Tidepools are incredible little shallow puddles of seawater with a life of their own! Each one is a microcosm – a tiny little rocky world filled with fascinating creatures and sea life. Exploring tidepools with kids provides endless hours of entertainment and learning for the whole family. There’s so much to observe and discover. Today, Araceli Gonzalez, Northern California mom of three, is here to take you on an adventure through the tidepools along the California coast!
California coast tidepools
Tidepools are one of the main attractions along the California coastline. Sprinkled all along Highway 1, you’re sure to find these beautiful gems throughout. Some of the best tidepools can be found along the Mendocino Coast, Monterey, Big SUR, Cambria, and all the way down throughout Southern California. The Central Coast (the area roughly spanning the coastal region between Point Mugu and Monterey Bay) is a family favorite with amazing tidepools. The Carmel Coast tidepools are pictured here.
The best time of day to visit a tidepool
The best time to visit a tidepool is low tide when the water levels are calm and at their lowest. Low tide gives you more tidepools to discover and lets you explore much further out on the beach. You can take a look at a “tide table” in your area to find low tide times of day and make the most of your visit. Tide tables are handy charts with helpful low and high tide information. We recommend going just before low tide to give yourself the maximum amount of time to explore the tidepools. Start inland and work your way out as the tide recedes. But make sure to keep your eye on the tide and what the water is doing. Stay safe and come back inland as the tide starts to rise.
Tidepools are so much fun, but it’s important to take a few precautions to ensure your kids are safe. Water (and the ocean in particular) can be dangerous and safety should be a top priority when exploring tidepools. Always be mindful of ocean currents and waves. Keep an eye on the time, the tides, and the water level. Never leave littles unattended. Rocks can be slippery, especially when covered in seaweed, so be extra careful when walking around on rocky beaches. Water shoes with good grip are always a good idea, but if your kids are anything like mine barefoot is their shoe of choice. Remind them to watch their step and not step directly into water where they can’t see the bottom (and know what they’re stepping on).
For the safety of the animals in the tidepool, I like to remind my kids to be delicate when picking up any sea creatures. If you can observe without touching, that’s even better (but not always preferred for kids – they love a hands-on experience). If they do pick up something, always put it back where they found it. Advise them to never pull or remove animals attached to rocks or the sand. These should be observed just as they are – and that’s fun too!
Tidepool seashells
My kids love finding and playing with seashells in tidepools. Most of the shells we find belong to snails – periwinkle snails, whelk snails, unicorn whelk – mussels or oysters. Teach the kids to observe them, enjoy them (very gently) and then leave them behind for the next person to enjoy. We try to remain mindful of the impact we have when visiting these gorgeous places. We tread lightly and are careful not to trample on these tiny creatures. Most seashells we find are still occupied by little creatures that are still alive so they need to remain in their home. However, if we find an empty shell, I’ll let the kids keep one. We love collecting them, sorting them by shape and color. It really is one of our favorite activities.
Tidepool treasures
When you explore tidepools, you’ll find so many treasures to uncover. From tiny little snails to great big ones like the abalone that lived in this shell. From colorful sea glass to beautiful seashells. Rocks of every shape, size and color. Crabs and claws, urchin and anemones. Sea stars, slugs, sand dollars, and sculpin. Algea and octopus! In a tidepool, even the sand is interesting!
Bring along a book or a printable guide that helps you and your kids identify your finds. Get to know the animals and plants in your area and the distinctions between them all. We can spend hours turning over each rock and observing the little creatures. Our kids love the thrill of exploring each tidepool. What will we find…a snail, crab, clam, oyster, starfish? You never know! There’s so much to learn from exploring a tidepool and it’s why we love the California coast so much. The opportunity to explore and learn about nature is priceless.
Slowing down
Exploring tidepools at low tide gives us an opportunity to uncover endless possibilities. Look under each rock and you will be amazed at what you will find. Move seaweed aside and peer into crevices. Find craters in the sand or rock with trapped sea creatures. Dig in the sand and see what you can find. Exploring the tidepools always seems to slow us down and make us take notice of all the amazing things around us. I love that our kids stare at everything with such intent. They are so calm and interested while observing. It’s obvious that they’re learning and thinking and uncovering new ideas. They ask great questions and engage all their senses. In a busy and overscheduled world, it is so important to slow down and enjoy the little things. Tidepooling gives us that opportunity.
Hike it, baby
Hiking is another family-favorite activity and the California coast is an incredible place to hike. We love a good trail that ends the hike down at the beach with some fun at a tidepool. Just the anticipation of going tidepooling gives the kids something to look forward to and helps us power through a hike. Point Lobos State Nature Reserve in Monterey County not only offers an incredible opportunity to hike along a breathtaking trail, but you can also break to explore some really amazing tidepools. This is one of our favorite hiking trail that leads to tidepools.
Learning made fun
Exploring the California coast tidepools is a great way to expose kids to marine life and get them interested in the wide variety of aquatic plants and animals. Tidepools have the power to really unleash a child’s curiosity! Exploring a tidepool is a great hands-on full-body way to learn and connect kids to our environment. We enjoy (and highly encourage) any and all questions that come our way. We love talking about what causes a tide, how the moon and sun play a role. Why is there a low and high tide? Why are some animals protected by a shell and not others? What’s the difference between these types of animals? Why the different colors, shapes of sizes? So many questions and so much to learn in a super fun environment! And if we don’t know the answers, we discuss our theories and then look them up when we get home!
Cliffs and more
California coast tidepool adventures are not only about the tidepools. When exploring the California coast, you’ll find so many other amazing sites and things to do. The topography along the California shoreline is incredible. The bluffs and cliffs, the rocks, the crashing waves and the gorgeous beaches. Along the Mendocino Coast, you will find an array of tide pools right alongside some really gorgeous cliffs. You can hike/climb down to the shore and admire all the beautiful flowers on the cliffs. There are dramatic coastal views filled with lush turquoise water all along this coastline. This area is filled with beautiful sleepy little coastal towns, farms and lighthouses, as well. Go for the tidepools, but make sure to check out other natural attractions and sites in the area, as well.
California coast tidepools
I hope this post inspires you to get out and explore the tidepools along the California coastline. There are so many different experiences you can have in so many various locations. The scenery and the finds are different every time you go. Exploring tidepools with the kids never seems to get old. California tidepools offer a wealth of diverse marine and aquatic life that’s sure to please kids of any age. Get them interested in nature – get them in a tidepool!
About the author
Araceli is a wife and momma to three wild and adventurous littles. She believes that nature and free play are truly the foundation for a beautiful childhood. Araceli and her husband make it a priority to raise their children with a strong bond to the great outdoors. She’s a working mom with an extensive career in Project Management. She’s creative, crafty and loves collecting houseplants. As a family, they love exploring wild places and she loves documenting their adventures.
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Instagram: @roaminggonzalez