Driftwood

Best place to find it: Lincoln City, Oregon, about two hours southwest of Portland. Road’s End State Recreational Site offers profuse piles. (Virginia’s Kiptopeke State Park and Chincoteague Island are also prime sources.)

Why here: Oregon has been a vital part of the logging industry since the 1800s. While being transported down rivers, much wood ended up in the ocean, ultimately surfacing on the beach, water-weathered and sun-bleached. You can take loose driftwood, but don’t dig up buried pieces—they protect against coastal erosion.

Don’t miss: Nearby D River State Recreation Park, an eight-minute drive south, is considered one of the best kite-flying beaches in the United States because of a unique mix of equatorial and polar air. For more information visit oregonstateparks.org.