The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium offers a FREE 90-minute tide pool tours once per day on most weekends. The walk usually starts anytime between 10:30 AM and 2:30 PM, depending on the low tide, with a informative slide show. Then the tour continues long the shore of Point Fermin State Marine Park in San Pedro. The next ones are scheduled for Sat Jan 16th at 2:30 PM and Sun Jan 17th at 3 PM, but click HERE for the online schedule of the rest of the first quarter.
Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year, so a special 2-hour tide pool walk is scheduled for February 14th, 1:30 - 3:30 PM. This is the only tour that is not free, but it's still a cheap date idea at a mere $3 per person. The exploration will not only include the tide pools and salt marsh, but also the examination of fossils, native plants and a beach wreck. Afterward stay an extra hour or two for a romantic stroll along the beach. Bring a picnic blanket or beach towel and maybe chocolates or something sweet to enjoy at sunset...
Outdoor clothing and sneakers are always recommended for tide pool walks. And don't forget sunblock and your camera. Pack a snack and a bottle of water for your beach walk too. I also suggest bringing a towel and plastic bag to wipe off your shoes before getting back into your car (I learned the hard way once).
If you love tide pools, check out Abalone Cove in Los Angeles (see Cheap Date Idea #57) and Crystal Cove in Orange County (see Cheap Date Idea #44). No matter where you are, tide pools are always a nice day date idea by the beach!
UPDATE 03/16/10: Here's the schedule for the next quarter for FREE tide pool tours.
| Saturday, March 27, 2010 • 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM |
| Sunday, March 28, 2010 • 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM |
| Saturday, April 10, 2010 • 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM |
| Sunday, April 11, 2010 • 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM |
| Sunday, April 25, 2010 • 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM |
| Saturday, May 22, 2010 • 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM |
Approximate cost of creative date idea = FREE.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.