Activities for Kids

Explore 7 Marine Gardens on the Oregon Coast

Kids can explore sea creatures up close with protected intertidal ecosystems, known as marine gardens, dotting the Oregon coastline.

By Suzie Ridgway August 20, 2014

Richard Masoner via Flickr Creative Commons https://www.flickr.com/photos/bike/

Prepare to be amazed by all of the purple sea urchins, red sea cucumbers, giant green sea anemones, colorful sea stars, hermit crabs, harbor seals and sea birds your family can handle at these seven protected intertidal ecosystems, known as marine gardens, along the Oregon coast. All of the gardens are hands-on sites that enable your little scientists to carefully touch the starfish or pick up hermit crabs. Click through our album for the splash-tastic scoop on where to find them.

Good to Know Before You Go

These small, intertidal ecosystems are visible at low tide, so be sure to check out the tide charts to figure out the best times to go.

Remind the kiddos when exploring the rocky shores a) to step cautiously, b) not to pull or pry animals from rocks, and c) to return any creature or plant (not affixed to a rock) to the exact same spot they found it.

As for clothing, definitely wear rain boots and layers and pack an extra set of dry clothes just in case your little explorer gets soaked.

Photo credit: wikimedia.org via Creative Commons

Where is your favorite tide pool to explore? Let us know in the Comments below!

–Suzie Ridgway