Late summer may not be the height of the whale watching season, but if you keep an eye trained on the water there’s a fair chance that you may spot a pod swimming along the coast. Recent guests Bob and Diana at the Hacienda Beach House sighted whales swimming lazily about 300 yards off shore. The Hacienda Beach House and the Casa Del Sol sit at the edge of a bluff, providing a superb perch for whale watching. There are not many vacation rentals in Gold Beach that offer such an outstanding vantage point for watching the Pacific’s Leviathans drift by.

Watch from the master bedroom balcony…

… or enjoy the show from the back deck.

The Hacienda Beach House and the Casa Del Sol may be the coziest vacation rentals on the Oregon Coast, but since you can’t watch the whales swim by in the dark, you might want go out and enjoy a night of live music. Quintessential Irish flute player Hanz Araki , best known for his playing and singing of Celtic music, and  violinist Kathryn Claire will be performing in a concert with guitarist Chris Hayes at the the Pistol River Friendship Hall on Saturday, September 22, 2012, 8 – 10pm. Ticket prices are just $15. For tickets, call 541-247-2848, or order tickets on line from the Piston River Concert Association. The Pistol River Friendship hall is located at: 24194 Carpenterville Road, Gold Beach, OR.

When: Sunday, 9/16, 10am-4pm
Location: Event Center on the Beach, 29392 Ellensburg Ave. (Hwy 101) Gold Beach, OR

“Catch a Falling Star is the theme for this year’s Quilt show. Admission is $3 per person. For more information, contact the Chairpersons: Chris Storm, 541-332-2400, chrisstorm@earthlink.com or Elaine Pendelton, 541-332-3101, elainep1353@gmail.com

Do you trailer in your own horse? Box stalls for short stays can be obtained from the Curry County Fairgrounds in Gold Beach (541-247-4541). Make sure you call at least a month in advance to check availability. There is often limited availability during horse shows and the July fair. Fees are currently $15 a night. The nearest campground with equestrian accommodations is Cape Blanco State Park, approximately one hour north of Gold Beach.

Horses love surf and sand, and when your horse loves something, you know the ride will be a good one. Whether on your own horse or rented, Gold Beach riding is sublime because of the choice of scenery and trails. Siskiyou West Day Lodge rents horses of all temperaments and rider skill levels for treks on the beach, local dunes and the owner’s ranch, just south of Gold Beach at Pistol River.

Winter Whales – Southbound

Peak Winter Whale Watching Week - Dec 26-31, 2012

About 18,000 gray whales will migrate south during the 4 week period from mid-December to mid-January. During the winter migration, the main body of whales is further off shore, about 5 miles, but some will pass as close as 1-2 miles off shore. While migrating south, whales will seldom stop to eat as they swim steadily towards Baja, Mexico.

Spring Whales – Northbound

Peak Spring Whale Watching Week - March 23 – 30,  2013

During the Spring, another mass migration of approximately 18,000 whales will travel up the Oregon coast during from March through June on their way to Alaska’s Bering Sea. Juveniles lead the way, followed by adults. Mothers and baby whales travel slower and are the last to make their way up the coast.

Most of the whale come much closer to shore during the Spring migration to feast on the abundant food supply along Oregon’s Coast. From April to May you might even see mothers and calves relaxing in protected coves close to shore.

Summer Whales

A fair number of gray whales won’t migrate all the way back to Alaska to feed.  About 200-400 gray whales will remain along Oregon’s coast during the summer. Feeding whales can frequently be spotted along the central coast from July through October, often feeding very close to shore.

If you’ve been lucky enough to grab a vacation rental with a prime viewing location along the Oregon Coast, then just sit back, relax and watch the whales glide by. The Hacienda Beach House and Casa Del Sol sit on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Both vacation rentals have unobstructed views up and down the coast, with prime whale watching views from the master bedroom balconies and the backyard. If you didn’t manage to score one of Oregon’s premier oceanfront vacation rentals, you can check the Whale Watching Center for public viewing locations.

Hacienda Beach House Master Bedroom View. Perfect for whale watching!

Casa Del Sol Master Bedroom Whale Watching Perch with telescope.

View From Yard

View From Yard