41 BOWEN ’ S WHARF , NEWPORT , RI • WHARFFISHHOUSE . COM
whales migrate to feed in the warm waters off Rhode Island ’ s coast . Christine Blount , who owns the company with her husband , Frank , says passengers can also spot finback , minke , right and sperm whales .
“ We also see a lot of dolphins , which are just as exciting sometimes as the whales ,” she says .
Whale watching tours take place on the Lady Frances , a 105-foot passenger vessel . All tours are accompanied by a naturalist who narrates the excursion . In addition to whales and dolphins , guests often see turtles , sunfish , seabirds and other wildlife . And while whale sightings are never guaranteed — guests receive a voucher for a free trip if no whales are in sight — Blount says the past few years have been excellent for spotting this protected species .
“ If the bait is around and their food source is here , then they expect to hang around here ,” she says .
Whale watching tours are offered on Tuesdays , Thursdays , Fridays and Saturdays , and families can receive discounted rates on Tuesdays and Fridays . Conditions
104 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l AUGUST 2023