One of the great benefits of living in the Northwest is the proximity to so many great bodies of water.

And there is no better way to enjoy the Puget Sound than a whale watching trip.

Starting May 21, Clipper Vacations out of Seattle offers daily whale watching trips, starting at $70.

Customers board a boat at Seattle's Pier 69 and set off cruising north the waters of the Puget Sound. As the boat enters the San Juan Islands (a cluster of six islands) people can enjoy views of the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges and the island coastlines of sandy and rocky beaches surrounded by lush greenery.

But the best part is the many opportunities to view Orca whales and plenty of other sea life such as bald eagles, porpoises, sea otters and more. There is also a naturalist onboard the boat to help people point out wildlife and explain more about them.  

During the trip the boat also makes a stop in Friday Harbor, where people will have two-and-a-half hours to shop a the many specialty shops and galleries filled with local arts and crafts or dine at one of the town's many restaurants.

Visitors can also explore the whale museum.

Clipper Vacations also offers a chance to see Gray Whales from downtown Seattle with a two-hour stop at historic Coupeville on Whidbey Island.

Gray Whales measure up to 50 feet in length and weigh 35 tons. Every year they migrate north from Baja Mexico to Alaska with their calves in tow. The peak season to catch a glimpse of these large mammals in the Puget Sound's calm waters is in March, April and May.

Also included in the tour is a stop in the quaint and historic town of Coupeville on Whidbey Island. Visitors have two hours to visit the seaport town known for its delicious Penn Cove Mussels. There are several places to stop and have lunch, tasty mussels or swing by its locally famous ice cream parlor for a sweet treat. Coupeville also features a saloon and the historic red wharf building containing the skeletons of a gray whale, a porpoise and a sea lion.

On most weekends from March to May, Clipper Vacations will be offering the exclusive Gray Whale excursion. Cost is $44 for adults and children 12 and younger are free.

For more information on these whale watching trips, visit www.clippervacations.com.