If you come when the waves are rolling, you can see the shells from the water, says Gareth Edmondson-Jones, of the Portuguese Tourism Office. Thats why Lea-Hutaff Island is a great place to look. You can explore the perfectly preserved general store and Methodist Church, among several other buildings. 3 Sandy Point State Park. Deacon Ritterbush, known as Dr. Time your excursions a few hours before low tide to a few hours after low tide. Besides going for a dip in the waters, you can also play a good game of volleyball on the beach. Im so glad you liked it. Its located just south of Topsail Island, and you can only get there by charter boat (like this one from Tiki Tours). Located on Kent Island, this park offers visitors plenty of natural spaces as well as waterfront access to explore. What's more, there are several short hiking trails for those who want to explore more of the park. Im a nut about beaches and seashells (I like to say that my birthstone is a seashell! Good luck! The closest place to stay near Fort Macon State Park is Atlantic Beach, which is also a wonderful place to go shelling. When cold, we climbed into the tent to sip hot chocolate and compare finds. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Comfort Inn & Suites Lexington Park, Related: Best Places to Visit in Maryland, Marine Academy DriveStevensville, MD 21666(410) 758-0835. Good Beaches to Start Searching To start your search, head to Tolchester Beach, on the Eastern Shore near Chestertown. Staurolite crystallizes at 60 or 90 degree angles making the stone's cross-like or "x" shape. The area boasts some of the best shelling beaches in the state, with beautiful white sand and stunning ocean views. 1. This 786-acre state park in Anne Arundel County features golden sands and impressive views of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay Bridge. One of the best places to look for shells in the area is Sea Shell Beach Pocket Park. Shelling must be one of the least expensive hobbies available. Ill have to bookmark this for whenever I get out there to visit! Recommended Hotel Nearby: Sagamore Pendry Baltimore, 10540 H G Trueman RoadLusby, MD 20657(443) 975-4360. Low tide following a storm system offers prime shelling. Dress comfortably. Wow! To get to Bald Head Island, youll take a 20-minute passenger ferry from Deep Point Marina in Southport, NC, to the harbor at Bald Head Island. This is such a cool post! To find shells, people suggest visiting at low tide and walking into the water a few feet deep to hunt for shells. How do they make the cement that builds the world? Cold weather beachcombing calls for both different dress and equipment than the lazy-style summer beachcomb strolls in bathing suits and straw hats. I think youd love it. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Whether youre an avid shell collector or simply looking to take home a memento of your beach vacation, Maryland offers some of the best shelling beaches in the country. Need an overview of the area? Whelks are common, so you might pick up shells of the knobbed, channeled, or lightning variety. Carova Beach is also great for shelling because it has a shallow shoreline that gradually slopes downward; this allows delicate shells to wash up without breaking. Coquina Beach lies just 8 miles south of Nags Head and is known for its solitude, clear water, and gorgeous moss-covered rocks that only show at low tide. Many folks think Sanibel is the best place to find seashells, but shell hunters know better. The sand at Flag Pond is especially sandy which makes it easier to sift through when looking for shells. During an annual Sea Glass Weekend, docents at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center lead guided treasure hunts that begin at their headquarters in Grasonville. Thats right. It also has gently sloping shorelines that help delicate shells to wash ashore in one piece. Here, visitors can find an array of shells and fossils that make up this unique attraction. The Lighthouse Beach parking lot is not small, but it's also not huge. Find out more tricks here. Check any of the local freebies for tide times or the back of the lifeguard chair to know when high tide is at its peak. It was really fun researching to find the unknown or lesser-known spots like Bird Island and Masonboro Island. I never knew! Betterton Beach Betterton, MD Terrapin Beach Park Stevensville, MD MataPeake State Park Stevensville, MD North Beach, MD Smith Island, MD Tangier Island, MD Woodland Beach, DE Beachcombing tips from expert comber Mary McCarthy Check the tides before heading out. #2 Shelling Tip- Look at the moon phase. The 800-acre Assateague State Park is located along here. Sea glass: It starts its life as cast-off garbage, is utterly destroyed by the sea, then becomes almost magically beautiful during the process of that destruction. Just check local rules and regulations. It has a vast stretch of powdery sand for you to play and lounge on. Winter beachcombing on the Chesapeake Bay is not only fun, healthful and affordable but can also be extremely productive. This beach is a hidden gem located on the Eastern Shore, and it offers stunning views of the Chesapeake Bay. You can always head over to the Delaware and Maryland Atlantic coast for a day of ocean beachcombing. The beach is on the smaller side but open for lounging and swimming, plus rentals for umbrellas, chairs, kayaks and paddleboards are available here. Here, there have been reports of a variety of shells including oyster, cockle and scallop varieties being found over the years. Shackleford Banks is one of the best places in North Carolina to find Conch Shells. Here's a list of the best beaches near Washington, D.C. 