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.

For Anemones: Cape Perpetua State Recreation Area

Part of the Siuslaw National Forest, this marine garden can be found off Hwy. 101, just south of Waldport. Follow the Captain Cook Trail to get a close-up view of mussels, anemones, snails and sea stars clinging to rocks, in addition to sea lettuce, sea moss and sea palm. Look for restrooms, a summertime info center and coffee shop near Devil's Churn. This exploding water feature is at its peak during high tide.

Hwy. 101
Yachats, Or
541-750-7000
Online: fs.usda.gov

Photo: Devil's Churn at Cape Perpetua, credit wikipedia.org via Creative Commons

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

–Suzie Ridgway