Winter on the Oregon Coast brings storm watching, the annual gray whale migration and Gold Beach is a great place to see them. The week between Christmas and New Years Day is Whale Watching week all along the Oregon Coast.

Gray whales are passing the coast in peak numbers at that time on their yearly southbound migration from Alaskan waters to the warm lagoons of Baja California in Mexico. At 28 sites, from the Washington border to the California border, trained volunteers help visitors spot the whales and can share information about the habits of these mammoth sea creatures. Stick around for a while and you’re likely to see whales pop out of the water head first, exposing nearly the length of their sleek bodies. Or you may catch a dive with the V-shaped tale fins in full view. Look for “Whale Watching Spoken Here” signs along the coastal highway, US Highway 101, to point you to one of the staffed sites.

Watch this video for some helpful information about how to Whale Watch.