Carrie and the entire team at Whale Research Eco Excursions are amazing! I was pleased to see how much effort is placed on education, with an informative video presentation prior to the tour. Don't skip the video or the opportunity to view the exhibits in the museum, there is much to learn about these amazing creatures. Depoe Bay is blessed with a plentiful food source, and a protective environment for grey whales. I've lived in the Pacific Northwest most of my life and have taken for granted just how accessible whales really are in this region. During peak migration months it's possible to view the whales right from your car as you're driving down Highway 101! From the moment we booked our $55 tickets for a six-person, 90-minute whale watching tour along the coast, everyone at Eco Excursions made us feel welcome. It's evident these folks really love what they do, because everything just fell into place. Booking tickets was easy, checking in was a breeze, any concerns about locating and boarding the boat were taken care of. Our guide was friendly and informative, and really went out of his way to make sure we had a pleasant experience. There's something so magical about viewing these gentle giants in their natural habitat. Experiencing whale breath, viewing them so closely you can count the barnacles attached to them, and repeatedly seeing them surface and fluke... nothing compares! It's difficult to explain the pure joy I felt out on the water with a team who clearly bring their A-game to work every day! Thank you so much, Whale Research Eco Excursions - your tour ranks very highly in the list of my most treasured life experiences. read more

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I am in awe. Just pure awe. You can tell Carrie truly loves what she does and wants to educate others. As a teacher myself, to watch the passion and excitement just come through when Carrie gave us our tour was enough to revive my own passion and excitement in learning. I cannot recommend this company enough. Truly. She made me want to go back to school and study marine biology myself. read more

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I had high hopes for this tour. We received a text the morning of that the tour was on for 9 AM. Loved the video we watched before which explained why the gray whales come to Depoe Bay. But, it started raining almost as soon as we set foot in the boats and there is no shelter. We were given blankets, but the rain along with the cold wet waves had us completely soaked and freezing. We saw no whales, and eventually our guide brought us back to the bay. I had my kids with me, and wish they would have canceled this trip before we set out. Spent almost $300 and was literally wringing ocean water out of my clothes after. Looked like I took a shower in my clothes, was very cold, and saw no whales. read more

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This was such a special experience - I would recommend it for everyone! We booked tickets online a few days before ($55/ adult). We received a phone call the day before the scheduled trip saying there was a mixup (there was one less boat going out so we would need to go at a later time/day). We felt that Carrie professionally remedied the situation - placing us on her boat for the next day and offered a discount. It was about a 2.5 hr drive to get to Depoe Bay from Portland area (mostly a one lane road). We arrived to the museum/ meeting location 20 mim before the scheduled time. We checked in at the front desk, used the restroom and checked out the exhibits. They showed everyone scheduled to board the boat a video of Carrie from 2013 explaining grey whales. Even though it was dated, it was very entertaining and educational. You could tell her enthusiasm for whales. Even though it was a fairly warm day (high 60s), it was more like low-mid 50s on the water. I would recommend dressing warmly. We didn't get wet at all. I usually get motion sickness, but I made sure to eat a hearty meal beforehand and the boat itself was rather smooth. With Carrie as captain, we learned which whale we were looking at, their name, and stories. We saw 8 whales total! We only saw maybe 2 flukes (tail flipping out of the water). Most of the time you see the whales' backs and blowholes. read more

Whale Research Eco Excursions - Museums Near Me - Depoe Bay, Oregon

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I reserved this trip for my best friends birthday and it did not disappoint!! We went out on the Krazy Koda and Andrew was our Captain. We were expecting rain and really cold weather for our trip given the forecast and we almost rescheduled anticipating rough conditions. We were so glad we didn't reschedule! From the lady that greeted us and checked us in, the wonderful lady volunteer that went out with us and of course, our Captain - they all made the experience so amazing! Captain Andrew had an amazing sense of humor and was so nice. Captain Andrew talked about the seals, sea lions, birds, Depoe Bay history and of course - the whales. We got to experience several sightings and are pretty sure we saw a female and male. The one whale got much closer than we expected and we absolutely loved it all! The entire experience was amazing and we absolutely would recommend it to anyone. If we really had to stretch for any critique at all, it would be to update the short video you watch just before your tour. It explains what to look for and the different types of whales that frequent Depoe Bay. Also, we absolutely recommend the smaller boats like the 6 seater we rode. The larger boats had no seating and it didn't feel as personal due to the amount of passengers they had. And lastly, my bestie said it was the coolest experience yet and best birthday ever!! read more

We had an excellent trip with Captain Joe. Stunning views of whales were a highlight, and we appreciated the skill and expertise of Joe. We would definitely do this again! read more

