Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade

Last week marked the 109th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade in Newport Beach, CA. It's the longest-running lighted boat parade in the country and contains as many as 100 vessels of all types decorated for the holidays. The parade only runs for a few days each December and is a huge event that draws large crowds of spectators who watch from the shore, purchase tickets to ride on one of the many boats that are part of the parade, or if you're one of the millionaires that have a home or boat in Balboa, you have the pleasure of watching from your property (both of which host lavish parties taking place at the same time!).

When riding on a boat you have the opportunity to be part of the parade. Boats line up and cruise around the harbor allowing patrons to see spectacular homes and water crafts decorated to the nines. During the voyage, people watching the parade wave and shout good tidings to the passengers on the boats. It was pretty fun to experience so much holiday cheer. This was my first year attending and I definitely recommend riding on one of the boats for the unique experience, but my one complaint was that being on the boat limits your view of the other vessels. Next year I want to go again and watch from the shore.

Tips for the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade:

• Arrive several hours before your boat departs/the parade starts due to insane traffic and parking. And be prepared to walk a distance to get to your destination.
• Try to attend on the first or last night (Wednesday or Sunday) to see the fireworks show.
• Check out Groupon/Living Social several weeks before the parade to get big ticket discounts.
• Take your family! This is a fun things to do with kids and adults alike.

Fun note: this year Vicki Gunvalson of “Real Housewives of Orange County” was the Grand Marshall. It would have been fun to see her kick off the festivities, especially since I attended opening night, but I opted for the later parade time. Keep an eye out, maybe it'll be featured on next season of RHOC!

Aquarium of the Pacific Holiday Celebration

This December, visit Aquarium of the Pacific to experience a seasonal celebration, complete with Santa Diver, Penguin Walk, "fish"mas treats, holiday-themed characters, and more! The fun takes place December 2 through 24.

The Aquarium, although located in sunny Southern California, transforms into a winter wonderland fun for kids and adults alike. There's something magical about a big, bright Christmas tree surrounded by falling snow with a tank full of colorful sea life in the background! And in true marine fashion, see Santa swim with the fishes in between posing for pictures in his traditional attire.

On weekends, crafts, Hanukkah storytelling, and real snow are highlights not to be missed. And every day at 10 a.m., see penguins up close as they waddle their way to their habitat, marching in front of the otters in the Northern Gallery.

During a preview of the holiday experience, we got to interact with one of those penguins who hammed it up for the audience!

Admission to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is $29.95 for adults, $26.95 for seniors (62+), and $17.95 for children ages 3-11. For additional information on all of the holiday activities taking place, visit the Aquarium Holidays page.

Spark of Love Toy Drive 
A toy drive runs daily December 2 through 24 and supports the Long Beach Fire Department Spark of Love Toy Drive. Aquarium guests who donate a new, unwrapped toy – at a $15 value or more – will receive a coupon valid for $10 off adult/$3 off child, up to 4 total admissions. Aquarium members will receive a complimentary Aquarium admission ticket for each toy donated (max of 6).

Wrightwood Mountain Snow Day

While most of the country has received feet of snow, I'm just over here in Southern California dreaming about flurries. Despite the lack of winter in LA and Orange Counties, we do get snow in our local mountains. This year we're had a bunch of rain (well, a lot for our drought-ridden state) and a lot of snow. A few weeks ago I made my way up to Wrightwood Mountain for a snow day. The last time I'd seen real snow was during my high school senior trip in 2001! I've been snowboarding, but with our lack of rain, we usually have fake snow on the slopes. So I was way overdue.

While it wasn't much compared to what most are used to, it was still fun to play in the snow and crisp air!

Whale Watching With Harbor Breeze Cruises

I recently had the amazing opportunity to go whale watching with Aquarium of the Pacific and Harbor Breeze Cruises. A small group from the media set out and had the best morning on the ocean. The weather was beautiful and the sea life came out to play!

When whale watching, it's pretty normal to see dolphins since they love playing in boats' wakes. On this particular morning there were a bunch of common dolphins swimming along with the boat. No matter how many times I see dolphins, it never ceases to amazing me just how smart and playful they are!

And then it happened - we saw a gray whale migrating with it's calf. November through May, they start in Alaska and make their way down to the warmer waters of Mexico to court and have babies. This mom hadn't quite made it all the way south before giving birth and the Aquarium specialists thought the calf was about a week old. What a treat! It was pretty awe-inspiring to see such majestic creatures and have experts from Aquarium of the Pacific on hand to explain what we were seeing and to answer our questions.

Along with the whales were a group of friendly dolphins joining them on part of their journey. Again, dolphins are the best!

I was really impressed with Harbor Breeze Cruises. Their luxury catamarans were designed with whale watching in mind and have stadium seating that allows more people to sit outside compared to most whale watching boats. Plus, the set up provides optimal views.

Also, their experienced captains and expert naturalists are trained by Aquarium of the Pacific so they know what to look for and how to behave around sea life. I really appreciate that they follow the law of keeping a distance between the boat and whales. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, a boat can not interrupt whales. That means they must stay at least 100 yards away, not get in their path or change their direction, etc. That's really important and traveling with Harbor Breeze Cruises, you can rest assured that you are experiencing wildlife without disturbing it.

Right now is the perfect time to go whale watching. The waters are so active at this time of year that you have a good chance of spotting whales. And if you don't, you can count on the friendly dolphins! It is a little chilly out on the water but if you bundle up you'll be just fine. Head over to their site to book a tour. Or better yet - book a whale watching tour that includes admission to the Aquarium of the Pacific. The two are right next to each other and a combo ticket is only $49.95 for adults, $33.95 for children, and $45.95 for seniors.

I've been to the Aquarium twice in the last few months and love it there. So many cool creatures and you can get your hands dirty - literally - touching sharks, sting rays, starfish, and more. Make a day out of it and get to Long Beach for a day at the aquarium and on a whale watching tour!