Walking along the beach, it’s always fun to see what you might find laying on shore. When you find the elusive Sand Dollar, it’s always a treat. I mean, you typically just have to go to a gift shop to purchase one, right? Well, our daughter went to Sea Camp, an awesome marine science camp and she showed us a secret spot where you can find hundreds of living Sand Dollars right in Mission Bay! We were so excited to learn about this hidden gem in San Diego, from our own daughter!
Finding the Sand Dollars
They started out right on shore. You can’t find them there. You have to go a tiny bit deeper so definitely wear some swimmies. They were disappointed as they couldn’t find any right away.
But there they were, just a few feet deeper. All of a sudden, I hear, “Mom, they are EVERYWHERE!”
They kids found literally hundreds of them hanging out at the bottom of Mission Bay. They took them out to admire them, but of course eventually brought them back to their home where they belong.
So, did you know when you find those beautiful white Sand Dollars on the beach, they are no longer living. When you find them living, in the water, they are a dark purplish color. On the bottom they are covered in bristles, which are kind of fun to feel moving along when you put them in the palm of your hand. Very sea star and urchin like. It’s only when they die that they get bleached by the sun and turn hard. The star pattern on them is less visible when they are alive but you can certainly see it
Such a fun activity that brought smiles to their faces! And like so many of our favorite San Diego activities, it is completely FREE! Nature provides the best entertainment. Sure beats a theme park when it comes to their childhood memories.
Seriously…hundreds!
In addition to finding Sand Dollars, it’s just such a beautiful and calm spot to hang out. My daughter, the Irish Dancer, of course took the opportunity to do some leaps. We saw another family trying some Stand Up Paddle Boarding. It’s also right on the bayside board walk so a bike ride is a nice thing to pair with it. Another great activity to pair with it since it’s right across the way is the Graffiti Shack.
Know Before You Go:
Getting there: Mission Point is at the very end of Mission Beach. You can easily pull it up on Google Maps. As you drive down Mission Boulevard, when you get to the dead end, go left. You’ll see a parking lot you can park in. From there, head over to Mission Bay and the sandy entry way. We walked a little bit along the bay before we found the mother-load!
What to bring: Definitely wear your swimmies as the Sand Dollars do require getting in about calf-deep depending on how tall you are.
Warning: Keep an eye out for Stingrays and ensure you are doing the “Stingray Shuffle.” We did see one while we were there.
Let us know if you checked this out and what you thought! Have questions or comments? We are listening!
