Crab Cove beach is one of Alameda’s best (and free!) year-round family destinations. This small beach cove, just down from the popular Crown Beach, offers your little explorers the chance to get hands-on and dirty amidst a naturally beautiful shoreline teeming with life. So prepare for a (Northern California) day at the beach with your kiddos (meaning bundle up or bring a swimsuit) and add on a stop at the Visitor Center to learn about the local ecosystem and the wildlife that inhabit the area. Just be sure to check the tides before you go if you hope to explore the beach at low tide.
What’s so special about Crab Cove?
Crab Cove is a super kid-friendly area of the Alameda coastline that is set back from the main beach (Crown Beach) and offers the fun of a beach combined with the excitement of natural exploration. Because Crab Cove is an estuary in which plants and animals are strictly protected, all forms of collecting are forbidden, so no bait or food organisms can be taken. But you can still bring shovels and sand toys and even look for sea glass. There’s really so much to see, from birds, crabs, fish and more! For the most fun, come at low tide when the beach is huge and the birds are aplenty. Kids can venture far out into the Bay in the ooey-gooey sand to search, explore and experience the Cove’s unique biodiversity.
Pro Tip: Be aware, the water in the area is known to have itchy little bacteria that can irritate the skin. So be sure to check signs near the beach for warnings about the bacteria levels, or check here before you go to see the most recent water quality test results. We’ve been many times and never had a problem.
More terrific beaches to visit with your family>>
Crab Cove Visitor Center and AquariumÂ
Stop into the Visitor Center upon arrival to learn about any special programming that day. Because of the pandemic, much of the hands-on learning and indoor programming is suspended, but they have brought back the fish feeding on Wednesdays and Saturdays/Sundays at 3 pm. There’s also a story time on Friday at 10:30 am.
ProTip: Weekend fish feedings are busy so they’re starting a ticketing system. Arrive 20-30 minutes early to reserve a (free) ticket.
Friendly Rangers are also on hand if you have questions about the Cove or how to carefully explore the beach area. There’s also a real tarantula to see and plenty of fish and crabs in the aquariums. Be sure to check online before going to see if there’s anything going on because programming will eventually be brought back to normal (ie: scavenger hunts, nature walks, toddler classes, etc.).
Does your toddler want to visit an even bigger Aquarium?>>
Logistics of a visit
Location: 1252 McKay Ave., Alameda, CA 94501
Contact: 510-544-3187 or [email protected]
Hours: Crab Cove Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Sunday 10 am- 5 pm
Admission: free! Parking is $5 if you use the lot and the gate is attended. Street parking is free and often easily available on weekdays.
Bathrooms: Portable Bathroom with a hand-washing station is available in the parking lot during bathroom renovations.
Dogs: No dogs allowed.
What to Bring:
- Summer: Swimsuit, towel, etc.
- Winter: Bundle up, but wear pants you can roll up
- Extra change of clothes, towel
- Hat, sunscreen (no shade on the beach)
- Binoculars to look at all the birds
- Sand toys
- Blanket, chairs
Bottom Line
Crab Cove Beach is a terrific destination for your curious little ones who like to get their hands dirty and muck around in nature. While the Visitor Center programming is limited at the moment, you’ll still get a bit of engaging interaction with the exhibits and aquarium. Together, your little naturalist will have a ball and hopefully leave with a better appreciation for the local ecosystem of the Bay (or at least just be completely tuckered out and have a super long afternoon nap!).
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