Whale Watching with a marine biologist I don't know if any of these videos have whales, so if you want to see whales watch the iMovie. Got here right on time. But finding parking took a bit. Fortunately it was free. When I entered the museum, the informative video had already started. Learned about how orcas attack grey whales by grabbing their tales and separating mother and child. Grey whales evade by staying close to shore in shallow water so they can avoid getting rammed from below. Also normally Grey whales fast for 6 months in Baja and then swim up to Alaska to feed. But this pod of ~200 whales discovered that Depoe bay was a perfect place to feed. The museum owner was featured in a video with Jacque Costeau on PBS. So we were thrilled when Carrie (owner) and her dog Coda took us out in a military speed boat (only one of nine made). Faiza was a real trooper, as were all the girls, as Coda lovingly invaded their space, and took a seat in their seats. Lovely dog who barks when whales are nearby. We saw 4 whales, with Dot Dot Depends flunking us near whale cove. Amazing to go wildlife watching with a biologist who clearly still geeks out every time she goes on the water. Highly recommend. And carrie gave the kids a toy whale when we got back to the museum. Highly highly recommend. read more

Whale Research Eco Excursions - Kids on the boat as it goes fast - Museums Near Me - Depoe Bay, Oregon

This was such an incredible time. The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable. They make you feel so safe and make sure to get you great shots of the whales. Be aware though depending on when you go the water can be really choppy and can make you sea sick. However there were other people on our boat who had gone a few days before and they said the water was super calm. read more

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If you're just visiting the museum alone, this is not a particularly outstanding activity. Think dusty artifacts. Rainy day visit - then perfect. Amuse older kids by making them get in the Great White shark cut-out. It's educational, but in the end it's a bit underwhelming particularly because just a walk-through is not free. Adults are $5. Children ages 3-12 are $3. No tickets given. Clean gender neutral restroom near little gift shop area. For me, I love reading so just about anything amuses me, but my in-laws' reactions were "that was it?" My favorite part was reading about the whales (they all have names!) and Carrie's dog, Kida, who used to find (grey and humpback) whales with the "unconventional" marine biologist on their excursions. Kida crossed the rainbow bridge in 2016; however, I believe there is a new canine companion. Someday I will be back to partake in the actual excursions - which depart from Depoe Bay, "the world's smallest harbor" - with a very enthusiastic group of lifelong learners. I *love* Carrie's passion for whales. This is also on the WREE website: https://www.pbs.org/video/oregon-field-guide-season-22-episode-3/ read more

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I have been on the whale watch excursion 4 times and every time it was exceptional. We always see whales and these boats and this staff get you up close and personal. All of the boats hold 6-12 people so it is a small group so it is really fun. I would not go out with anyone else but with Eco Excursions with Carrie Newell and her staff. read more

Ok bad thing first: when we arrived we were asked to cram into a tiny room to watch a movie. Holy super-spreader! Even masked, it was off putting and out of tune at a place that wants to stay open. But we declined,as did some others and waited outside or in the tiny museum. Then the boat ride: phenomenal! We were on a six person zodiac and zipped around the bay seeing whales, sea lions and more. Wow! Try to get assigned to one of these smaller boats-- the big one didn't seem to go as many places and see as much. Great ride, possibly best boat tour ever. read more

This was a fantastic experience that I will never forget! Don't bother looking at other tours, go with Marine Biologist Carrie or her team and I promise you won't be disappointed. And don't hesitate even if the weather isn't 'perfect'. We were out in dense fog but still saw lots of whales up close and personal! We spotted rare birds and sealions as well. I learned so much from about gray whales and other marine life on this trip and she makes sure everyone on the boat gets a good view. The fact that she brings her two pups out with her to help spot the whales is totally cool. Carrie was also kind enough to accommodate me (as an extra body) on an earlier tour since I was the only person booked on the later one. While this may not seem like a big deal, it meant a lot to me. This was my first solo road trip and the only excursion I had planned on taking. Had she not let me join the other group I would have missed out on this amazing opportunity. I will never forget it! Thank you, Carrie, for making my experience exceptional!!! read more

Captain Joe was amazing! Watched a cheesy yet informative video, walked down to the dock. Climbed aboard and spotted about 15 blow spouts from the Grey whales and one fluke sightseeing. Such an amazing time! Highly recommended! read more

