TrippinTwins: San Diego RIB Dolphin & Whale Tour

August 10, 2016August 10, 2016 trippintwins6 Comments

Everyone has that one thing they must do when they get the chance to visit a certain place. For us, in San Diego, we knew it would finally be our chance to, just maybe, see a whale in the open water. We have experienced many dolphin cruises over the years in the Gulf of Mexico and were looking for something that would be a bit different for this experience. After briefly looking over a few tour options, we registered for a dolphin and whale tour with Adventure RIB Rides. This would be a switch from the usual boat rides in that we would be taking this dolphin and whale excursion in a small rigid-inflatable boat. Erica thought this was a totally crazy idea, but I convinced her that it would be a blast.

When is the best time to see whales in San Diego?

Thousands migrate from Alaska every year to give birth and give their young time to gain the strength necessary for the journey home. It is said the best times to view whales are between mid-June through December. However, we saw a grey whale on our tour at the end of May and we were told several were spotted the day before. If you’re going in the off peak season, just ask around, people will tell you if they have been seen recently.

Meeting Point – Dolphin and Whale Tour

We arrived at the meeting point (Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina) dock around 8:45 am to meet our tour guide. After initial introductions with our small group of 6 which included us, we were escorted into a small office by the dock where we had to sign a liability release. At this time, we were also each given a pair of waterproof coveralls that although were not mandatory, were highly recommended. No one was exactly thrilled to dress in such heavy, ill-fitting attire, but everyone agreed it was best to heed the guide’s advice. And yes, they were totally worth wearing because they kept us warm.

Where to sit on the RIB Boat

Erica and I were placed up front because we were the last in line and the smallest, which meant for an overall more rocky experience. Therefore, if you can, sit in the back. The views are fantastic from any seat and you will also be able to move around when stopped looking at wildlife.

U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (NMMP)

The ride started off initially as just a normal leisurely boat ride. We slowly drifted past the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program (NMMP) where we got passing views of the trainers at work. NMMP is based in San Diego and is where dolphins and sea lions are trained for things such as mine detection, equipment recovery and harbor and ship protection. We were aware of the program’s existence, so were fascinated by the glimpses we got as we slowly drifted by.

We also got a glimpse of other Navy boats.

It’s a rough ride!

After we made our way further out into the Pacific Ocean, our guide picked up speed. This is where the ride started to get rough. It literally felt like riding a mechanical bull! It is when you will either feel exhilaration or want nothing more than for it to be over. Both of us felt as though we might fall out at any moment, but of course we managed to stay in.

Wildlife sightings

After only a few minutes out on the water, we sighted a few sea lions sunning themselves on a buoy. We were excited because this was the first time we had ever seen them in their natural habitat. The guide stopped the boat to give us a chance to snap some pictures before continuing the tour in search of dolphins and whales.

Another thirty minutes went by speeding through the open ocean at a high speeds, bouncing our seats in the boat before a fellow passenger alerted our guide of a possible dolphin sighting. The guide stopped the boat to give everyone a chance to see what turned out to be a megapod of dolphins and a few nursing pods. Everyone was encouraged to get up and walk to the very front of the boat for the best possible viewing opportunities. The ones that did, got an amazing show. It was a truly a magical sight to experience! See that here or down below.

After spending about an hour watching the dolphins, we left to head back in in our final opportunity for a whale sighting. Our guide explained to us that even though whale season was technically over, chances were good we would spot a few because the water had been warmer than usual. We spotted a grey whale after few minutes in an area of an earlier sighting . However, we had already been out in the water over two hours, so we watched it from a distance for about ten minutes before heading back in for the day. When we were safely back to our docking point, Erica was more than ready to get off the boat while I felt like I could have continued the trip all day.

Things to know before you go:

If you have any type of back/neck issue, think twice before booking. Erica has a slipped disk and had trouble walking the next day.
Consider taking Dramamine beforehand. Even if the ocean looks calm at first glance, the swells are bigger than you might think. In addition, the ride is rough at times and there are a few long stops where the boat rocks along with the swell of the water which made some sick.
Do not leave your camera at home because you’ll want theses memories to last a long time.
Tip money. The guide will be instrumental to your tour and you will want to reward them for their hard work.

Day Trips · Everglades National Park · Fall · Florida · National Parks · Tours · Trip Ideas · Trip Planning · Water Adventures

Florida Everglades: In a Day

November 21, 2015November 23, 2015 trippintwinsLeave a comment

What do you do when you only have 24 hours to see a place you have longed dreamed of? This is the quandary we found ourselves in recently after attending TBEX in Fort Lauderdale, FL. We really did not want to leave the Ft. Lauderdale area once again without seeing the Everglades, but knew we had to find a way to do so in 24 hours. After doing some research, we decided to book a tour through Viator with a company that offers small group day tours with hotel pickup.

