Dana Point attractions

A 2.5-hour cruise off the Orange County coast

Onboard our 50’ pristine Catamaran Yacht, our always low passenger capacity makes for an intimate at sea experience. The luxury whale watching cruises feature a perfect balance of gorgeous nautical details, and spacious viewing areas which allow you and your family to get up-close views of wild marine mammals including giant blue whales, humpback whales, mega pods of dolphin, and so much more. The unique 360-viewing walk around feature, allows for a perfect view from almost any vantage point onboard and means you’ll never miss a moment. Our favorite spot onboard is up front, where you can gaze down at bow riding dolphin, which will glide just below your feet on one of the dual bows, so close they are almost within arm’s reach!

What you'll do this Christmas? The holiday season is a time to spend with family, eat big and delicious meals, exchange gifts, and go to holiday office parties. Of course, you won't want to miss out on festive holiday lights and decorations either. The answer, The Newport Beach Harbor Cruise Of Lights has it all. Elaborate Christmas light displays of Bayfront estates with their Ring Of Lights competition and one of the largest decorated boat parades in the country. Hundreds of decorated ships of all sizes compete for top awards in over a half dozen categories. The Newport Beach Boat Parade is viewed by over 1.5 million people each season and is one of the largest boat parades you will likely ever see. Millions of holiday lights are a part of the Newport Beach Boat Parade and Ring Of Lights decorations making Newport Bay a must see” for the holiday season. Jump on board one of our 9 tour vessels to view this spectacular event, that will also be decorated with holiday cheer!

Every trip is guided by a certified marine naturalist who offers live narration and expert insight into the incredible marine life we encounter. Onboard, you'll find educational materials, fun facts, and recent sighting photos to help you spot and identify dolphins, whales, sea lions, and more. Our 2-hour tours strike the perfect balance—long enough to explore, short enough for all ages. Whether you're planning a family outing, a romantic date, a private party, or a corporate event, this ocean adventure is designed for anyone who loves the sea and the wild creatures that call it home.

Dine like a local. Experience Catalina's history, culture & foodie fun with our knowledgeable guides on this delicious 2.5-hour food tour. • Enjoy an all-inclusive experience as you sip, sample & savor Avalon's best. • Encounter the sights, sounds and stories behind our well-known historic landmarks. • Relax by the ocean on Catalina Island's only food & beverage excursion. • Experience 5+ unique tasting locations - meet the people responsible for Avalon's food scene. • Tour is limited to 10 people to ensure a personalized experience.

Delight in the exciting sights and sounds of the magnificent ocean creatures off Dana Point in Orange County. Known as a landmark for marine life sightings, Dana Wharf’s ocean adventure cruises offer rare glimpses into a huge variety of underwater wildlife and gorgeous scenic views you’ll never forget. Search for whales, dolphins, sea lions and other exciting marine life! All cruises are narrated by expert captains who will educate you on the abundant ocean life on the coast. Trips are 2 hours long, plenty of time to discover the world that lies beneath. Remember that sightings of marine life are guaranteed.

View many varieties of whales which include the giant blue whale which is over 90 feet in length, humpback whales, gray whales, finback whales whales, several types of dolphin, seals, and other neat marine life.  Just outside of Newport Bay is the beginning of one of the largest marine protected areas in southern California created to protect this rich ecosystem for future generations. The protected marine sanctuary covers over 15 miles and provides a haven for all marine creatures including whales and dolphin.  With such amazing habitat for mammals so close to Newport Bay, whale watching cruises of 2-2.5 hours is all that is needed for viewing these giants. Newport Landing offers multiple whale watching cruises daily and with a 96% success rate viewing whales and/or dolphins, almost every trip will have viewing opportunities. *New is a brand new double decker whale watching catamaran with bow seating, upper and lower deck 360 views, and much more.

Discover a fascinating chapter in California history during a visit to the Mission San Luis Rey. Founded in 1798, the mission is now a National Historic Landmark, and among the largest adobe structures in Southern California. This admission includes a self-guided tour to the museum and several other areas on mission property; explore at your leisure between 11am and 3:30pm daily.

This Carlsbad village tour features 6 mouth-watering food samplings at unique eateries with insightful historical, architectural and cultural presentations! Enjoy Carlsbad's specialty foods, including Strawberry Shortcake from The Strawberry Shack. Learn about the history of California wines while sipping some of the local favorites. The goal is to entice your taste buds and stimulate your mind with the sights, flavors and way of life in Carlsbad. Come and experience Carlsbad Village of the past while listening to stories about some of its architectural jewels. Knowledgeable guides will share some of the interesting facts about the village in the early days. The Village is steeped with history, and this experience will be an insider's view of old and new Carlsbad. This tour helps you slow down and explore Carlsbad’s off-the-beaten-path areas, culture and foodie fun.

