Visitors spot humpback whales at Guadalupe Beach

GUADALUPE, Calif. - As the coronavirus pandemic continues many in Santa Barbara County are turning to the Guadalupe Sand Dunes beach for recreation and even whale watching.

The parking lots were completely packed with visitors early Sunday morning.

Families came to go fishing, swimming and sight seeing near the sand dunes.

Several visitors say they were amazed to see giant humpback whales from the shore.

"About 500 yards out of the shore here we saw whales jumping out of the water ... we probably saw them about half-a-dozen times, it was great. I mean, I’ve never seen them that close to the shore," said visitor Steve Frankian.

"I came out today to see what it looked like ... they told me the whales were jumping out of the water ... there’s a few whales out there, yes there are," said visitor Tom Silva.

Visitors say going to the sand dunes was an easy way to have a good time will maintaining plenty of physical distance.