Most people who visit tidepools for the first time walk through the area oblivious to the richness of life thriving among the rocks. Yet with this book as a guide, by the time they leave, they will be tiptoeing to avoid trampling the fragile plants and animals they discovered during their visit. Tidepools: Southern California will sharpen wanderers’ appreciation of the fragile life these contain.

Of the several books describing animal and plant life in Pacific Coast tidepools, Tidepools: Southern California is the only one that tells adventurers where to find these ecological treasures and their fascinating life forms in detail. Carefully compiled by Dr. Linda Tway after years of exploring Southern California’s tidepools, this guide covers the coast in southern Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties. Tway shares all tidepool enthusiasts need to know: the pathways and parking for each area, tips on how to find and identify the abundant organisms, which organisms predominate, which are rare, and lots more. An extensive introduction and 16 pages of full-color photographs of the plants and animals enrich the experience.