我們必須承認，生活在洛杉磯的確是幸福的，溫暖的加州冬日陽光和氣候，除了讓我們盡享戶外活動的樂趣外，更將無數珍奇的海洋哺乳動物，包括海豚和鯨魚，吸引來到南加州的海岸線。
最神奇的是，這些高智商的海洋哺乳動物體內的生物時鐘，每年定時提醒它們從嚴寒的北極洋遷移到溫暖的南半球，而每年的一月份，體型龐大的太平洋灰鯨途經南加州，正是讓我們可以近距離欣賞它們的黃金時機！
每年冬季的灰鯨大遷移路線圖 The Big Migration of Pacific Gray Whales
Each October, as the northern ice pushes southward, small groups of eastern gray whales in the eastern Pacific start a two- to three-month, 8,000–11,000 km (5,000–6,800 mi) trip south. Beginning in the Bering and Chukchi seas and ending in the warm-water lagoons of Mexico's Baja peninsula and the southern Gulf of California, they travel along the west coast of Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Traveling night and day, the gray whale averages approximately 75 miles per day at an average speed of 5 mph. This round trip of 10,000–14,000 miles is believed to be the longest annual migration of any mammal. By mid-December to early January, the majority of them are usually found between Monterey and San Diego, often visible from shore.
Popular Whale Watching Excursions:
每年這個時候是登上觀鯨船看灰鯨遷移到最好時機，沿著南加州海岸線，有許多專門帶隊出海的商業船隊，也有著名海洋館的組團出發，你還等什麼？
There are a number of locations along the Southern California coast where you can board a whale-watching vessel to watch this majestic migration:
- Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro (www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org)
- Marina Del Rey (www.marinadelreysportfishing.com)
- Redondo Beach Harbor (www.redondosportfishing.com)
- San Pedro & Long Beach -- Spirit Cruises (www.spiritmarine.com)
- Dana Point (www.danawharf.com)
- Newport Beach -- Newport Landing (www.newportwhales.com)
- Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach (http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/education/info/gray_whale_watch)
- Ventura -- Channel Island Sportfishing (www.channelislandssportfishing.com)
清晨起床再加上顛簸的船程不是你的那一杯茶？不要緊，以下兩個以灰鯨為主題的海洋動物節讓你「腳踏實地」也可以與灰鯨做伴，玩個痛快
If you love whales but don’t want to risk getting seasick on a boat, there is a pair of whale festivals happening this month:
44th Whale Fiesta
Date: January 26th, 2014
Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, 3720 Stephen M. White Dr. in San Pedro
This event offers a treasure chest of whale-related fun – including sculpting whales out of sand, reating whales out of duct tape or participating with other humans to form a “living whale” – along with live performances, a puppet show and arts-and-crafts projects. And the best of all, it’s all FREE!
Web: www.cabrillomarineaquarium.org
San Diego Whale Days
Date: January 25th, 2014
Time: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Place: Broadway Pier's Port Pavilion, 1000 N. Harbor Dr., San Diego
You can walk through a scale model of a gray whale, view live sea creatures, help create a sea life mural and be part of 'splash mob' to Michael Jackson's song “Thriller.”
Web: www.whaledays.com