Don't Miss the Boat! It's Whale- and Dolphin-Watching Season in the Rockaways

Of course, nobody wants to sleep with the fish, but it is fun to check them out in their natural habitat for a few hours every now and then. Summer is whale- and dolphin-watching season in Queens, and American Princess Cruises offers four-hour trips from the Rockaways through local waterways to observe the marine ecosystem as well as seabirds, turtles, seals and other aquatic creatures…and hopefully spot a whale or dolphin. According to the Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island, about 25 whale species — including fin, humpback, and sperm — and bottlenose dolphins swim in New York City and Long Island waters during the warm weather months.

Details: Whale and Dolphin Watching, Riis Landing, Rockaway Point Boulevard at Heinzelman Road, Breezy Point, now through August with special trips during the fall, usually noon to 4 pm, $45 for adults/$35 for seniors/$25 for children.

Top photo: Jim Licato; bottom photos: American Princess Cruises