Kid Friendly Tide Pools, California Coast

MacKerricher State Park (near Fort Bragg) -- Drive north past Mendocino and you'll eventually hit MacKerricher State Park, which is a seaside campground. The campground is very nice with wide spacious sites. It is far enough out of the city to make you feel like it's authentic camping and sits within yards of the beach. Hike down to the beach and you will find some tide pools loaded with sea life, from sea urchins to tiny crab. The pools are far enough back from the crashing waves that little ones can gaze to their heart's content and not be threatened by stray, big waves. Bring a small Pacific Coast marine life book to help identify the various occupants of the tide pools to teach your little ones proper names and identify the seaweed and critters. The northern coast is much cooler, so bundle up in wind breakers and sweat shirts so you don't get too cold. Sunny days will bring warmth, but not enough to leave your coats home. In late summer, fog will regularly set in.

Natural Bridges State Park (near Santa Cruz) -- This tide pools are located up on the rock ledges of the beach's end. The pools are left behind at low tide where pools of water settle into the natural spaces between the rocks and fill with sand and silt. All kinds of sea life swim and crawl around the pools. Parents can lead kids out in tennis shoes to protect their feet from the jagged rocks to view the marine critters in their natural habitat. The beach is close by to enjoy an afternoon picnic or play in the sand. Again, the waves crash far enough back to protect kids from being hit by a stray crash.

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (near Half Moon Bay) -- This big park is 30-acres of natural sea life to explore the sea life living among the cracks and crevices. Sea lions fans may even spot a few of the mammals lying lazily out in the sun. In the spring, you may even spot a calf with its momma. Plenty of space to explore and see all of nature in its natural habitat. Check out the crabs, sea slugs, sea urchins and numerous fish swimming about. It's a beautiful spot for the whole family to enjoy and very safe for young children.