On the way back from a night camping on Santa Cruz, I was lucky enough to see a pod of Orca. I’m always amazed by the natural wonders you can find on your doorstep here in LA.

IslandPackers are running special whale-watching half-day trips until April. Orcas are unusual, but there’s often grey whales, and I’ve almost never stepped off the boat without seeing a good crop of dolphins and sea-lions. The crew are always a lot of fun, especially when they go into great depth on the fauna’s sex-lives. Dolphins mate up to ten times a day, apparently! Do make sure to dress up warm. Even in the summer when it’s in the 80’s on land, I’ve got very chilly on the boat.