1. Located west of the Mississippi Delta, the beaches are constantly replenished by the Mississippi Rivers southeast tidal flow, which carries rich deposits of driftwood and a wide variety of shells. Report inappropriate content 1-5 of 5 replies Sorted by 1 Mirage52 Maryland, USA Level Contributor 2,901 posts By 12, we were at each others throats. Its unique geography means that there are around 250 different species of shells to discover. See Also: 8 Reasons why Pahokee is the Worst Town in Florida. ), so I am saving this post forever in case I get to go to the Carolinas to the beaches there. In south Wilmington, along the Cape Fear River, is a tiny island called Shark Tooth Island. When he isnt working, he loves spending time with his wife and their six-year-old son, who already runs faster than he does. Time to go back to NC. Anna Maria Island. Hart-Miller is accessible only via personal boat and has a 3,000-foot sandy beach for you to enjoy. The Best Places to Go Shelling on Sanibel Island Some of the highly recommended shelling spots include: Bowman's Beach Bowman's Beach boasts of a wide collection of shells that gather from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean. Cunningham Falls is the largest cascading waterfall in the state and is located in the 6,080-acre Cunningham Falls State Park. You never know where the best places will be on Tybee to find shells because of the changing tides, but oftentimes, you will find big shell deposits when walking along the sand. Some of the best shelling spots are on remote islands where few venture. This stretch of beach, too pebbly and steep for sunning and often too windy for comfort, delivers a nice walking workout with your beachcombing. Recommended Hotel Nearby: Rod N Reel Resort. But did you know that there are many more beaches in Maryland that are worth exploring? Located south of Wrightsville Beach, Masonboro Island is one of the best places to shell in the Cape Feat region because of the tidal flats and pools. Some of the finest beaches in the country produce no sea glass. It definitely helps to have the right tools to find shells and shark teeth. You can find many shells here as the island is uninhabited (other than a few rustic cabins). Misty and Matt find themselves alone on a critical rescue of Alaskan homesteaders ill from dirty water and stuck in a crumbling cabin. There are so many amazing shell spots. There are several beaches on Marco Island that are great for shelling. Its like finding treasure! There can be biting midges on this island, so bring bug spray, or wear long sleeves and pants. Take your time. There are some amazing shells there. 11. Toms Teeth Facebook page is a great place to learn more about shark tooth hunting on Topsail Island. Bring a packed lunch or some snacks for when you take a break in the surrounding picnic areas. Delmarva Beaches and the Chesapeake Watershed area is a spectacular region to enjoy a wide range of scenery and recreational activities such as boating, swimming, fishing, bird watching, biking and golf. You can go swimming, fishing, and boating. Search Hotels.com for the best places to stay near Pea Island.Search VRBO.com for the best places to stay near Pea Island. It has the worlds largest collection of blue holes, which are one of the most stunning deep-sea sights in the world. If a qualifying purchase is made, we earn a commission. However, if you wish to stay closer to home, there are plenty of options on the inland shores. At the southernmost end of North Carolina is Bird Island. The closest place to stay near Bear Island is Emerald Isle. Wow! If there is ice on the beach, bring along a thermos of hot water to dislodge objects in ice. It is one of the best places in North Carolina to find shells and to see the beautiful wild horses that populate the Outer Banks. Dr. Stephen Godfrey, Curator of Paleontology at the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Md. best shelling beaches in marylandasbury park press classifieds. You can explore the island by golf cart, bicycle, or foot. I am channeling my inner artist looking at This entertaining ocean attraction is a huge reason why Ocean City is among the most popular beaches in Maryland. No cars are allowed on Bald Head Island, so youll leave your car on the mainland. Its super exciting to find shells. To help you hunt for small shark teeth, you may have to sift through handfuls of sand and shells. 121 Cathedral Street, Suite 3A, Annapolis, MD 21401. For instance, the Ark shells, one of the most common bivalve shells, range from gray, dark red, orange, gold, and white. Located approximately 20 miles east of Annapolis, about 40 miles southeast of Baltimore and roughly 50 miles east of Washington, Kent Island boasts a few top-notch beach areas. Along with silvery smooth driftwood and soothing orbs of quartz stones in rose, amber and white, you can also find American Indian arrowheads, old glass buttons, marbles, bottles and bottle stoppers, antique ceramic shards and fossilized sand dollars more than 15 million years old! Discover these empowering women's history destinations selected by the U.S. News travel editors. The Raneys convert an old barn into a commercial fishing kitchen. Grass and seaweed can be one of the best places to find seashells. **CLIFFS SAFETY NOTICE** Dave and Kev attend the first concours d'elegance, and their knowledge of cars is pushed to its limits. Ocean City Ocean City Coastal Highway Ocean City, MD 21842 (410) 250-0125 Ocean City is among the most well-known resort towns in the area. Alameda, Los Olivos, Pacifica, CA, TX, Los Gatos, TN, Toronto, Greensboro -- You are reading "15 Best Shelling Beaches in Florida this Weekend" Back to Top.