Seattle at low tide

One of the many things I love about Seattle is its proximity to the ocean.  Although most of our "beach days" occur at local lakes, there is something special about going over to West Seattle and smelling the ocean air and exploring the sea life.  A friend of mine recently alerted our play group that the lowest tides of the whole  year were coming up, and since I try to never miss an opportunity like that, Anna and I packed a lunch and headed to Alki beach.

Although it was early June, it was still a little cool outside (people refer to this time of year as "Junuary"), so Anna and I both wore jackets.  But the sun was good enough to grace us just enough...

Anna loved looking for the dozens of star fish stuck to all the rock surfaces exposed due to low tide.  She especially loved the bright purple star fish.  Anna likes to poke sea life.  I like to poke Richard.

Anna found a live crab (at least, I think it was alive...).  For crabs, she sticks to sticks for poking.

more brilliant purple starfish.

I love that there are so many places like this to take Anna to.  There were many naturalists on hand to answer questions about the kind of sea life we were seeing and I felt like even though we were obviously having fun, we were also learning things too...

like how to say "anemone."  This red and green creature is a Mottled Anemone.  I think all children should learn how to say "mottled anemone."  Its a lot more impressive when Anna says it than when I say it, and a lot cuter to!

This is another kind of starfish.  The naturalists told us that it is not longer correct to call them starfish, that the preferred and more accepted term is "seastar" now. 

another crab-- probably dead.  Not due to my daughter though!!

poking more things!

There were hundreds and hundreds of school children there at the beach on end-of-the-year field trips.  I tell you, our elementary school never took us on field trips like these. 

It was a beautiful day.  One of my favorites.  My mental health is improved more by being outside in the sand and the sea, than any amount of dark chocolate.

And it was REALLY cool to be so far out into the water at low tide and to have so much of the beach exposed.  I actually have a tide app on my phone to alert me to low tide days.  We will definitely be back!!