Tide Pools Are Free Entertainment

     Heading to the beach?  The tides can make all the difference with activities you can plan.  If you are the athletic type and will be doing a little surfing, kayaking or snorkeling, the timing may be important.  If you are a grandma taking the kids to the beach, it is more important than ever.

     The girls do a little surfing and a lot of laying on the beach catching rays but when the tide is way way out there, a whole new activity presents itself.   Tide pools!  Well, much more than just the pools but that is a big part of it.  Mother Nature supplies us with a whole new view of the sea when there is a big low tide.  I actually plan trips around the tides.

       One year I had the girls ready to head out at 4:30 am to hit the perfect conditions.  At La Jolla Cove, in the San Diego area, what is just under the water's surface is amazing.  Low tide means a whole new world to discover.   We human types are not the only ones.  The seldom exposed rocks are host to seal and gulls.  The vegetation is amazing. Tide pools galore.  And the shoreline takes on a whole new look.

     I have my favorite site for checking out the tides here in the United States.  It has always been right on with the info and offers a little extra info also.  The site, Salt Water Tides, is easy to use.  Once you click on the word Tide that is in green, you are on your way.  If you have a little extra time, bounce around a bit to see what else they have to offer.  Below is just a little example of what this site will show you.

Tides for Long Beach, Outer Harbor, Pier A starting with October 16, 2012.

Day        High      Tide  Height   Sunrise    Moon  Time      % Moon
           /Low      Time    Feet    Sunset                    Visible

Tu  16      Low   3:45 AM     1.2   6:59 AM    Rise  8:21 AM      0
    16     High   9:55 AM     6.4   6:17 PM     Set  7:12 PM
    16      Low   4:52 PM    -0.8
    16     High  11:03 PM     4.4

W   17      Low   4:22 AM     1.4   7:00 AM    Rise  9:31 AM      2
    17     High  10:35 AM     6.4   6:16 PM     Set  8:05 PM
    17      Low   5:44 PM    -0.7 

Here’s where the budget comes in here.

     We grabbed some fruit, water, juice boxes and yeah – the pop tarts, donuts and jerky, and off we went.  Remember, we are on vacation right now.  We don’t eat badly when we are vacationing.  In fact, the girls all eat really well.  But on these exceptionally early days, we break all eating rules.   We can spend hours on end exploring the rarely open areas.   Thanks to Mother Nature, with the exception of the gas, this recreation is free.  That's a half day without spending a penny.

     

 Can’t get better than that.