Where Should I Go? (San Diego's Tide Pools)

I don't even know what Mary's holding here, but it's awesome.

I spent a good chunk of yesterday hanging out with my brother by the Pacific. We walked to the base of the Ocean Beach Pier at low tide, where we discovered a labyrinth of sea-carved sandstone, filled with tiny ecosystems that are a wonder to explore. These aren’t the only tide pools in San Diego, either. Here’s how you can hit up this free attraction.

A sea hare— the most adorable slug I've ever seen.

Where to go: Ocean Beach, near the pier, and all the shoreline of La Jolla, especially the coast near Bird Rock.

When to go: A bit before low tide. (Check out this chart to figure out when that is.)

What to bring: Sandals that hold onto your feet (unlike flip-flops) or aqua shoes, sunblock and a hat, hand sanitizer, a camera.

What to do: Wander around looking at the animals! You’ll find dozens of crabs of all sizes, as well as mussels, barnacles, sea anemones, sea stars, sea slugs, and maybe even an octopus. Be careful not to step on the creatures and to return them to their homes once you’ve taken their pictures. 

Tide pools should be on the top of anyone’s must-see list in San Diego— they’re the best free aquarium I’ve ever found. Happy exploring!

~~~