Take Zone

Typically our family rule is one of "no-take". We take photographs and memories home, but nothing else. In the case of Patrick's Point State Park, however, the rules were different. The sign at the vistor center read: "Feel free to keep any of the rocks you collect on Agate Beach. You're welcome to eat the ripe berries in the park, too...so long as you know what you're eating."

So after we set up camp, we descended the stairs to Agate Beach, rolled up our pant legs, ditched our shoes, and spent the early evening poring through the rocks.

Riley searched for rocks that looked like the landscape. Dylan liked the mahogany-colored ones and promised not to put them in his mouth even though "they look like cacao nibs" - yes, his words, not mine. Jake preferred the ones that had multiple colors, jarring combinations of orange and blue. And me...well, I was relishing the cool ocean breezes and taking pictures of my boys.