Walpole Bay Tidal Pool, Cliftonville, England Wait until low tide to take a swim here – when the ocean pulls back, algae-covered rocks on a golden stretch of sand are revealed. A popular summer retreat for Lisbon's wealthy throughout the 20 th century, the natural saltwater pool refilled by the Atlantic Ocean is a must-visit. Azenhas do Mar, which means “watermill of the sea," rests at the bottom of a cliff with many white-walled, red-roofed houses. The land of fairy-tale castles has other sorts of magic, too. The main pool is Islands Brygge where a staircase to nowhere is often used as a diving board. After work is a popular swimming time, as are weekends and long summer days. An urban planning marvel, this series of pools along the city's waterfront opened in 2002. Outdoor baths in the middle of a city might seem a curiosity but not in this Scandinavian country where work and leisure meld easily. Copenhagen Harbor Baths, Copenhagen, Denmark Make an entrance via the diving board or simply soak in the cold, clear waters and watch sailboats glide on the channel as Saint-Malo is also home to a sailing school. The seawater pool unfolding into the English Channel opened in 1937, a period between the wars where seaside activities were in vogue. On the north coast in Brittany, Plage de Bon Secours is the ultimate low-key but chic French summer bathing experience. Jump in, swim, then dry off the Italian way – sunbathing on rocks. Trees with branches twisting in all directions shroud the cliffs around the lagoon, and the pool itself, which shifts from algae green to deep blue, is fed by an arched rocky opening to the Tyrrhenian Sea. It's believed that Queen Joanna I of Naples entertained her secret lovers in this pool in the 14 th century, and indeed, the hike it takes to arrive at it makes the experience akin to discovering something magical. Queen Joan's Baths, Sorrento, ItalyĬalled Bagni della Regina Giovanna in Italian, this swimming hole by Roman ruins is also the stuff of legends. The most popular way of entering the pool is jumping in – somersaults are optional – though climbing out is a little more challenging. Either way, a swim in this unbelievably turquoise pool by the Aegean Sea is a transcended experience. Giola, Thassos, GreeceĪlso known as Aphrodite's Tear, the legend is that Zeus created this tear-shaped lagoon on a rocky cliff on the south coast of Thassos for Aphrodite to bathe in – or it was formed from millions of years of waves beating on a natural growing rock pool. Keeping swimmers company are limpets, starfish and other wondrous temperate-climate sea creatures. ![]() ![]() Waves crash over the sides during high tide, making it dangerous for swimming, but in low tide, it's a nice natural pool, almost two metres deep in some parts. ![]() Treyarnon, Cornwall, EnglandĪ popular surf beach, Treyarnon Bay also has a tidal pool hidden within mussel and barnacle-crusted rocks on the sand. Take a dip and look out into the vastness of the Atlantic Ocean, at white foam crashing on craggy rocks that jut out from the sea, or skywards at the island's green mountains. The stunning turquoise pools created by volcanic lava are constantly refilled with waves from the ocean. ![]() Porto Moniz, Madeira, PortugalĬarved into volcanic rock in the Madeira islands are the natural saltwater pools of Porto Moniz. They are close to nature and marine life but without the worry of waves or currents. Beaches and oceans come to mind, but ever tried swimming in a tidal pool? Carved into rocks, whether naturally formed over hundreds of years or man-made, it's possible to have the best of both worlds – pool and ocean – by swimming in a tidal pool. Fish and Wildlife Service to inquire if local seashell collecting rules have changed.We might be in the throes of winter though we can still daydream of sunnier days ahead. If you can't tell the difference, don't risk removing a living creature from its natural habitat. Dead shells are likely to be bleached white and found washed up on the shore. Living sand dollars tend to have a greenish color and tiny hairs, and are found half-buried in shallow water. But the most abundant sea creature here is the sand dollar.Ĭollecting sand dollars in the state park is permitted, with one important disclaimer-never collect live specimens. The tide pools here are home to hermit crabs, white shrimp, and diamondback terrapins. It features five miles of pristine beaches, thousands of acres of marsh and maritime forest, the longest fishing pier on the Eastern seaboard, and a lighthouse which is accessible to the public. Located 16 miles east of Beaufort, Hunting Island State Park is South Carolina's most-visited state park, and for good reason.
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