A scenic splash

From both coasts of the mainland United States, the breaches, spouts, and tail slaps of these colossal cetaceans can be seen for miles. But US-based whale lovers hoping to spot them may have the best luck venturing beyond the Lower 48. This humpback is attempting some acrobatics in one of these migratory whales' favorite summer feeding spots: Glacier Bay National Park in the massive 49th state. As the Alaskan autumn sets in, humpback pods will head to tropical spots to breed—making the 50th state of Hawaii one of the world's premier perches for wintertime whale-watching.