There are two ways to go about this: You can charter a boat and get up close and cozy with a California gray whale, or you can just keep glancing out to sea every time you’re on a bluff hiking, biking, walking or driving. Chances are excellent that you’ll eventually spot a plume of water spouting from a blowhole. Carry binoculars and you may get to see the magnificent mammals breaching the surface of the water. Several boats congregating in close proximity often means they’ve spotted a pod, so keep your eyes open.

To take advantage of the California gray whale's 12,000-mile migratory route from a Gold Beach standpoint, you’ll want to be in town between December and May. Till February they’re heading south as far as the Arctic, and tend to travel to 2 miles offshore; from March through May they’re on their way back north, and cruise closer in, just beyond the surfline. The rest of the year you might catch sight of one of the "locals" — whales that have taken up permanent residence off the Oregon coast. Early morning and late evening, when the water is calm, are best times.

For land-based sightings, look for vantage points all along the Oregon coast with big "Whale Watching Spoken Here" signs. Trained volunteers help you hone in on the giants, and answer questions like, "What’s spy hopping?" Best local vantage point is Cape Sebastian, five miles south of Gold Beach.