Searching for Shells on the Beach
One of the most common questions that our reservations staff hears is 'can you find shells on the beach'? The answer: absolutely!
We've found the best times are either at low tide in the morning or after a storm passes by the area to search for seashells by the seashore (sorry about that....). But fair warning: you usually can't sleep late, because other seashell hunters will beat you to the prize!
Our favorite shells to find here at Sunset Beach include olive shells (shown on top) and sand dollars (shown on bottom. Whelk shells of different types are common, as are cockle shells. My sons love finding horseshoe crab shells with their 'spears' or tails.
We have a couple of family rules when we're shell hunting. First, since we live at the beach, we've decided that we can only keep complete shells-no '50 cent' sand dollars are allowed! Second-if there's a critter still living in a shell along the beach strand, we've agreed that we can't have the shell-we'll put it back in the ocean water to give the guy a little longer in his home.
Walking the beach looking for shells is one of the pure enjoyments of being at the ocean. Make some time with your family for this when you are down here at Sunset Beach next, and let us know if you find sometime unusual!