Get ready to witness nature’s majestic giants up close and personal like never before! Unlike crowded tours, our intimate setting ensures an unparalleled experience, granting you the unique opportunity to experience these magnificent creatures from up close. Our expert guides, well-versed in marine biology, will provide captivating insights into the fascinating behaviors of these gentle giants. With our limited capacity, you’ll never feel rushed or jostled, allowing for uninterrupted moments of awe and tranquility. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure—book your exclusive spot now and embark on an intimate journey with whales and dolphins that will leave you with memories to cherish forever. Visit our website for SEASONAL RATES AND SPECIAL OFFERS!

Follow the development of Carlsbad from its founding in the 1880s to its evolution into a beloved coastal destination, on this self guided walking tour. Along the way, longtime San Diego residents Mindy and Jerry will tell you the village’s story of transformation. You’ll learn how Captain John Frazier’s discovery of mineral water remarkably similar to that of Karlsbad, Bohemia gave the town both its name and its early identity as a health retreat. Explore how the arrival of the railroad, Highway 101, and eventually Interstate 5 shaped the community and its character. The 90 minute tour starts at the Army and Navy Academy, from where you’ll weave through the heart of the village, stroll tree lined streets, past boutiques and cafés before reaching the Pacific shoreline, where seven miles of coastline have drawn visitors for generations. Whether you’re a history buff, a curious traveler, or a local looking to see Carlsbad in a new light, this tour will transport you through time.

Our private surf lessons are taught at Fletchers Cove in Solana Beach with trained professionals. Each lesson is 1.5-2 hours and comes with a private experienced professional instructor. Water safety is our number one priority!

Note: For Round Trip Ferry Service You Must Also Book The Return Leg From Avalon To Newport Beach. This is the largest catamaran ferry carrying passengers to Catalina Island, with 3 decks and multiple snack and beverage centers onboard including a amazing open-air top deck with spectacular views of coastlines. The ferry's large size and open-air deck is a perfect option for those concerned with motion sickness. The trip is short - just over 1 hour across the channel on the fastest ferry to Catalina Island . Located centrally in Newport Beach and servicing Orange County, San Diego County, Inland Empire, and Greater Los Angeles Area travelers/residents. Newport Beach is also known for its fine dining, abundant nightlife, and numerous resorts for those wanting to explore this destination after their stay on Catalina Island.

Holly Jolly Hunt is a scavenger hunt that is played using an app on your smartphone, that brings your entire family and friends together for holiday cheer. During the adventure you’ll be seeking out all the traditional, and even the non-traditional holiday items we all see this time of year around the city. You’ll get points for each item you find. The goal is to capture as many items as you can in order to score as many points as possible and get 1st place on the leaderboard. Along the way you’ll be asked to perform silly holiday themed tasks meant to bring laughter and smiles to everyone involved. Come play with us. Young or old, this is a scavenger hunt for everyone that enjoys this time of year. We promise you will create holiday memories that you will not forget! Holly Jolly Hunt can be played in any city!

Departing from the iconic Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach daily. Departing times vary depending on time of year see all times available when booking. Travel time is approximately 75 minutes from Newport Beach to Avalon, Catalina Island. This is one of the most easily accessible ports for residents/visitors of Orange County, Greater Los Angeles, Inland Empire and San Diego County to travel by boat from the mainland to Avalon, Catalina Island. This is the largest catamaran to Catalina Island and is state of the art, with three decks. The first deck is enclosed with plenty of seating and a snack bar. The second deck offers a full bar and additional indoor seating. The third deck is open air with seating in the California sunshine and offers stunning views during the trip. Enjoy “Speed – Service – Comfort”.

Take a self-guided GPS audio tour through the streets of Avalon with me. My name is Matthew and I am one of the 4000 residents of Avalon. Being a local I get asked a lot of questions. Do you live here full time? How expensive is it? What is that large house up on the hill? Why does everyone drive around in golf carts? How can you have a casino that doesn't allow gambling? Along with historians, authors, and other passionate locals, we will walk the streets of Avalon to answer these questions and more. You'll learn the stories behind our town and its famous landmarks from the people who live here. The tour is ready whenever you are and the audio plays automatically at exactly the right time and place using your smartphone's GPS and the VoiceMap mobile app, which also works offline.