6. Flag Ponds Nature Park, Lusby, Maryland
Most of the shells here, along the Chesapeake Bay south of Annapolis, are fossils dating back millions of years. They’ve come from the Calvert Cliffs, a 30-mile stretch of what was the sea bottom during the Miocene Epoch. Today’s bay determinedly chews into the cliffs, freeing the shells, shark teeth, and other fossils within. The park opens daily during the summer and weekends year-round; 410/586-1477 or calvertparks.org. Calvert Cliffs State Park, just south, also encompasses a small public beach worth searching. Warning: Everyone should stay away from the unstable cliffs themselves; 301/743-7613 or baygateways.net/general.cfm?id=123.7. Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia
Seventeen miles of virtually unpeopled Atlantic beach allow leisurely browsing of un-picked-over specimens, including sand dollars. No bridge reaches this barrier island just north of the Florida line, and the National Park Service strictly controls access by ferry. So beachcombers may go hours without seeing another person, though birds and other wildlife abound. Shark teeth can often be found on the marsh (west) side of the island; 912/882-4336 or nps.gov/cuis.
8. Eleuthera Island, The Bahamas
Supreme opportunities follow hurricanes, which pile mounds of shells onto the beaches. Those who prefer not to wait for bad weather can find a huge variety of specimens by snorkeling in the shallow waters just offshore. Eleuthera is one of The Bahamas’ “Out Islands,” only an hour or so by air from Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Visitors should expect an adventure—no-frills accommodations, no shops to speak of, but plenty of local seafood; 800/224-2627 or bahamas.com.
9. Great Peconic Bay, Long Island, New York
The bay, between the North and South forks of Long Island, once was the nation’s biggest source of bay scallops. In the mid-1980s, algae wiped out most of the population. Still, the beaches of this surprisingly unspoiled area do contain some bay scallop shells (the official New York state shell) as well as other treasures. And, thanks to restoration efforts, the scallops have been recovering; 877/386-6654 or licvb.com.
10. Stinson Beach, California
As with most West Coast shores, the hunting here doesn’t compare with that along the Gulf. Still, this beach just north of San Francisco does supply limpet shells and sand dollars—plus lots of surfers, a couple of nice seafood restaurants nearby, rugged natural beauty, and endearing small-town quirkiness; 415/663-9232 or pointreyes.org.
(published March 2007)
ALSO:
Coastal Living Shell Guide
