“To your left, a whale!” the boat captain announces. I rush out onto the deck, where I rock in time with the waves, holding my breath and scanning the horizon. Nearby, a pod of dolphins leaps in unison, like a well-rehearsed circus troupe milking a round of applause.
I’m on my way to Channel Islands National Park, and before I’ve even arrived, I’ve seen wildlife in spades. Five of the eight Channel Islands are under national park protection — Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel
