Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center, Cape May

In 2012, after more than two decades studying marine mammals off the New Jersey coast, the founders of the Cape May Whale Watch & Research Center welcomed the American Star into port. The whale-watching vessel journeyed more than 8,700 nautical miles from Seward, Alaska to Cape May, allowing the opportunistic research team to expand its private-exploration and public-sightseeing operations.

Today, the Research Center’s captains and guides effectively welcome up to 150 passengers on the opportunistic research team, relaying the basics of wildlife scouting before boogying into Poseidon's ballroom to scope out dolphins, whales, and birds around the island of Cape May. An enclosed, climate-controlled cabin keeps passengers comfortable during misty weather, and multiple, spacious sundecks allow for up-close views of migrating whale pods. On-board sonar, radar, cameras, and GPS capabilities facilitate up-close, unobtrusive sightings of nature in action. They have continually operated as a Whale, Dolphin, and Bird Tour since 1987.