LiLing Pang's Passport

Member since:
27 June 2008

	Been to 401 Attractions
	274 Reviews
	181 First to Review
	480 Photos
	183 Helpful Votes

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Hometown:
SF, California, United States

About Me & My Family

I'm a mother
3 Kids 1-9 years old boys and girls

When we travel, good food and adventure always abound. Our family loves to push the limit of what we can do with children. Our mantra has always been - have kids, will travel. However, this doesn't mean I'm unlike most frantic moms before a trip. Wanting adventure and being a control freak can sometimes be a lethal combination.

Our Family's Travel Personality

adventurous, independent, spontaneous

We Just Got Back From

Northern California and Oregon

Our Favorite Vacation Spot

Hawaii

A Place We'd Love To Visit

New Zealand, Argetina, Brazil, Eastern Europe, Cambodia

Favorite Vacation Memory

Climbing Machu Picchu with a 4 month old infant in a slight and having all the locals stop us to ask what happened to his feet which were all bundled up. They just couldn't believe it wouldn't be bow legged.

Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:

Getting to the airport on our way to Scotland with my 15 month old and discovering that my husband's passport had expired. Instead of rebooking all of our flights, we decided that I would do the first leg of our journey on my own with baby. Unfortunately, we had not packed for me to be flying by myself. I could bearly walk to the runway with all my bags and a 15 month old who would get distracted by everything along the way. He then proceeded to sleep only 1 hour of the entire 11 hour journey (red-eye). It was pretty miserable.

Websites I Like:

www.kayak.com www.yelp.com www.babycenter.com

Kid-friendly Tidepools in California

Not all tide pools area created the same. Some have such high surf that it isn't very safe for kids. Others tie in rock formations that are nice and flat, easy for little ones to negotiate. Here is a list of tide pools in California that are great with kids. The top of the list starts with tide pool beaches north of San Francisco and we head south from there to the Central Coast, Los Angeles and Orange County and finally to San Diego County.

1. MacKerricher State Park

24100 MacKerricher Road
Fort Bragg, California

Comment:

Besides beautiful scenery, the tide pools at MacKerricher are full of colorful sea stars and anemones. Totally unspoiled. You are also likely to see seals

2. Muir Beach

Shoreline Hwy and Redwood Creek
Muir Beach, California

Comment:

Northern end of of Muir Beach has some tide pools, but exercise caution on the rocks with young kids. More suitable for older kids.

View 2 photos

3. Linda Mar Beach (Pacifica State Beach)

Hwy 1 (cabrillo Hwy) and Linda Mar Blvd
Pacifica, California

Comment:

Head to the southern most end of the beach in front of the beach houses. You'll find a large number of sea stars and sea anemone, as well as other creatures.

reviewed on: June 28 2008

"Best beach in Pacifica for children"

Unlike the other beaches in Pacifica which have strong undertow, Linda Mar Beach is gentle and more sheltered. Sand is nicer, but can be dirty at various times depending on the tides. Ample parking, showers and bathrooms make this beach easily accessible for families.

4. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve

California Avenue
Half Moon Bay, California

Comment:

30 acres. It's a spectacle of sea anemones, crabs and a close-up look at a one-of-a-kind world.

5. Pescadero State Beach

Pescadero State Beach
Pescadero, California

Comment:

Easy to get to, but a little hard very for very young kids to clamber over the large rocks. Nonetheless, the tide pools here are quite healthy.

6. Cayucos Beach

Morro Strand Beach (north end)
Morro Bay, California

Comment:

The tide pools are completed covered at high tide, but during low tide, the pools are teaming with starfish, anemone, mussels, sea urchins and more.

7. Cabrillo National Monument

1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive
San Diego, California

Comment:

On the western edge of the Cabrillo National Monument at Point Loma. During low tide, pools form along the area’s rocky depressions, and if you’re lucky, you could see flowery anemones, elusive octopi, spongy deadman’s fingers and many other creatures.

8. Corona Del Mar Beach and Tidepools

Poppy and PCH
Corona del Mar, California

Comment:

Little Corona Marine Refuge has great tide pools for kids. It is a marine reserve, so there are strict rules about not removing anything from the beach.