Absolutely had the best day with some of my favorite people and Captain "One-Eyed" Kevin of Whale Research Eco Excursions. They begin with an educational film which was fascinating and informative. Although it was overcast and cool, we were warm with excitement. We were lucky enough to sit in the middle of the summer resident grey whales feeding frenzy. The entire tour was filled with an endless show of grey whales surfacing and eating. There were whales all around us. So excited I was able to accomplish this bucket-list trip. Captain Kevin was entertaining and knowledgeable - couldn't have gotten much better! read more

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We had a blast on our Whale Watching Tour with Captain Eric! I love how much we learned about gray whales during this experience. Carrie Newell is pretty iconic and I love her passion for the whales. Pro-Tip: To avoid sea-sickness eat before you go out on the boat, bring gum or mints, rub Vicks vapor rub on your belly button, or take some Dramamine. Captain Eric was helpful and patient with me when I experienced some sea sickness. Despite my upset belly I still had a great time! read more

Carrie's enthusiasm for marine life is infectious. She brings her unique and extensive marine biology knowledge to these trips. Friendly and caring. She wants to make sure everyone has a great experience and learns about the whales, sea lions, birds and sea she passionately loves. Her assistant Waylon is great! We had a great trip! read more

I cannot recommend this enough! We've now gone twice and we'll definitely be back. Captain Carrie and her crew are amazing. They know SO much about the whales and other sea life. They know all of the whales "by name" and can give you history on the whales that return from year to year. We saw even more whales this year than we did on our trip two years ago and it brought tears to my eyes. We also were able to get really close to seals and sea lions, we leaned about the water birds we were seeing, and saw (and learned about) some gorgeous jelly fish I'd never heard of! It's obvious the captain and her team really want to give everyone an amazing experience. Carrie asks your name when you first board and then addresses you by name throughout the trip. She's always asking if people are okay, having fun, are warm enough, etc and she is very passionate about making sure the kiddos are situated to see everything. Captain Carrie even has a dog who goes on the boat with her and actually "marks" (barks) when she spots whales to help show Carrie where they are! The boats are well maintained and felt very safe. There's tons of extra flotation devices and several fire extinguishers on board. They even have blankets in case it's a colder day. Just watching the whales would be enough for me, but Carrie's extensive knowledge and her genuine enthusiasm for the whales puts this business over the top. 5+ stars! read more

Whale Research Eco Excursions - Museums Near Me - Depoe Bay, Oregon

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Whale Research Eco Excursions is truly an amazing experience. Totally worth the money and time. Best to book your adventure a day or two in advance. Marine Biologist Carrie and her crew of professionals are exceptional, well informed, funny and fun, and put on a great guide service. Informative and fun. The zodiac style boats are a great experience. Don't be afraid. These boats offer a much more personable guide experience than the larger guide/fishing boats. Bring an extra layer of clothing just in case depending on weather. Great for couples or small groups. Children not too young would enjoy it too. Not great for those with mobility challenges due to walking, stairs and boat boarding. Relax and have a great time. read more

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We had pre-scheduled a private tour, since their season had ended. About anhour before our trip we were told we needed to reschedule cause the swell was too big. So, we rescheduled and re-worked our vacation plans. About an hour before our new day/time, we were told the tide was a bit too low, and do we mind going out later that day. My friends said yes, I opted for a refund.OH, and when they said yes, they were then asked if they minded if a film crew came along???? Sounds like that is why we got bumped in the first place. Anyone taking people out should be VERY well aware of tides and swells. Manipulation? Perhaps. I would never go out with this company. Poor service. read more

We had a great time whale watching with Whale Research Eco Excursions on the smaller boat captained by Joe! Carrie captained the bigger boat and did a nice brief intro discussion before we headed out with some good background info and educational facts about grey whales before getting on the boats. On the water we got lucky and saw some whale mating behavior which was pretty neat. We liked it so much, we booked a 2nd trip 2 days later and brought another friend along for the fun - no mating behavior but we did get to see a couple migrating whales. We will definitely be back in the future for more whale watching with Carrie and Joe! read more

When I looked at the whale watching services in the Depoe Bay Area, one really resonated with me, Oregonwhales.com /aka Whale Research EcoExcursions . However, online impressions can portray something that differs with reality. My needs differed from just a straightforward whale watching expedition for my immediate family and their children. So, I sent an email outlining my particular situation and what I ideally wanted to do. I got a quick and positive response from Katt. She conveyed a genuine sense of interest in my objectives but would need Carrie (the owner) to make the final decisions on her return in a few days. Katt had a find a way to do it attitude that gave me hope my feelings were not misplaced in picking this company. In my email I had conveyed my experiences in the Depoe Bay Area 50 years ago, and how much they had meant to my wife & I. A few days later I spoke with Carrie (owner), and felt I had made the right choice for what I wanted to do. She had the involvement and enthusiasm for this area that I shared, in a small way, earlier in my life. I was hoping to share something that had been special for me with my family. My wife and I had lived South of Depoe Bay on Cape Foul Weather for about 6 months. We often heard grey whales spouting just off shore and would walk a short distance to look down on them in the water 30 feet below. Remarkably, for this trip I booked the same house we had lived in. Carrie & Katt took my hopes for this trip and more than accommodated them. I was touched by their genuine empathy for my feelings and what I was trying to achieve for my family. It seems increasingly rare that people far exceed expectations these days. I am grateful that they did just that and that there are still people with their sense of compassion - wish there were more. M. Wiegand read more

