Whales, Wildflowers, and the World's Smallest Fox: Channel Islands National Park
Visiting Channel Islands National Park takes a bit of planning—and a lot of logistics when you're traveling with five kids and a four-legged rascal. Poky, in this case, got his own little adventure. We dropped him off bright and early at a new doggy daycare just after 8 a.m., where he could make some furry friends and run to his heart’s content while we took to the sea.
With Poky settled and our boat check-in just after 9, we were finally able to embark on the trip we’d tried to book weeks earlier—these ferries fill up fast, but with some foresight and determination (and just a pinch of calendar sorcery), we made it. And were we ever glad we did.
The morning crossing from Ventura to Santa Cruz Island was a gift—calm seas and spring sunshine. But the real show started midway across the channel. First, humpback whales breaching, migrating north from Costa Rica to feed along the Canadian coast. Then, a pod of more than 100 bottlenose dolphins leapt and played in our boat’s wake, putting on the kind of show you can’t buy a ticket for.
Once we stepped foot on the island, the wild parade didn’t stop. Just minutes into our hike, the vibrant island scrub jays introduced themselves by trying to steal our lunch. And not long after that, we spotted the elusive island fox—the smallest fox species in the world, yet the king of this rugged island. Roughly the size of a house cat, the island fox once nearly disappeared, with fewer than 30 known individuals remaining. But thanks to focused conservation efforts and the natural isolation of the islands, their population has rebounded. Today, they trot boldly along the trails like they own the place—because, well, they kind of do.
Channel Islands is often called the “Galápagos of North America,” and it’s not hard to see why. The craggy coastlines, twisted and wind-shaped plants, and species that exist nowhere else on earth give a glimpse into what coastal California once looked like before relentless development took hold. We learned about the pygmy woolly mammoth—only six feet tall!—in the visitor center, a reminder that these islands were once home to giants (or at least, mini versions of them).
After walking the cliffs on the northern edge of Santa Cruz Island (with a watchful eye to keep James on the safe side of the trail), we were met with a sweeping view of blooming yellow coreopsis stretching across the hills. It was the beginning of wildflower season—it felt like walking through a sea of sun.
A kind volunteer awarded Junior Ranger badges as we started the return boat ride. The wildlife encore didn’t disappoint. More humpback whales. A rare minke whale sighting. And finally, a massive pod of over 300 common dolphins dancing through the waves like they were celebrating the end of our perfect day.
The temps stayed in the low 60s, but the sun warmed our shoulders as we hiked, spotted wildlife, and imagined a time before highways, beach houses, and souvenir shops. Channel Islands reminded us that California still holds secrets. You just have to take a ferry, bring a few granola bars, and maybe leave the dog behind for the day.