9. Coronado City Beach

Ocean Boulevard
Coronado, California

Comment:

10. Crystal Cove State Park

Pacific Coast Highway between Corona del Mar and Laguna Beac
Corona del Mar, California

Comment:

I don't know that I've ever been on a bad beach in California. But I've never been on one with as many appealing qualities as Crystal Cove: tide pools, scenic bluffs and a family-friendly vibe. It's roomy too, although development on this stretch of land between Laguna Beach and Newport Beach has amped up the action in recent years. Still, on weekends, you'll have plenty of space for a blanket or a pop-up awning. No snack shops or bike rentals here, just a great rustic and pristine beach. Note that the walk from the parking lot to the beach can be long and steep.

11. White Point Park

1801 W Paseo Del Mar San Pedro
San Pedro, California

Comment:

Park at the top of the bluffs and walk down or pay $6 to drive right down to these tide pools. You'll see translucent shrimp, tiny spiny sea urchins, starfish clinging to rocks, sea anemones waving in the ebb and flow like bromeliads in a flooded garden.

12. Natural Bridges State Beach

2531 West Cliff Drive
Santa Cruz, California

Comment:

Low tides reveal sea stars, crabs, sea anemones, and other colorful ocean life. Kids will also enjoy seeing the natural bridge formed by wave erosion and migrating whales, otters and seals playing off shore, and lots of shore birds.

13. Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
Big Sur, California

Comment:

Starfish, sea anemone and other tidepool denizens crowd in at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns Underwater Park

14. Montana De Oro State Park

Los Osos Valley Road (all the way at the end)
Los Osos, California

Comment:

Best tidepools are at Coralina Coves tidepools, accessible via the bluffs trail. Tidepools are great for little ones and it's not unusual to spot dolphins, sea lions and oystercatchers in the coves.

15. Leo Carillo State Park

35000 W. Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, California

Comment:

Located just 28 miles of Santa Monica, you'll be able to explore tidepools and sea caves.

16. Main Beach

Broadway St.
Laguna Beach, California

Comment:

Tide pools are located on the North end of this beach. You can walk on a boardwalk most of the way. It's great for kids, because this beach also has a playground.

17. Aliso Creek Beach and Playground

31131 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Laguna Beach, California

18. Doheny State Beach

25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive
Dana Point, California

19. Swami's Beach

1298 South Coast Hwy
Encinitas, California

Comment:

Popular tide pools with school groups.

20. La Jolla Cove Tidepools

La Jolla Cove
La Jolla, California

Comment:

21. Shell Beach

Coast Blvd
Between Girard and Jenner Streets La Jolla, California

Comment:

Just south of La Jolla Cove, smaller and great for kids to explore tide pools, hunt for shells, wade in the calm waters and look at seals.

22. Point Loma Beach

Sunset Cliffs Blvd
San Diego, California

Comment:

The most extensive network of tidepools in San Diego County are at Point Loma. This beach is full of rocky formations and stunning views too. Docents are often at hand to answer questions.

23. Dike Rock Tide pools

Scripps Pier
La Jolla, California

Comment:

Just north of the Scripps Pier are some lovely tidepools. You'll have to walk a little ways to the northside of the Dike. Fortunately,the walk is along a sandy beach. It's common to see lots of star fish and even octopuses.

LiLing Pang's Reviews

Redwood National Park

Linda Mar Beach (Pacifica State Beach)

Phipps Country Store and Farm

Half Moon Bay Nursery

LiLing Pang's Lists

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Best Spots to Trick-or-Treat in the San Francisco Bay Area

Restaurants With Thanksgiving Menus in NYC Who Welcome Kids

Where to Ride the Polar Express

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Enjoy Hispanic Culture with Kids in Washington DC

Family-Friendly Camping in Northern California

about trekaroo

trekaroo is the fun way to get the inside scoop on traveling with kids. We provide reviews of kid-friendly hotels, activities, and travel tips for family fun.

Reviews of kid-friendly hotels, activities, and travel tips for family fun.

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