Fun tour, semi private boats (4-6 people), cute museum to wait in. The times seemed a little more like suggestions so we had some stress about checking out of our hotel on time. However it was totally worth it saw seals, whales, beautiful coastline. Highly recommend checking this out if you are in the area. read more

This definitely beat our expectations! The locals made it seem that we weren't going to see any whales and we saw 3!! We had an absolute blast on this whale watching excursion and we couldn't of asked for anything better. We also learned a bunch of interesting facts on the whales beforehand. Captain Eric was amazing and made sure we were comfortable at all times on the boat! read more

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Couldn't recommend this tour more!! Carrie is a true professional regarding the local whales of Depoe Bay and teaches you SO MUCH throughout the tour! It is clear that the entire staff deeply care about what they do and enjoy sharing it with others. I usually get pretty sea sick, but the awesome captain I had did an incredible job of navigating our little boat and I didn't get sick once! We had about 4-5 super close encounters with some of the whales during our 1.5 hour trip. We were watching the whales pretty much the entire time, with not much time spent sitting and waiting for them. This is a once in a lifetime experience and I hope you get the chance to go! read more

I've had the pleasure of going whale watching many places in the Pacific ocean. From Hawaii to So. Cal and up to Canada. This was probably the best and all of my experiences have been great! More expensive then a few in the area but so worth the extra cost. Loved the smaller boat. The whales came up mere feet from us much to everyone's surprise. The staff are very communicative and knowledgeable. I highly recommend you try this if you love whales and want to have the time of your life watching them! read more

Booked a last-minute whale watching trip and had a fantastic time. We were assigned to Captain Joe's boat and he was friendly and fun and have a lot of knowledge. We booked a 1 1/2 hour tour and saw two whales several times! A trip out was so fun and exciting and the trip back was a wild ride I would definitely fuck a charter with this company again. read more

Had a great trip with Captain Kevin and would love to come back with a ride with him. Felt a little odd that the minorities were put on one boat but maybe it was just a coincidence. read more

Just went on this whale watching tour today (early July 2019). OUTSTANDING trip. This company is run and led by a marine biologist. Knowledgeable and respectful of all of the marine life that we saw. I learned that there is are 200 whales who summer in Depoe Bay. They choose not to travel up to Alaska - when they can go half way and stay in Depoe Bay to feed. We saw 8 whales (the captain always tried to keep the legal distance but often the whales were curious and would surface unexpectedly close to us. We saw sea lions on the little floating buoy lighthouses (Stellar sea lions - huge and amazing). We also saw numerous harbor seals. Completely at ease with humans. And such personality! This is a REMARKABLE company and tour. I cannot recommend it enough. read more

My friend planned our whale watching trip and I'm so glad he booked with this company!! Carrie the marine biologist who runs the operation is absolutely amazing. She is so passionate about the whales and her research that she provides such an authentic experience. Make sure that when you schedule your trip, you ask for Captain Dan! He's the coolest, funniest guy and we had such a great time searching for whales on the Pacific with him. I had so much fun out on the boat that I actually forgot I was even looking for whales. But we did get to see one breach in the water in the end! It was magnificent and totally worth the $40. read more

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We went whale watching with the Marine Biologist herself Carrie! I've been on other tours in Depoe Bay. Hands down Whale Research was our favorite! The pre tour video was a great Whale 101 overview. I loved how Carrie and her team have names for the whales and they know there personality! Reasonably priced and a great time for our 10, 9, and timid 5yo girls. Life jackets provided! I wish I could upload a video. We were 20 ft away from the whales it was an awesome day! read more

Whale Research Eco Excursions - Museums Near Me - Depoe Bay, Oregon

We absolutely loved the experience. It is a more intimate experience than the big boat services, with room for just 6 in the boat. They provided jackets and waterproof blankets, and the chairs were really comfortable. What's cool about this company is that the owner is a working Marine Biologist right there in the bay, and the info, both before and during the excursion, is really interesting and in-depth. Joe, our captain, was fun and kept us entertained, pointing out many other animals and telling us stories about the area. We were able to spot the whales and didn't feel like we missed out on one second of adventure. Well worth the money. read more

