Connecticut Whale Watching Guide
Connecticut was colonized by English settlers in the 1600s and has a rich maritime history of ship building. Situated on the north side of Long Island Sound, there are more than 600 miles of coastline to explore. It’s also home to Yale, the historic towns of Hartford and Mystic, New London, New Haven, Bridgeport and Stamford. There’s a lot to see and do here, but the whale watching is not good.
Whale Watch Season
Along the northeast coast of the United States, whale watching season is typically May through October. Slight variations in climate and weather can shift the exact start and end dates by a few weeks of any given year.
Best Whale Watching Areas
Connecticut itself is not a good place to go whale watching. Most of the whale populations congregate farther north in the Cape Cod area. The best whale watching tours leave from Gloucester, MA. This is the place you want to go if you want to see whales. You can also check out Boston area whale watch tours.
If you just have to get out on the water, there’s a top-rated private yacht charter that leaves out of New London. Private yachts are always a favorite because your group can decide exactly what you want to do without worrying about boat licenses, docking or insurance. You just show up and leave all those regulations to the captain.
Don’t Miss: Mystic, Connecticut
The village of Mystic lies within the town of Stonington and partially in Groton. It was a thriving 18th and 19th century seaport where over 600 ships were produced. Today, this historic village is most known for the Mystic Seaport Museum. Here, visitors can climb aboard the last wooden whaling ship in the world, the Charles W. Morgan. Built in 1841, it operated for 80 years and traveled all over the world searching for whales. At its peak, the American whaling fleet numbered more than 2,700 vessels, and this one ship is the very last of its kind. Besides real ships, the museum has a rotating selection of exhibits and events all related to humankind’s connection with the sea.
If you’re really into history, don’t miss the Mystic ghost tour. While it may seem silly, you’ll learn all about the colonial and revolutionary history of the area while walking around Stonington on this family friendly tour.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking to go on a whale watching adventure in Connecticut, your best bet is to plan a trip to Gloucester, Massachusetts instead. This is the best place to see whales on the east coast. Connecticut doesn’t have consistent whale activity, so there are no designated whale watching tours that leave from here.