If a seaside hunt is what you’re after, tide pooling at a nearby beach in Seattle is the way to find it, even on an overcast day. And with record low tides coming up in June, now’s a great time to get out and explore the shore. Your budding marine biologists can peek under rocks and sift through the sand to find sea stars, crabs and anemones in their natural environment when they’re out at one of our favorite tide pooling beaches. So grab your bucket and water shoes, it’s time to play detective, ocean-style!
Know Before You Go: Be sure to check the tide charts before you head out. The best time to go tide pooling is during a low tide with a negative number. In Seattle, any time of the year is good, as long as the tide is low enough. Psst...winter months tend to get lower low tides and the beaches are less crowded, but air temps can be chilly, so be sure to bundle up.
Constellation Park Alki Beach - West Seattle
While Alki may be the popular beach in West Seattle, Constellation Park is where all the cool kids hang out to look for sea anemones, marine worms and more. Just south of the Lighthouse at Alki Point, this stretch of shoreline makes some of the best tide pools in the city. Not only will you find plenty of watery shallows along the rocky beach, but there’s also an old pipeline that shows itself at low tide. It’s where sea stars, moon snails and other creatures have made their homes. Best part? When your little marine biologists are done exploring, you can hit Alki for some lunch, sandcastle building and park play. Don’t forget the beach toys for this excursion!
Beach Dr. S.W. & 63rd Ave. S.W.
Seattle, WA 98116
Online: seattle.gov
Double Bluff Beach - Whidbey Island
When your furry family members want in on the action, head to Double Bluff Beach on Whidbey for the day. It’s definitely a tide pool hot spot, but it’s also a massive off-leash dog park. When the tides are out, it’s pretty much a walk-onto-the-beach-and-start-exploring kind of situation for little sea life seekers. And with miles of shoreline to explore there’s room to spread out and expand the search when each little pool’s curiosity quotient has been met. Along with hermit crabs and sunflower stars, Double Bluff Beach is a driftwood fort builder’s dream. Kiddos will love constructing their own or laying claim to an abandoned fort deserted long ago. This is one for the whole fam!
S. Double Bluff Rd. & E. Shore Ave.
Freeland, WA 98249
Online: wta.org
Richmond Beach Saltwater Park - Shoreline
If your mini marine biologist also doubles as a train-conductor-in-training, be sure to check out this north end beach for some double-whammy explorer action. There are plenty of crabs and sea anemones to be found among the stubby, aging pier pilings that only come out at low tide (sometimes it’s hard to see the pilings through the purple masses!). But for many kiddos, the trains that rumble through will hold just as much wonder. You can watch them up close from the pedestrian bridge that connects the parking lot to the beach. Or watch them recede in the distance from the beach, while you make time with some creatures from the deep. Add in a trip to the playground and you’ve got a perfection daycation getaway!
2021 N.W .190th St.
Shoreline, WA 98177
Online: shorelinewa.gov
Seahurst Ed Munro Park - Burien
This south end park is a picnic-worthy destination for explorers of all ages. When the tides are low, wander the beach in search of watery holes where tiny crabs and little fish swim in such camouflage that it often takes a moment before tiny eyes can spot them. When the wiggles strike, take a break on the playground or walk one of the two maintained trails that extend on along the shoreline. And if the sun gets to be too much for your Seattle munchkins, take cover in the trees on the nature trail. It’s the best of both worlds.
1600 S.W. Seahurst Dr.
Burien, WA 98166
Online: burienwa.gov
Local Beach Science Programs for Families
Taking part in the Seattle Aquarium's Beach Naturalist programming is an easy way to enhance a typical tide pool afternoon. Program volunteers take to the local beaches during the summer to answer questions and help families find cool stuff in tide pool nooks and crannies. They are a wealth of knowledge when it comes to finding and learning about all the creepy crawly sea life you’re bound to see. They also help teach the next generation of environmental stewards about the delicate balance of Puget Sound wildlife. To keep everyone safe, please wear face masks and practice social distancing when you participate in this free program.
The naturalist programs run during the summer at Seattle-area beaches, including many of the beaches on our list, plus a few others. They're timed just right for low tide fun, and dates for the 2022 program start in May, over Memorial Day weekend. Just look for the red flags on the beach. The naturalists will have red caps on too.
Families can also explore during low tide with Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium's Explore the Shore program. Held at the recently renovated Owen's Beach, it's a chance to learn about the biodiversity of local sea life. Mark you calendars for the 2022 dates: June 17, July 15 and August 12.
RELATED STORIES
One Fish, Two Fish: Your Insider’s Guide to the Seattle Aquarium
Reel ‘Em In: 15 Fantastic Fishing Holes Near Seattle
8 Fantastic Places to See & Touch Fish
10 Petting Farms & Zoos to Spend an Afternoon
Go Wild! Your Insider’s Guide to Woodland Park Zoo