Whale Research Eco Excursions - Some of the Oregon cost, low tide. - Museums Near Me - Depoe Bay, Oregon

We had such a great time! Great price. Waterproof blankets as it was rainy and cold. We learned so much! The detonation to make our trip a success was evident in the staff. Best time to see whales is later in the summer late July to Sept. we went in early June and got lucky! Would do it again!!! Thanks so much for our memories!!! read more

We went on a whale watching excursion with Joe as our Captain. He communicated with other boats to see if there had been any whale sightings and took us to those locations. We did get lucky and saw some gray whales. He followed along their path to ensure we were able to see them again. When ever there was signs of a whale he quickly went to that area, (as close as allowed by law) Joe was very knowledgeable about the marine life and had a great sense of humor. I would highly recommend this company, and would use them again if we come back to Oregon. read more

Whale Research Eco Excursions - Museums Near Me - Depoe Bay, Oregon

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This was a wonderful experience with my kiddos. We went out with Carrie and saw the most amazing sites. She's very informative and resourceful. Koda is a bonus. Loved this excursion. read more

Whale Research Eco Excursions - The captain and co-captain. - Museums Near Me - Depoe Bay, Oregon

Fantastic experience. We learned so much from Carrie (the owner) and loved her passion and research-based approach. To not only see the whales, but learn something about the individual resident grey whales we saw was amazing. The zodiac boats used were equal parts fun and safe to zip around the area. Can't imagine seeing the resident whales of Depoe Bay with any other outfit. read more

I wasn't really sure what to rate this excursion. Carrie was so friendly and knowledgeable but I am constantly frustrated by these companies posting pictures of a whale bobbing right next to a boat and having that be the expectation set for my 6 year old because that's what he saw on a sign. when in reality all we see is a little bit of the surface if the whale and one good fluke that we are far away from. i called around and talked to a lot of the companies and found this one to be the best due to them claiming they can get you really close to them and how they could swim up to boat. I just wish you would state and show a picture of more what we will actually see so my son doesn't walk away crying because of a picture he saw on brochure. it was disappointing to see as a mother. the boat was smooth safe and comfortable and everyone was friendly but I wouldn't claim for this to be an up close encounter. read more

Would highly recommend, we both agreed that these "rafts" were so much better than going out on a large boat. They sit closer to the water, comfortable seats with arm rests, and give you a fantastic view. We went on a foggy day, but still saw whales, jelly fish, seals. We will have to do this again when we can bring our kids too, they would love this. read more

AMAZING! Our Captain, Captain Dan, was funny and very informative. We got to see several whales. I highly recommend this adventure! I was able to take pictures of the whales and had a lot of fun with my husband! Would love to repeat the experience. read more

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Our family group of 21 had a great whale watching experience! We were in three boats, each one a different size with a different captain. The water was a bit rough and we were given the option to reschedule. We chose to go out anyway and were glad we did-the ride we opted for was half the fun! Ages ranged from 3 to 73 and we all would love to do it again. Carrie is an excellent teacher as well, so we didn't just see the whales-we learned and remember a lot of new facts about them. Highly recommend! read more

Whale Research Eco Excursions - Museums Near Me - Depoe Bay, Oregon

Depoe Bay is a gem for spotting resident gray whales directly off the coast. Whale Research EcoExcursions takes you out with marine biologist Carrie Newell, who has been studying these whales for over 20 years. Carrie captains a small zodiac boat that seats 6, and takes you out for 90 minutes with her adorable dog Kita, who barks and lifts an ear when she senses a whale. Carrie has an exceptional knowledge of these resident gray whales and of marine life in general. She gave information about birds, sea lions, and the behavior of the whales while we were watching. She answered questions throughout the trip and asked us many times if we were comfortable, if we could see everything, etc. The boat, while smaller than most whale watching boats, was comfortable and closer to the water, allowing for a more unique viewing experience that I really enjoyed. We were 10 feet from whales and practically on the water with them. So cool! We did, however, get slightly wet on the way back into the dock (if you're expecting not to get wet when going out onto the ocean, then whale watching probably isn't for you). $40 per person for such a great experience was a total steal. Carrie's enthusiasm for her work is infectious and made the experience that much more enjoyable. Don't be fooled by the museum or the introductory video you'll watch before going out on the water - Carrie is a professional and experienced guide who will do everything in her power to ensure a great experience for you. read more

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