity — it’s a rare and beautiful glimpse into the wild, right off our own coastline. If you’re ever considering it, take my advice: book the trip, bring your camera, and prepare to be amazed. Just maybe, you’ll get lucky too.