Whale Watching on Long Island

Before moving to New York, I knew practically nothing about Long Island. I knew it was “long” but didn't know it was 118-miles-long, long. You have Queens and Brooklyn on the west part of the island and the major diversity of the North and South Fork out east. I’ve been spending a lot of time exploring, specifically out east. Recently I took a trip to the end of the South Fork to a town called Montauk. Montauk is part of the Hamptons and is famous for being the very furthest East point of the island. Many people refer to it as “the end of the world” because once you reach the lighthouse and look over the Atlantic Ocean, you feel like you’re standing at the end of the world.

Montauk Lighthouse

When I went to Montauk I went with my friend Steve who works in environmental education and conservation on Long Island. Essentially, he was my own private tour guide. We, along with three of Steve’s bird watching friends, went whale watching. It was a five hour adventure through Viking Fleet. They do whale watching, fishing trips, and ferry transportation. Our adventure started a little rocky because it was cloudy, chilly, and rainy. But it ended up being a huge blessing. Having the cloud cover made it much easier to spot wildlife. We saw 11 whales, over 100 dolphins, countless birds, and even a shark! It was incredible learning about the wildlife and getting to see it first hand. I cannot recommend this adventure enough and I definitely will be going back again next season. 

Cost: $75 for adults, $50 kids age 5-12, FREE kids 4 and under 

Helpful Links: Viking Fleet, City Website, Trip Advisor