Once each week, my students and I have the ability to explore somewhere in the Bay Area. I planned each outing to help students return to the wild for a chance to explore, to see something new and embrace the opportunity that exists beyond the school gates.
——- Featured Spot: Natural Bridges State Beach
Reason Why: Monarchs, Aquatic Birds and Tide Pools… oh my!
Cost: $10 for day parking, but you can pay cash or card
Stroller Friendly: I’d ditch it for a pack
Warnings: Tide pools… never turn your back on the ocean or a cliff, watch out for creatures!
Words of Wisdom: Check the tides!
Ideal Time: Fall (November) and during a minus low tide ———
Yesterday’s outing was to Natural Bridges State Beach. A single place that encompasses flowing creeks, ponds, forested space with a monarch sanctuary and a breathtaking beach with epic tide pools.
While so many folks are aware of being able to catch ladybugs in the winter months, I thought I’d share this as an opportunity to see monarch butterflies (among many other aquatic species).
Just past the visitors center on the right side, marks the beginning of the Monarch Trail. The trail is not very long, but the end of it leads you to an open grove, the monarch sanctuary. Here you’re met with gorgeous trees, birds singing and the dancing monarchs.
Just before the grove, there is a split that heads toward a pond. Here you can experience just how incredibly resilient trees are, finding crafty ways to grow their roots around rocky structures. The pond itself is serene and is home to beautiful aquatic birds. This spot would be an excellent spot to pull out some watercolors and just take it all in.
That is…. If*** you can hold off walking the path to the beach where you are greeted with massive waves, soft sand and a seemingly endess supply of tide pools.
I planned it to go when there was a minus low tide so the pools did not disappoint, but please make sure you watch littles around the pools as they are home to creatures like urchins (while awesome to watch, these guys are not friendly to humans). In general, it’s best to take the look, but please don’t touch approach with sea creatures.
Here are some glimpses of our trip!