The tour operator we took the tour with is called Eco-Adventures and the official tour name is “Everglades Day Tour”. The tour covers a wide area of the Everglades along Hwy 41 and allows one to see a variety of ecosystems quickly. Our guide, Alex, picked us up from our hotel in downtown Ft. Lauderdale in a 13 passenger van. There were several last minute cancellations, so there were only two others on the tour with us which worked out great. As a guide, Alex, was much more than your average tour guide. He is a wildlife naturalist and kept us engaged during our hour drive to our first stop in Davie, FL by describing the significant landscape changes, the Indian tribes that live in the area, the native and invasive plants and the animals that we are most likely to see.

Our first stop of the day was at Pond Apple Swamp to take an airboat ride through the Sawgrass Prairie. This was an entertaining and educational 40 minute ride in the Pond Apple Swamp where we saw alligators, birds, turtles, flowers and vegetation. The boat went slow enough to allow discussion about the animals and to allow people to take photos. We also learned what looked like intentional defined paths across the prairie, are actually formed by repeated use of airboats in the same areas.

Defined paths across the sawgrass prairie made by repeated airboat use

Baby alligator spotted on the airboat ride

White Ibis flying across the sawgrass prairie

At the conclusion of the boat ride, our tour mates told Alex, our guide, they wished to see more alligators. He was more than happy to accommodate their request by driving us to a boardwalk area where he had recently seen a few hanging out. We viewed wildlife and relaxed there for 15 minutes before continuing on along Hwy 41 to our next official stop at Kirby Skorter Roadside Park.

The Kirby Skorter Roadside Park, named after one of the area’s pioneering families, is a great place to see Cypress trees and offers many possibilities for wildlife sightings. Most importantly, it allows people to stay dry while doing so. Our guide told us the best time to do this is in October – March. We took a leisurely stroll on the boardwalk, which is a 1 mile round trip, while Alex described everything that we were looking at to us. This was a fun activity appropriate for all ages and activity levels.

Following our walk, we were taken to the Oyster House Restaurant in Everglades, FL for lunch. We were all really hungry at this point in the day and were ready to eat. Thankfully Alex had called in our order earlier in the day, so we did not have to wait long for our food and drinks to arrive. The cost of lunch was included in the tour price, so that meant the food selection was somewhat limited, but good. As part of our lunch, we were given fried alligator bites to try as an appetizer.

Tara & Alligator — Tara eating alligator

After lunch we got ready for our last activity of the day. We went on a 90 minute boat ride to Ten Thousand Islands cruise with the Everglades National Park Boat Tours. On this boat ride, we explored the saltwater gulf and the Mangrove forests. Our boat captain did a great job of spotting wildlife, slowing down for us to get a good glimpse and mentioned that we were a super lucky group because we saw a plethora of wildlife. We saw several dolphins playing, a bald eagle, a few manatees, flamingos and various other birds. When the ride was over, our group did not want it to end because we all had such a great time. However, it was time for us to head back to Ft. Lauderdale so we could go to dinner and our guide could watch his football game!

We had an amazing day in the everglades and cannot wait until our next trip there. Have you been? If so, what did you see that we didn’t?

Adventure · Australia · B.C. · Banos · Canoeing · Ecuador · Gardiner · India · Kayaking · Montana · National Parks · Queensland · Sailing · Water Adventures · White Water Rafting · Yellowstone National Park

Tranquil to Thrilling: Water Adventures Around the World!

July 29, 2015August 13, 2015 trippintwins10 Comments

It is said that water has healing powers, which perhaps is one of the main reasons so many enjoy it. During the summer months, people flock to water for some fun in the sun and a break from the heat. Water adventures are great because they can be done individually, or with a group, and can include most all age ranges. Whether your definition of having fun is taking a relaxing canoe ride on a lazy river, river rafting in Class V rapids or learning how to kayak, there is an activity for everyone. This post focuses on three popular water activities available in much of the world: white water rafting, canoeing and kayaking. We have asked some of our fellow travel bloggers to share one of their favorite experiences with one of the three activities. Check out our stories and tell us about water adventures you have had, would recommend and would like to try!

