Stonington Peninsula, Michigan
During August and September, thousands of monarch butterflies swarm Michigan’s Stonington Peninsula on their long southern migration. You’re likely to find many at Peninsula Point, a resting spot on the Upper Peninsula. Visitors can climb the 40-foot lighthouse for a bird’s-eye view of the butterflies’ journey across Lake Michigan, or observe them resting in the surrounding cedar trees. Pack a picnic, and don’t forget a camera. For more information, call 800/533-4386 or visit travelbaysdenoc.com.
Delaware Bay, Delaware
Head here to visit one of the world's largest spawning grounds for horseshoe crabs. These crustaceans are protected at five community-based sanctuaries—Broadkill Beach, Slaughter Beach, Fowler Beach, Pickering Beach, and Kitts Hummock, all accessible to the public. There are also plans for a horseshoe-crab museum and research center in Milton (the only other museum of this kind is in Japan). You can help save the crab: If you see one turned on its back, “just flip ’em.” For more information, visit horseshoecrab.org.
Mosquito Bay, Puerto Rico
Often called bio bay, this is one of the best places in the world to experience bioluminescence, a natural glow produced by living organisms. You can observe the glowing dinoflagellates (a type of microscopic algae) throughout the year, but the best time to visit is during a new moon when the night sky is darkest. Blue Caribe Kayaks in Esperanza leads educational expeditions and invites you to swim among the “stardust” (reservations are highly recommended); 787/741-2522 or bluecaribekayaks.com.
San Simeon, California
Winter is a great time to observe one of California’s largest resident populations of elephant seals. Visit Friends of the Elephant Seal’s Web site to learn about these funny-looking marine mammals and to get recommendations for the best places to find them. One top viewing spot: the Piedras Blancas rookery just north of San Simeon, where on-site docents will answer questions. For more information, call 805/924-1628 or visit elephantseal.org.
Knight Inlet, British Columbia
To see black bears and grizzlies, head to Knight Inlet, northwest of Vancouver. The Knight Inlet Lodge, open June through mid-October, offers three-, four-, and five-day packages. A boat takes guests to a channel brimming with salmon, and to other areas the bears frequent. For more information, call 877/764-4286 or visit knightinletlodge.com.
