What We Do

Doug Leads an Eco-Discover Beach Walk

We lead your guests through magical places…on land and on the sea. They will be stimulated by experiences that linger in the imagination long after they return home. DolphinWorks is the trusted choice for destination managers seeking to assure their clients of unforgettable events.

Our Programs:

crystal-cove-thbEco-Discovery Walking/Hiking Tours

On our fun and educational “Eco-Discovery” land adventures, we lead your guests along scenic trails through beautiful natural settings such as wilderness areas, wildlife preserves, green-belts just outside of popular destination resorts, state parks, and national parks. As we walk, we weave stories into our experiences, from how native cultures used the plants we walk past for food and medicine, to how our choice of coffee affects the birds we see in these locales and in your own back yard. Together we explore each area’s human history, natural history, and whatever interesting wildlife may cross our path.

We offer our “Eco-Discovery Walking Tours” along sparkling coastlines like Crystal Cove, Heisler Park in Laguna Beach, and Salt Creek (from the Ritz Carlton), and turn a stroll down any beach you choose into an exciting adventure. We tour your guests through beautiful protected natural areas including Laguna Coast Wilderness and Newport Back Bay. We can transform a walk from your client’s meeting resort down to the beach and back, such as from the Ritz Carlton or St. Regis in Dana Point, into an eye-opening, fun experience they will remember long after the tour is over. Some of the new desert venues we are offering in the Palm Springs area include Andreas Canyon and Big Morongo Canyon Preserve.

robin-plantsThe Secret Life of Plants

On these outings through botanic gardens and some of our largest and most spectacular collections of indoor and outdoor plants on the West Coast, we offer your guests guided explorations of plants from around the world. Find out why house plants are from jungles, and learn why cactus and other succulents snooze all day and work all night. Discover how plants use humans to travel the globe and distribute themselves. What plants are true healers for humans and how can we utilize them? Explore how you can grow a garden to attract birds and wildlife, make a salad more beautiful, cure a headache, create your own aromatherapy, and use a multitude of other remarkable contributions from plants to enrich your daily like.

We currently offer this program at coastal venues like Roger’s Gardens and the San Diego Botanic Gardens (Quail Gardens). We will leave your guests with new ways of seeing and using the plants around them.

Whales, Dolphins & Secrets of the Sea

On our exciting “Eco-Discovery” ocean adventures, your guests will delight in our “Whales, Dolphins, & Secrets of the Sea” program. On-board the 63-foot luxury, high-speed catamaran, the OCean Adventure (59 passengers), the 95-foot Dana Pride (149 passengers), or any vessel of your choice, we weave together stories of mystery, science, and intrigue to paint a full picture of what is happening above and below the surface of our living ocean. This wonderful two to three-hour adventure begins from Dana Point Harbor and continues during a 3 to 8-mile excursion up and down the Pacific Coast as we explore the intriguing and magical world of our oceans and her creatures. As our vessel leaves the dock, the guests will enjoy observing the abundant bird life while local area topics are being discussed.  Typically during our time onboard, we’ll see California sea lions, dolphins, and many other types of life at home in our oceans.  We’ll stop in the giant kelp forests, pulling aboard a specimen for everyone to see. This species of kelp is one of the fastest growing plants on Earth (two feet a day). Every one of us has kelp in us or on us right now, as kelp is used in over 200 products that we use daily.  There will be a lively discussion on marine mammals (dolphins, whales, and seals) and their special adaptations to the environment – exploring sonar, echolocation, feeding, mating, raising their young, and their extraordinary communication system which is one of the best in the world.

We are always on the lookout for the many dolphins that live in the area. The excitement is contagious when guests get close-up observations of these creatures that love to ride our bow wake in front of the vessel. We delve into ancient stories, mystical lore and rare insights into new scientific discoveries about these impressive small-toothed whales and the oceans they call home. Your clients will be amazed to learn about the sophistication of our dolphin societies, whose members are often seen playing in the waves. We will discuss how dolphin schools operate, how dolphins call each other by name, the elaborate games they play, and the advanced echolocation system that allows dolphins to picture their world in virtual reality even in the dark. Cruising out to the areas where hundreds of dolphins feed, we will also watch California sea lions within a few feet of the vessel. We often see visiting Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, Fin Whales, and Gray Whales right off our shores. These magnificent gentle giants of the ocean are always a thrill to watch as we discuss their extraordinary lives under the sea.

During our journey, we will have spirited discussions of ocean ecosystems and how the sea affects everything we do here on Earth. We’ll discuss how the El Niño and La Niña currents affect us all, regardless of where we live. This program is unusual and something most guests have not experienced.  We use comfortable vessels with nice bathrooms, a galley with snacks and beverages available, and plenty of room to move about while observing these most intriguing marine mammals.

 

sailingThe Romance of Sailing

We can spin tales that delight clients with our “Romance of Sailing” program, especially intriguing when presented on the deck of a sail boat. Your clients will learn about the force of herbs and spices in driving the voyages of our early history’s sailing vessels, and why square-riggers had to evolve into schooners to adapt to prevailing winds after reaching far-off continents. Fun sea-shanties (songs of early mariners with clues to navigational survival) will also be shared. We escort any size group on any size boat for our “Whales, Dolphins, & Secrets of the Sea” programs and our “Romance of Sailing” cruises.