Inn at Moonlight Beach

Warm and personable, Captain Ben Griffith and his co-captain Steve greet you upon boarding the Bright and Morning Star, a 105 foot vessel outfitted with comfortable indoor and outdoor seating. A seating area at the top of the boat offers great views and a real at sea experience with fresh ocean breezes, lots of sunshine, and a wonderful view.

The show begins as soon as you depart the dock. Right from the get-go Captain Ben explains the sights and history of the San Diego harbor, pointing out landmarks as Bright and Morning Star glides by them. Questions you'll have answered include:

• When and how was the harbor built?
• What are all the enormous ships in the harbor?
• What do they do?
• Where is the USS Midway aircraft carrier museum?
• Where is Shelter Island and how was it built?
• Where were the water runways?
• What function did they serve?
• What were "Jumbos" and where did they fly?
• What really goes on at North Island Naval Base?
• Where are the battleship docks and what is their current status?
• Does every ship need a Navy or Coast Guard escort?
• Where is the Point Loma peninsula? What's so special about its geography?
• Why are there two lighthouses on Point Loma?
• How did those big "craters" get into the hillsides of Point Loma?
• What do Ballast Point and the streets of Boston have in common?
• How many research ships are in port at the NOAA ship yard?
• How does FLIP (NOAA's floating sea laboratory) work? Can we see it?
• What is the most-visited National Monument in the U.S. after the Statue of Liberty?
• Why didn't Juan Cabrillo explore San Diego harbor after he discovered it?
• What happened to Juan Cabrillo after he departed San Diego?
• What cool things can we see at the Cabrillo Monument?

Once you depart the harbor and head into the Pacific Ocean, Captain Ben's focus shifts to sea life. He and Steve are expert spotters of whales and marine mammals and can identify them by glimpse of their dorsal fins, flukes and spouts. This is where you can get really up-close and personal looks at marine mammals, learning fascinating facts like:

• Why, how far, and when do Gray Whales migrate?
• What do Gray Whales eat?
• How can you recognize a Gray Whale?
• What other whales are seen offshore San Diego?
• What species of dolphin was Flipper?
• What makes Common Dolphins so special?
• What is the personality of a California Sea Lion?
• What do they eat?
• How are Harbor Seals completely the opposite of Sea Lions?
• How can you tell the difference between White-sided, Common, and Bottlenose Dolphins?

When you spot a pod of Common Dolphin, you will see up close how they can't resist chasing Bright & Morning Star. They love to leap and porpoise out of the water on their way to intercept you, sometimes hundreds of them at a time -- a veritable stampede of dolphins.

Captain Ben stays with the dolphins as long as possible -- he never tires of them -- that's what makes him such an excellent guide in interpreting the wildlife; he enjoys it all as much as you do!

As you cross the border into Mexico, Captain Ben fills you in on the rich history of the four Los Coronados Islands. In 1602, Spanish cartographers wrote "Los Cuatros Coronados" (the Four Crowns) next to these four islands only 20 miles south of San Diego. Over the centuries voyagers have told tales of floating coffins, shrouded bodies and ghastly faces amid the rocky cliffs; now the islands bear the names of Old Stone Face, the Sarcophagi, Dead Man's Island and Corpus Christi.

During the gold rush of the 1840's, high seas smugglers used the fog shrouded islands as a staging area to hide their illegal Chinese slaves bound for mining camps. Pirates also laid in wait amid these islands, robbing and scuttling hundreds of ships.

The most bloodthirsty pirate was Jose Arvaez. He avoided detection for a decade by slitting every throat and scuttling every ship he commandeered. Captain Ben will take you into Smuggler's Cove to see where Alvarez hid, and will tell you the rest of the story about how a young man bested Arvaez at his own game.

The captain will take you into other coves on the four islands and ensure you get good close looks at wildlife with excellent photo opportunities, often putting the bow of Bright and Morning Star as close as 20 feet from the boobies, seals, and sea lions on the rocky shores and cliff ledges.

While at the Coronados you will see:

South Island Nearly 400 hundred years after the island's discovery, the first successful entrepreneurs arrived: gambling. During the Great Depression, California lumber baron Fred Hamilton and Tijuana businessman Mariano Escobeda built a lavish retreat called Coronado Islands Yacht Club inside Smugglers Cove. It was actually a cabaret casino frequented by Hollywood stars wanting to escape the public eye. Captain Ben will show you the remains of this storied casino.

Then, during the Prohibition, rumrunners used the island to smuggle tasty beverages to the beaches and homes of Del Mar. On foggy nights so many rumrunners zoomed among the islands that collisions were frequent and cases of bootleg booze floated ashore.

Bomber Rock (Middle Island) You'll visit Sunset Cove, home to Harbor Seals, California Sea Lions, and enormous, once nearly extinct, Elephant Seals (the males can reach 5000 pounds). There are only 2000 Elephant Seals left on the Pacific Coast -- and only two places to see them -- here and Anos Nuevos near Santa Cruz, California.

Bird Rock (Middle Rock) The smallest island, well known by birders for its boobies, cormorants and oystercatchers. We often see downy booby chicks on the nests.

Dead Man's Island (North Island) Now a primary reproductive area for thousands of Brown Pelicans and Western Gulls. Things have been fairly quiet on Los Coronados over the past few decades. Only a lighthouse keeper and a Mexican Navy patrol crew live on the islands today. The Islands are now a nature preserve and stepping ashore without a special government permit is strictly prohibited.

On your return to San Diego, Captain Ben keeps a close eye out for yet more marine mammals, never ceasing his quest to show you as much as he can in 5 1/2 hours. It's a trip to remember!

The Nature Cruise runs 5 days a week through June, including weekends.

We like to let Captain Ben know that we support his trips, so when you're boarding, please be sure to tell him that Terry sent you! I recommend that you join him in the wheelhouse for a few minutes during the trip to gain even more insights into the history, lore and natural history of this paradise we call home. Welcome to San Diego!

Information & Tickets: (619) 234-4111
or Toll Free: 1-800-44-CRUISE

http://www.brightandmorningstar.com/MSCnature.html

Adults: $50.00; Children 4-12) $40.00; Seniors/Military: $45.00. Photo I.D. required for all adults

Boarding Location: 1050 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101. Foot of Broadway, Downtown San Diego. Park in the Five Star parking lot across the street. Don't park at a meter!

Learn more about how to dress and prepare for this seagoing adventure. Bright and Morning Star has a full galley with delicious meals, snacks, and beverages at reasonable prices. You may also rent binoculars while aboard to get better looks at the wildlife Remember your camera!

Saddleback Dolphins

Humpback Whale

The calling card of a pirate

Enjoy a morning stroll on Moonlight Beach

Relax at One of Our Encinitas Beaches
Play At Moonlight Beach
Dine at Our Favorite Restaurants
Take a Surf Lesson
Go on a Whale & Nature Cruise
Have Fun at the Del Mar Race Track
Explore Encinitas
Enjoy Breakfast at the Inn
Play a few Rounds of Golf