Waterfront Wonder: A Guide to Ogunquit Maine Tide Pools
As you walk along Ogunquit’s ocean pathways, you’ll come across something rather peculiar: shallow, seemingly standalone pools of water nestled between slabs of rock. These are the famous tide pools of Maine, and kids just can’t get enough of their little wonders. Use our guide to Maine tide pools to treat your little ones to a pint-sized adventure in Ogunquit.
What Is A Tide Pool, Anyway?
That’s probably a good question to answer first. Tide pools are rocky pools of seawater found in intertidal zones — areas of the shoreline that are exposed to air at low tide and stay filled with seawater at high tide (in other words, most of coastal Maine). They’re very common alongside Ogunquit’s rockier shores, particularly on our favorite seaside walking trail, The Marginal Way.
A Treasure Trove of Shells and Critters
The tide pools in Maine are chock-full of little treasures from shells to critters. Most of the nautical creatures are hardy organisms that can adapt to a constantly-changing environment, such as starfish, mussels, and clams. You’ll also find a lot of colorful plant life within Maine tide pools — kids particularly love the sea palms, which look like miniature palm trees.
Games To Play
There are plenty of giggle-inducing games to be played in these vast worlds of wonder (at least when you’re two feet tall). Remember to pack a pail — you’ll certainly want a good container for your day of tide pool critter hunting.
There’s also the sport that’s sweeping across vacationland: tide pool basketball. Gather small pebbles (we wouldn’t want to hurt any cute starfish) and see how many your tyke can land in one of the smaller puddles. Have a party of two or more? Hold a contest to see who can make the biggest splash. Naturally, you’ll need to hop from one tide pool to another to seek out the most splash-worthy spots.
Places to See Them
You don’t need to be a super sleuth to seek out tide pools in Ogunquit. Enjoy ocean views along The Marginal Way while the kids get to splashin’. Many families also take to Ogunquit Beach at low tide specifically so the kids can play around in the tide pools (and it’s far less crowded than the beach at high tide). You can also find pools a tad closer to home on the Ogunquit Riverbed.
Time your visit using the ever-handy Ogunquit tide chart so you know the right times to get your feet wet. Be sure to plan your family getaway here at The Dunes — we’ll be your resident experts on Maine’s magnificent tide pools and family attractions.