White Water Rafting

1. The Aussie Flashpacker – Banos, Ecuador

Banos is known as the ‘Adventure Capital of Ecuador’ with its’ mountains, active volcanoes, world famous hot springs and rivers that are perfectly designed for rafting to suit all levels. Our last day in Baños we tried our hand at white water rafting and booked a day trip through our hostel. After being kitted up and finishing the safety briefing, an English, Irish and 2 Chilean guys attempted to tackle the rapids of Baños. The river provided us some challenges and at times our boat was completely battered by the rapids and all of us just about holding in and just about managing to stay in the boat but there were other times when the river slowed and we were able to relax and enjoy the amazing scenery, It was the perfect place for my first rafting experience and I am extremely keen to give it another go and would highly recommend Banos & rafting in Banos to anyone!

2. Jet Set Brunette – Tulley River, Queensland, Australia

The Tulley River is a grade 4 river situated in Queensland, Australia. Seasoned adventure-seekers love exploring these challenging rapids and beginners have the option of purchasing a white water rafting package. There are also places around the water to go cliff jumping and actually swim through some of the rapids!

4. Savored Journeys – Elaho and Squamish Rivers, Whistler, B.C.

Whistler, British Columbia, is known for more than just its world-class skiing. It’s also an incredible place to go whitewater rafting. Although I’m just a beginner at rafting, we were able to go out on a day-long excursion with Wedge Rafting in Whistler, where we spent the day tackling Class III and IV rapids on the Elaho and Squamish Rivers. It’s not too crazy of a river – there are harder, more demanding rapids, for sure – but with rapids that have been named Devil’s Elbow and Steamroller, it was plenty challenging enough for us!

I went on this rafting trip with my family, so we filled up one whole raft and it was great fun dodging and leaning with the rapids, getting soaked from the churning water along the way. One of the best parts of the rivers near Whistler is the immense natural beauty you witness along the way. There are snowcapped peaks, dense forest and lots of wildlife to spot along the way, when floating through the calmer parts of the river. We were lucky enough to spot a black bear along the banks. The best time to go rafting in Whistler is in the summer, from June to early August. That’s when the rapids are at their highest from the winter snow run-off.

5. Travelure – The Ganges

“River Ganga (Ganges) forms after its confluence with various rivers, e.g. Alaknanda, Pindar, Mandakini, etc. and hits the plains at Rishikesh after flowing through the narrow valley of Himalayas from Devprayag. Its path is not smooth since it is moving from mountains to plains. It is between Devprayag and Rishikesh that we did rafting on this river, but closer to Rishikesh. The entire normal rafting stretch here is about 24-25kms (15 miles)and takes about 4.5-5 hours, but you can choose your starting points. We had selected Shivpuri as ours. That was a total rafting distance of 16kms (10 miles) and the time duration for rafting this stretch was about 3-3.5 hours.

“The rapids are mostly between grade I and III. These have been colourfully named – three blind mice, roller coaster, golf course, black money, etc. These names also have something to do with the nature of the rapid, like ‘golf course’, a grade III rapid has nine ‘holes’ or obstacles. The entire stretch was a constant adrenaline rush and we had to constantly be on guard for the unseen. But, this adventure is termed mostly safe, provided you follow instructions of the rafting instructor and paddle/stop paddling when he asks you to.

“I have been rafting on this stretch 3 times. Each time has been as exciting as the first time. I would highly recommend this trip to all water-sport enthusiasts as Ganga rapids, though relatively safe, come with their own brand of difficulty!

1. TrippinTwins – Gardiner, Montana – Yellowstone River

We went white water rafting with Wild West Rafting in Gardiner, Montana. Gardiner is located at the North Gate of Yellowstone Park, which makes it a fantastic option if you are staying in the area. They offer a variety of water adventure options, but we choose to do the half day white water rating trip. It was a 2 hour trip down 8 miles of the Yellowstone River with mostly Class III rapids. Rapid classes vary due to shifting water levels. They also allow children 4 and over to go, which is convenient for families. We had a large group, so we were split between two boats. All of the guides our group had were very friendly and knowledgeable about their job and the surrounding area. We all had a great time, it was one of the highlights of our week in Yellowstone!

Canoeing

Sometimes you get to gocanoeing with family and friends……

1. The Travelin’ Chicks – Ipswich River in Massachuttes

Being travelers, we are always on the look out for the next trip we are going to take and dreaming of lands far off that sometimes we forget about just how great the area we are from truly is. So this year we have decided to explore this great region we call the North Shore of Massachusetts.

Our first adventure? A canoeing trip down the Ipswich River in Ipswich, Ma. With lunch packed we headed down the gorgeous Route 133 to downtown Ipswich. From there we were off to Foote Brothers Canoes & Kayaks. With our life jackets in hand we hopped in the van for the 10-minute drive up river.

