Few wildlife watching experiences can match the sighting of a breeching whale for pure excitement. There’s something just plain magical about seeing these massive creatures in the wild. Perhaps it is because we are so small compared to them (blue whales can measure more than 90 feet and weigh 150 tons or more). Or maybe it is that most of us rarely get the chance to see a whale.

Whale watching can be a hit-or-miss proposition — and there’s never a guarantee you’ll see them in the wild. There are, however, some ways to improve the odds of spotting these majestic animals.

Certain coastal destinations are known for their plentiful whale populations and those, as well as other spots, are near the seasonal migration routes followed by some species of whales.

The winter months of February and March are among the best times of the year to spot migrating pods of whales along both Pacific and Atlantic coasts. Here are 10 sites that offer the best chance to observe these gentle giants in their natural habitats.

Maui, Hawaii

Whales, just like tourists, seem to love Maui in the winter, and thousands of humpback whales congregate here from December to April to mate and give birth to their calves. Sightings from land or tour boat are fairly common — but if you are really lucky you might also hear them serenading potential mates or see momma humpbacks with their babies.

The Lime Kiln Lighthouse at Lime Kiln State Park.

San Juan Islands, Washington

Arguably the best place in the world to observe orcas (aka killer whales) are the San Juan Islands, an archipelago consisting of 172 islands clustered off the northwest coast of Washington. One of the four major islands in the group is even named Orcas.

While orcas are present in the islands year-round, three major pods, known as the “Southern Residents,” are most frequently seen during the spring and summer months. It should be noted that orcas are not actually whales, but are members of the oceanic dolphin family. Nonetheless, it is thrilling to see these powerful predators — notable for their large and distinctive dorsal fins — in the wild.

Orcas aren’t the San Juan Islands’ only marine attraction. You might also spot humpbacks, minkes and grays in these whale-rich waters. Tip: Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island — often called Whale Watch Park — is the best place to view orcas from the shore. It’s also home to a photogenic 100-year-old lighthouse.

Depoe Bay, Oregon

This tiny Northern Oregon town (pop. 1,400) has earned the title of “Whale Watching Capital on the Oregon Coast.” And justly so, as it plays host to the annual passing of more than 20,000 gray whales as the giant creatures migrate south to Mexico in the winter and return north to Alaska in spring and early summer.

Also spotted year-round are humpbacks, blues, orcas and porpoises. There are several excursion operators ready to book offshore tours, and Oregon State Parks operates a Whale Watching Center where staff members help visitors spot whales just off the coast.

Humpback whales in Monterey Bay.

Monterey Bay, California

Whale watching in Monterey Bay is some of the best in the world, owing to a deep submarine canyon close to shore where a variety of cetaceans hang out year-round. The gray whale migrations create extra seasonal excitement during the winter months and again in the spring and early summer.

Blue, humpback and fin whales are seen in larger than usual numbers from December to April. Several excursion companies operate whale watching trips from Fisherman’s Wharf, and you can’t beat the decks at Monterey Bay Aquarium for watching from the shore.

If you visit Monterey, don’t miss the Aquarium. Featuring more than 35,000 creatures occupying 200+ exhibits, it is a window on the wonders of the ocean.

San Diego, California

You can catch the same sequence of gray whale migrations here as at the several other Pacific Coast destinations previously described.

The overlook from Cabrillo National Monument, situated atop the 422-foot-high tip of Point Loma Peninsula on the west side of San Diego Bay, is a fantastic spot for whale watching. Blue, fin and humpback whales are best spotted on whale-watching tours venturing farther offshore from mid-June to September.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a protected area in the waters off the Massachusetts coast, has been named by the World Wildlife Fund as one of the top 10 whale watching spots in the world.

The many local tour companies taking visitors to Stellwagen Bank (most often from April to October) claim a 99 percent success rate in spotting various cetacean species, including minke, fin and humpback whales. That’s as close to a guarantee as you’ll find anywhere.

Long Island, New York

Who would ever guess that as many as two dozen species of whales reside in the waters just off Long Island — and so close to the Big Apple? It just so happens this is an irresistible feeding area for an incredibly diverse set of cetaceans, including fin, sperm, minke, humpback, blue, sei and North Atlantic right whales.

July to September is the optimal time for spotting the creatures. Many whale watching tours depart from historic Montauk but cruises also are offered from other ports in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Cape May, New Jersey

Most anytime is good for whale watching off this picturesque south Jersey town. That’s because the majority of whales aren’t migrating and come to the marine-life rich waters of Delaware Bay to feed whenever they are so inclined.

Currently, the most commonly seen species are humpbacks, fins and minkes. Now and then there’s a sighting of rare and highly endangered North Atlantic right whales. Whale watching cruises typically begin with dolphin watching close to shore, and then go 5 to 20 miles offshore in quest of whales.

Virginia Beach, Virginia

For an under-the-radar destination to spot some whales, give Virginia Beach a try. When winter and chilly temperatures arrive in Virginia Beach, sightseeing doesn’t necessarily come to a halt.

In fact, it may well heat up a bit with the arrival of migrating humpback and fin whales from December through March. Join one of many whale watching cruises to see these magnificent creatures, along with bottle-nose dolphins, seals and a variety of sea birds.

Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville isn’t among the nation’s leading destinations for whale sightings but what it lacks in frequency and variety it makes up for in the opportunity to view one of the world’s rarest and most endangered whales — the North Atlantic right whale.

There are little more than 400 right whales left in the world, and they choose to languish in the warm waters between Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral from December through March. These whales, which can grow to 70 tons and 55 feet in length, have traditionally come south from Canada each winter to birth and nurse their calves.

As the 2018-19 season began, however, scientists report seeing the very first right whale calf in two years off Jacksonville. Guests at oceanfront hotels along the North Coast occasionally spot the creatures from their balconies, while whale watching cruises offer the possibility of close-up sightings.