by Karla Fetrow The boat chugs slowly out of the harbor of Seattle, on its way to the San Juan Islands. The passengers lean eagerly against the rails, their eyes scanning the waters for any sign of marine activity. This is your first wildlife tour, and you huddle in your jacket, facing the brisk north wind, wondering if the cold is worth the pleasure. A shout goes up among the gathered crowd; then you see them; a small pod of Orca whales surfacing, their exposed backs almost like a continuation of the ocean waves. One whale suddenly leaps high into the air, then comes crashing back down again, his tail a giant fan as he submerges again, a cascade of water spraying behind him like a fountain.

Does this sound like your ideal vacation? Have you been wanting to get out and explore the wildlife of North America? Does the thought of seeing nature up close and personal excite you? If so, there are plenty of wildlife tours available all across the continent. Taking In Nature Penn’s Cave wildlife tours, located in Centre County – the heart of Pennsylvania, gives you an opportunity to visit America's only all water and cavern wilderness park. Your guide will lead you by boat for an opportunity to see white-tailed deer, elk, mountain lions, and wolves in their natural habitat. You can experienced similar wildlife tours in Wyoming, Minnesota, and the Yellowstone National Park. Many parks offer easily accessible accommodations for overnight stays and safari buses that explore these expansive wildlife preserves, allowing you a chance to see a variety of mammals and birds interacting with their environment. The Magnificent Pacific Northwest No other wildlife tour will prepare you for the spectacular adventure of traveling in the Pacific Northwest, where hundreds of miles of untouched wilderness give you the opportunity to view nature at its best and its most implacable. Wildlife tours on and around the Columbia River, which runs through British Columbia and Washington, are a splendid option. Most tours include kayaking and canoeing adventures as a means of watching the Giant White Pelicans, mule dear browsing along the shore, as well as beavers, porcupine, and the Great Blue Herons. A trip to Vancouver Island in British Columbia is another must for wildlife lovers. To get to Vancouver Island, take the ferry from either Seattle or Vancouver. Dall and Harbor porpoises cavort cheerfully near the ferry, and there is potential for thrilling views of the Orca whales. A three night stay on the island gives you the opportunity for guided wildlife tours on the Campbell River, either by kayak, canoe, or boat. Here, you’ll be able to catch a view of stellar sea lions, sea otters, and a variety of birds, such as the Pigeon Guillemot, Harlequin Duck, and the comical Tufted Puffin. If you want to trek even further northward, check out the wildlife tours in Churchill, British Columbia, home not only to a splendid rise of towering mountains, but some of the largest mammals on the North American continent. In summer months, you can watch the Beluga whales swim lazily up the Churchill River, feeding on crustaceans, basking in the warmer river waters, or see moose quietly grazing and sometimes, going for a swim. In late summer, there is a chance to see salmon migrating by the millions into the river estuaries, where grizzly and black bears go fishing to stock up on body fat for their winter hibernation. Plan The Perfect Wilderness Vacation When planning your northern wildlife tours, be sure to take along plenty of warm clothing, a light weight backpack for nature hikes, and a pair of binoculars. Most animals in their natural environment are somewhat shy about encounters with humans. They will keep a certain amount of distance from the tour buses, jeeps, and charter boats, so in order to receive maximum enjoyment, a pair of binoculars with seven to twelve diameter magnification and one and half to two inches (30 to 50 mm) objectives are your best aid. Since wildlife tours include package deals for groups as well as single person reservations, consider the company you'd like to travel with for maximum viewing pleasure. Canoeing, kayaking, and hiking have the greatest advantage in a group who knows that the best way to observe wildlife is to remain calm, quiet, and patient. If the animal doesn’t know you are there, you have the best chance of viewing it, completing the objective of your wildlife tours.