For many people, including the famed Dr. Beach, a long stretch of white sand makes the best beach. Kids raised on our Puget Sound beaches, however, might look at those pristine strips and wonder: Where's the driftwood for forts? Rocks to turn over for scurrying crabs? Pebbles for tossing?
Knowing that "best" is completely subjective, The Times visited King and Snohomish county beaches to check out their family appeal. Parents don't want to lug a bunch of sand toys if the beach is mostly rocky, or bring the heavy cooler if there's a long walk to the water. Sometimes kids have more fun playing in creeks than the salt water nearby.
So here are some lists to help families explore our bounty of saltwater and find the best beach for them.
Reporter's faves
Carkeek Park
Meadowdale Park
Seahurst Park
Brackett's Landing/Marina Beach, Edmonds
Beaches for sand play
Marina Beach
Alki Beach (wide strip near the bathhouse)
Golden Gardens
Richmond Beach
Meadowdale Park
Discovery Park (wide stretch on South Beach near lighthouse)
Carkeek Park
Dash Point State Park
Beach events
Sand-castle contests
All ages are welcome to test their sculpting skills in a contest noon-3 p.m. July 17 at Jetty Island, Everett. 425-257-8305.
Show off sand-sculpting talents in an Edmonds contest open to all ages. Sign up at 10 a.m. July 22. Judging takes place at noon, with awards at 12:30 p.m. Marina Beach, Edmonds. 425-771-0230.
As part of Celebrate Shoreline, Richmond Beach Saltwater Park will host a sand castle contest 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 21. 206-418-3383.
Beach naturalists
Look for volunteer beach naturalists at Richmond Beach, Carkeek Park, Golden Gardens, Constellation Park (South Alki Point), Lincoln Park (next to the Vashon ferry terminal), Des Moines Beach Park and Seahurst Park on these dates: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (low tide at 9:51 a.m.) tomorrow; 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday (low tide at 10:30 a.m.); noon-3 p.m. July 9 (low tide at 1:27 p.m.); 12:30-3:30 p.m. July 10 (low tide at 2:03 p.m.); 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. July 23 (low tide at 12:58 p.m.); noon-3:30 p.m. July 24 (low tide at 1:44 p.m.). Contact: King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, 206-296-8359 or dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/PI/beach-naturalists.htm.
Beach walks
Rangers will lead one-hour low-tide beach walks at two Edmonds beaches. Dates include: 9:30 a.m. tomorrow, 12:30 p.m. July 23, 1 p.m. July 24, 11:30 a.m. Aug. 20, Brackett's Landing; and 10 a.m. Monday, 1 p.m. July 9, noon Aug. 6 and noon Aug. 21, Marina Beach. Meet by the parking lot. 425-771-0227.
Families with children age 6 and up can join a free beach walk from noon to 2 p.m. July 23 and 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Aug. 20 at Discovery Park. Call 206-386-4236 the morning of the walk to register.
Jetty Island
The island opens Wednesday with a day of activities, including a buried treasure hunt at 11:45 a.m. and sculptures by sand artists. Throughout the summer, the island hosts a variety of activities, including puppet shows, nature crafts and story times. On Kite Day, make your own kite and learn how to fly it, noon-4 p.m. July 10. For a complete schedule, visit www.everettwa.org/ parks/default.asp?sectionid=2&parentid=1&subid=19
Beach walks/hikes
With a stroller
Alki Beach (2.5-mile paved trail along beach for walking, biking or inline skating)
Lincoln Park (flat, paved Beach Trail stretches a mile along the park's waterfront)
With a backpack
Discovery Park (trails from either the north or south parking lots lead to the beach, about 1.5 miles either way. Steep but scenic.)
Meadowdale Park (a 1-¼-mile trail follows a stream through forested ravine to the beach. Some steep sections with steps.)
Beaches for sea creatures
Brackett's Landing, Edmonds
Seahurst Park
Howarth Park
Beaches with naturalists
Beaches for driftwood forts
Discovery Park
Meadowdale Park
Richmond Beach
Saltwater State Park
Lincoln Park
Beaches to watch transportation
Ferries
Lincoln Park
Mukilteo Lighthouse Park
Brackett's Landing, Edmonds
Alki Beach
Trains
Carkeek Park (bridge passes over train tracks)
Richmond Beach (bridge) Howarth Park (bridge)
Meadowdale Park (tunnel under tracks)
Golden Gardens (tunnel)
Airplanes
Saltwater State Park
Dash Point State Park
Sailboats
Golden Gardens
Discovery Park
Beaches with nearby playgrounds
Seahurst Park
Marina Beach
Richmond Beach
Golden Gardens
Saltwater State Park
Beaches with creeks running onto beach
Meadowdale Beach
Carkeek Park
Seahurst Park
Saltwater State Park
Beach parks with non-beach stuff to do
Lincoln Park (two playgrounds, wading pool, saltwater swimming pool, walking trails)
Carkeek Park (two playgrounds, walking trails)
Discovery Park (playground, visitor center, walking trails)
Beaches for teens
Golden Gardens (The BrickHouse teen center is located at the bathhouse)
Alki Beach
Beaches for fires (in designated pits only)
Alki Beach
Golden Gardens
Beaches with toilet issues
Meadowdale Park (portable toilets in park near beach)
Carkeek Park (no bathroom at the beach; flush toilets by playground)
Howarth Park (no bathroom at beach; toilets by playground in upper park)
Jetty Island (portable toilet near ferry dock)
Marina Beach (portable toilet)
Beaches with quick access (bring all the sand toys)
Alki
Golden Gardens
Kayak Point Regional Park
Brackett's Landing, Edmonds
Beaches with picnic shelters
Richmond Beach
Kayak Point Regional Park
Saltwater State Park
Dash Point State Park
Seahurst Park
Beaches for kite flying
Golden Gardens
Jetty Island
Beaches for no-picnic days
Golden Gardens (snack shop)
Saltwater State Park (cafe and snack bar)
Alki Beach (restaurants line the road)
Brackett's Landing/Olympic/Marina Beach (restaurants in nearby downtown Edmonds)
Beaches with showers
Alki Beach (outside the bathhouse)
Saltwater State Park
Brackett's Landing, Edmonds
Dash Point State Park
Beach parks with campgrounds
Kayak Point Regional Park (also has yurts)
Saltwater State Park
Dash Point State Park
Beaches for fishing
Kayak Point Regional Park (pier)
Golden Gardens (pier)
Lincoln Park
Saltwater State Park
Dash Point State Park
Longest beaches
Alki Beach (135 acres with 2 ½ miles of shoreline)
Discovery Park (534 acres with 1.2 miles of shoreline)
Jetty Island (2-mile-long island)
Kayak Point Regional Park (428 acres with 3,300-foot shoreline)
Dash Point State Park (398 acres with 3,301-foot shoreline)
Seahurst Park (185 acres park with 2,000-foot shoreline)
Saltwater State Park (88 acres with 1,445-foot shoreline)
Beaches to see scuba divers
Brackett's Landing (Edmonds Underwater Park)
Saltwater State Park (underwater artificial reef)
Kayak Point Regional Park
Richmond Beach
Shallow-water beaches
(Note: No lifeguards)
Jetty Island
Dash Point State Park
Kayak Point Regional Park
Beaches with $5 parking
Kayak Point Regional Park
Dash Point State Park
Saltwater State Park
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