These Are the 5 Best Places to See Whales & Orcas in New England This Summer

On May 25, over 160 whales were spotted in ONE DAY off the coast of Massachusetts, according to a CBS News article.

Among the 160 whales spotted just last week were the endangered sei whales, humpback whales, fin whales, sperm whales, killer whales aka orcas, and the critically endangered North Atlantic whale.

I knew whales were in our oceans, but I had no clue that New England was home to so many whales...or that they were so common that 160 could be spotted in one day.

Seeing a whale out in the wild is...wild. Whether you see whales up close, from far away, or watching one breach the water, it is an awe-inspiring moment.

It does not matter how many people are with you or how loud it is. If you see a whale breaching the water, your world stops for a few seconds, and all you can do is be wowed.

So where in New England are you most likely to spot whales, either on your own or on a whale watch?

Cape Cod:

Provincetown is certainly the hub for whale watching trips on the cape. However, there are other spots on Cape Cod to see whales with or without a guide. The Stellwagen Sanctuary, Cape Cod Bay, and the Cape’s Atlantic Coast are all perfect whale watching hotspots.

Stellwagen Bank:

"Stellwagen Bank is a deepwater plateau at the edge of Massachusetts Bay. And it’s one of best New England whale watching destinations," according to a World Wide Boat article. The bank is a protected marine sanctuary that is 842 square miles, so you are sure to spot a whale and other marine life here.

Jeffrey’s Ledge:

The trips to Jeffery's Ledge often start in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Similar to the Stellwagen Bank, Jeffery's Ledge is a major drop-off in the ocean near the Gulf of Maine.

If you are from southern Maine or New Hampshire, this is your best spot.

Maine Coast: 

For those who are more from central or northern Maine, trips out of Bar Harbor are your best option. Further south in Kennebunk is another hotspot for whale watching departures.

Narragansett Bay:

This is the Rhode Island shoutout. Due to the warmer waters, fins, humpbacks, and minkes are all commonly spotted here.