Once launched from shore you began to realize just how pristine the area you are canoeing in. Being part of the Mass Audubon Society, The Ipswich River is a wildlife sanctuary. The river snaked past busy beavers in their dams, red winged black birds shooting through the sky and lots of changing landscapes. With numerous feathered friends singing their song to us through the trip we were sad to see it come to a close. Four hours of canoeing went by in a flash and leaving us wanting more.

With such a great time behind us we can’t wait for the next adventure discovering all that home has to offer.

And sometimes you guide a group of kids….

2. Antitravelguides – Calgary, Canada

A few years ago I worked as a counselor at a camp just outside of Calgary in beautiful Kananaskis Country. One of the activities we would regularly lead the kids in was canoeing. Though with kids being kids (and counsellors being adults) more often than not this turned into a water fight. This was generally aided by the buckets that we provided and the games we played – one was called “Sink the Swiss Navy”. You can imagine what the aim of that game was. A lot of canoes sunk and even more humans had a lot of fun.

Kayaking

1. Stay Home For What?!?! – Lake Garda, Italy

I’ve been living in Italy for almost 3 months. In those three months, I have visited to a lot of countries, but just recently began to explore Italy. I had been focused on visiting countries that border Italy, not taking the time to see “Italy” When my friends mentioned Lake Garda, I was not interested because I kept thinking what could be so great about a lake! As it turns out, I was suprisingly mistaken!

I agreed to go to Lake Garda with some friends that invited me on a recent weekend…#stayhomeforwhat! It was only about an hour drive from where I live and 5 euro in tolls. Once we arrived, I immediately understood why people love this place. It is absolutely amazing!!! This is not your ordinary lake; it is by far the biggest I’ve seen.

There are an abundance of activities to choose from in the area, such as water sports, biking and canyoning. For the time we had availble, we chose to go kayaking. We rented the kayaks from At Sailing Dulac, which only costs 9 euro for a single and 14 euro for a double. This was my first time kayaking, so I asked a friend to double up with me. That decision was probably the worst idea of the day! It only took us 15 minutes to decide it was harder with two people instead of one because we were not going anywhere! The single riders that were with us……I swear, reached the other side of the lake and came back before we left the lagoon!!

However, there were advantages to going so slow. We had more time to relax and enjoy the scenery. We were able to take in the beautiful mountains that surround the city, the city landscape and the beautiful blue, not grey, but blue water. The wind was blowing perfectly as we watched people around us windsurfing, sail on catamarans, go dinghy sailing, free sailing and kayaking. It was simply perfect!

I recommend visiting Lake Garda on your next trip to Italy because of the wide options available in the surrounding area. The area provides the perfect setting for individuals wanting a relaxing day for laying out as well as the more adventurous types. While there, make sure to visit the nearby villages and take advantage of the great shopping and restaurants and wineries available. #Love the Life You Live!

2. 2TravelDads – Pacific North West, USA

The Seattle area is best seen from the water: sailing, on a ferry, or on a kayak. Just short drives from the city are countless islands and bays to explore. Across the Puget Sound are the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas, which are dotted with lakes and waterways, ready to be paddled.

Olympic Peninsula – One of our favorite places to kayak is the Quileute River in La Push. The mouth has a marina to put in and the river itself is shockingly calm. Due to the shallow nature, there are no other boats of any sort, so the river is all yours; your bow is the only thing making ripples. And since the mouth is brackish, watch for flounder, salmon and the occasional otter. Lakes Crescent and Cushman are two other places to paddle: stumps, elk and mountains around every bend. Beautiful.

Kitsap Peninsula – Another favorite paddling haunt is the Agate Passage and Liberty Bay, separating Bainbridge Island from the Kitsap. The gradual shorelines of both sides make for easy pullouts and fantastic wildlife viewing. Without trying, I’ve seen otters swimming, heron and eagles swooping down and I’ve been stalked by a harbor seal. Living right off the Agate Passage, I know the flow of larger boat traffic, so am careful to paddle at the right time. Example: Fridays there is a small cruise ship that takes visitors to the Scandinavian village of Poulsbo, so I know to stay off the water so the wake doesn’t send me swimming. I also know that kayaking on the sea means fighting a tide, so planning trips to flow with the tide is important.

If you’re visiting the Pacific Northwest without your own kayak, they can be rented almost anywhere, and truthfully, you’re not going to have a bad view wherever you paddle.

Now that we have shared our stories, we would enjoy hearing yours!