Ever since the debacle learning experience we had when we showed up at Leo Carillo State Park during high tide instead of low, I’ve been itching to visit a Southern California tide pool with the big explorer.
The first week of summer break seemed like the perfect opportunity. When a check of the tide charts for Point Fermin State Marine Park in San Pedro showed a midday low tide, I was in. We invited along some friends to sweeten the deal.
And what an adventure we had!
WHY IT’S GREAT FOR NATURE LOVERS
Tidepools are formed by depressions in the rocks that trap water as the tide goes out. The best time to visit Point Fermin (or any tidepool area) is at low tide, when most of the rocks and pools are exposed. During our visit, we saw tons of sea crabs, chitons, mussels, sea urchin shells, seaweed and more. For free!
The best way to explore is to take your time. Instead of running from one pool to the next, pick one area, have a seat and take a look for a few minutes to see what you can find. We were amazed at how exciting tidepool discoveries are for kids and parents alike.
OUR NOTES FROM THE FIELD
The path from the Cabrillo Beach Park to the tidepools is a short, flat walk, but once we got there, we realized we were in for some serious rock hopping to reach the pools.
It took us a few minutes to get used to maneuvering, but once we did, we moved quickly. As soon as we reached an area with some water in it, I told the big explorer to stop and take a close look to see what he could see. He went crazy with excitement!
Funny thing is, his first few discoveries were empty shells and plants he thought looked pretty. Once his buddy spotted a crab (and there were TONS of them!), the two couldn’t be contained. They pointed at every one they saw – some moving, some hiding in their shells, baby crabs, huge ones, some out of the water and others swimming inside it.
There was so much to discover. We spotted a chiton, which we’d read about in my treasured copy of the classic The Wonder Book of the Seashore.
We spotted this beautiful sea urchin shell, which was especially cool because it still had some of its spines attached.
The big explorer even remarked about how pretty this seaweed looked in the water. I agree – it’s rare for us to see seaweed that isn’t brown and washed up on the shore!
We saw lots of abandoned shells that were now being used by new creatures, which was the perfect opportunity to talk about nature’s own method of recycling. The kids were quick to point out that anything they found in the water should stay there because some creature might want to reuse it.
We explored for almost an hour moving from one pool to another, taking care to stop and peek inside to see what we could discover in each one.
When it was time to head back to shore, the kids asked if they could search for shells. Anything out of the water was fine with me. The big explorer found several beauties to add to his collection of nature treasures, but this was his favorite.
PLANNING ESSENTIALS
- Explore the tidepools during low tide – check the tides at Point Fermin here
- Parking is $1 per hour (maximum of $9 per day)
- Wear comfortable shoes as you’ll be rock hopping your way out to the pools
- Practice sun safety – wear a hat and sunscreen and bring along plenty of water
- If you’ve got a little explorer 3 years old or younger, bring along an extra set of hands – and maybe a backpack carrier, too – navigating the rocks can be especially challenging for little kids
- There are no food services at Cabrillo Beach Park, but there are ample picnic tables available for use
- There are no restrooms at the tidepool area (the closest is at the nearby Southern California Bathhouse)
MY TIPS FOR A GREAT VISIT
- Keep an eye on waves, even during low tides. Rocks can be wet and slippery, too, so take care as you roam the pools.
- Encourage exploring and gentle touching of sea life, but leave all animals where you find them.
- Combine your tidepool exploring with a visit to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. The Aquarium is just a short walk from the tidepools and offers an up-close view of creatures that call the Southern California shore home. It’s a bargain at a suggested donation of $5 per adult and $1 per child!
Point Fermin State Marine Park is located just steps from Cabrillo Beach Park at:
3720 Stephen M. White Drive
San Pedro, CA 90731
Directions to Point Fermin State Marine Park
The lower the number, the more marine life you'll see. Negative tides are the best, but as long as you go in the hour before or after the low tide, you should be able to discover something. Have fun, Dan!
This sounds like a LOT of fun! Would like your advice — when looking at tide tables, there 2 low tides per day, one VERY low, sometimes negative (below sea level?) and then another which is 1-2'. Is 2' low enough for a good time?<br />thanks
@Crystal: You won't be disappointed — I think kids of any age would love this. Just gotta take more caution with the little ones! I'll look forward to reading of your adventures.<br /><br />@Melissa: It took us four years for the big explorer to show any interest in touch pools, let alone the beach. Then this year, bingo! Nice to know all the trips have paid off! 🙂
Oh what a cool place! We're going to the beach later this summer and I'm sure Big Roo is gonna love it. Every year he "gets it" a little more!
What a fun experience, I'll bet both boys will be remembering this day for a long time to come! Those are great pictures, by the way — I've never seen a chiton (I wonder if they're also found on the east coast…I'll have to look this up next!)<br />I love tide-pooling, and want to take my little guys soon. There's a wonderful rocky beach on a nearby border island, and I&#
@Katie: Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to hear what apps you like; I find some of the online sites confusing to decipher.
We LOVE LOVE LOVE tidepooling! Looks like you guys found a great spot! We might have to head up there. 🙂 I found a couple great apps for my iPhone that show the high and low tides and I always take a peek to see if the tide is coming in or going out. 🙂