Owen, who lives in Colorado, is visiting his cousin Neko at her home in coastal California. He is eager to explore the beach with his cousin and aunt, and they find a large amount of kelp washed ashore after a large storm the previous evening. His curiosity about the kelp leads to an afternoon snorkeling adventure in a kelp forest with his cousin and aunt, and they point out the many creatures that inhabit the underwater "golden forest." Back on the beach, his marine biologist aunt explains how important the washed-up kelp is to the beach ecosystem, and the children learn how valuable kelp is to the environment both in the water and on the coastal beaches.