What I Actually Packed for a New England Whale Watch With Kids

When we planned our whale-watching trip to Gloucester, Massachusetts, the original idea was to drive up the night before, stay overnight and spend the morning at the beach before our afternoon Cape Ann Whale Watch.

Life changed the plan.

Instead, we turned it into a half-day trip from Connecticut, which meant everything we needed for the drive, lunch and several hours on the boat had to come with us.

Thankfully, most of what I packed was actually useful.

If you want the full story from our half-day Gloucester trip, including Stage Fort Park, Cape Ann Whale Watch, and the whales we saw, read our full Gloucester whale-watching day here.

We were traveling with three adult women and two boys, ages five and six, so my goal wasn’t to pack perfectly. It was to make sure everyone was fed, comfortable and prepared enough that little problems didn’t become big ones.

Our Whale-Watching Packing List

Want to skip the scrolling? I turned this list into a printable New England Whale Watch Packing Checklist you can save and use while packing.

Download the Free Whale Watch Packing Checklist

• Sweatshirt or light jacket for everyone
• Polarized sunglasses
• Secure hats
• Sunscreen
• Water bottles
• Seltzers
• Juice boxes for the kids
• Sandwiches
• Fruit
• Cheese sticks
• Individual chip bags
• Granola bars
• Fruit gummies
• Easy car snacks
• Tablets loaded with downloaded shows and games
• Headphones
• Portable charger
• Charging cables
• Motion-sickness supplies your family normally uses
• Extra clothing
• Swimsuits, if there’s even a chance you’ll stop at the beach
• Small backpack for the boat

For breakfast, I made individually wrapped egg-and-bagel sandwiches so everyone could eat in the car. That was one of the easiest decisions of the day because we didn’t have to add another stop before Gloucester.

I also packed lunch instead of planning a restaurant meal before the whale watch. We ended up finding Stage Fort Park around 11:15 AM, let the boys play for a little while, and ate our sandwiches before continuing toward Cape Ann.

The Things I’m Most Glad We Brought

Sweatshirts were absolutely necessary.

Gloucester was comfortable on land, but once we got farther out on the water, it became noticeably cooler. Everyone eventually put a sweater or sweatshirt on.

Polarized sunglasses were another must.

The glare coming off the ocean can make it difficult to scan the water. Once we started looking for whale blows and fins, being able to see the surface more clearly made a difference.

And because we had two young kids with us, having snacks and water readily available meant we weren’t depending on the boat’s galley every time somebody got hungry.

Cape Ann does sell food and drinks onboard. We bought a couple of sodas and alcoholic drinks, but bringing our own snacks kept the day easier and less expensive.

What I Packed and Didn’t Use

I packed swimsuits.

We never used them.

Would I pack them again?

Yes.

We had originally planned for a beach morning, and even after that changed, I kept the swimsuits with us just in case we arrived early and had enough time to let the boys get their feet wet somewhere.

We didn’t.

But that’s how I like to pack for day trips.

I don’t need to use every single thing I bring. I just want enough flexibility that if the plan changes again, we have options.

My Biggest Packing Advice

Don’t pack for the weather at the dock.

Pack for several hours offshore.

And when you’re traveling with kids, pack enough food and entertainment for the ride there, the boat ride and the ride home.

Our whale-watch day lasted much longer than the actual tour, but because we had breakfast, lunch, snacks, tablets, sweatshirts and the other basics covered, the day never felt difficult.

Sometimes the easiest trip isn’t the one where you bring the least.

It’s the one where you bring the things that prevent unnecessary problems.

Download the printable whale-watch packing checklist so you can check everything off the night before your trip.