Stingray City, Grand Cayman
The clear, shallow water of Grand Cayman’s North Sound teems with southern stingrays. They began to congregate here because it’s where fishermen cleaned their catch. Now, they come for handouts from tourists. Ebanks Watersports (345/925-5273 or ebankswatersports.com) offers trips to visit the sandbar, where passengers can touch, feed, and snorkel among these gentle swimmers. For more info, visit gocayman.ky.
Depoe Bay, Oregon
From now until June, Oregon’s “whale-watching capital” welcomes roughly 18,000 gray whales en route to Alaska. Visit the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay to learn the best spots to view the grays. (Insider’s tip: Northbound whales, which migrate now, swim closer to shore than southbound winter travelers.) Spring Whale Watch Week, when center volunteers will be stationed along the coast to provide viewing tips and facts, starts March 22. Or, for an up-close glimpse, hop aboard a Tradewinds Charters tour (800/445-8730 or tradewindscharters.com). For more info, visit whalespoken.org.
Assateague Island National Seashore, Virginia and Maryland
During spring and fall, this area’s famed wild horses spend much of their time grazing the Virginia and Maryland coastlines. The best way to see the privately owned Virginia herd is aboard the Pony Express Nature Tour cruise. Captain Mark Coulbourne knows where the horses hang out (tours run May through October, 866/766-9794). On land, hike or bike the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge’s 1½-mile Woodland Trail to
an observation platform overlooking the ponies’ habitat. For more info, visit nps.gov/asis.
Big Pine Key, Florida
This is the only place in the world to see the pint-size Key deer. A subspecies of Virginia white-tailed deer, they stand just 30 inches tall at the shoulder. Go to the National Key Deer Refuge in the early morning or at dusk for the best viewing—you may spot a newborn during the April-to-May fawning season. Stop at the visitor center before heading to an observation platform, or hike trails to see the deer. For more info, visit nationalkeydeer.fws.gov.
Maui, Hawaii
Many green sea turtles (or honu) that gather off Maui’s shores eventually make their way to Maluaka Beach, also known as Turtle Town. To view the sea turtles in their natural habitat, grab your snorkel or scuba gear. Maui Eco Tours’ Seafari claims an average of 15 turtle sightings per snorkel trip (866/891-2223 or mauiecotours.com). Sign up with Tropical Divers Maui for an introductory lesson with a guided dive (800/994-6284 or scubamaui.com). The Turtle Lagoon at the Maui Ocean Center offers a chance to see the reptiles and stay dry (mauioceancenter.com).
