A beach with sea shells...extinct?

[Anonymous]

As a child one of my fondest memories was going to the beach with my family and collecting seashells. I used to find the most vibrant colored shells, large shells, and just collect pails of them. And this was on the northeast coast.

I took my children to Bethany beach and we could not find a single shell that was intact. They were shattered. I am relatively new here. Can someone recommend a beach that has seashells? Are there none within 8 hours of DC metro area?

[Anonymous]

We always have gone down to the Carolina shores...Topsail, Emerald Isle, Wrightsville Beach. Good family beaches, lots of shells, sand dollars, etc and about 7-8 hours from the DC area.

[Anonymous]

Look for a beach that hasn't undergone beach restoration. Much more luck finding shells at one of those. So perhaps some of the state park beaches on the eastern shore? Chincoteaque maybe? I really don't know, but it seems to me with a little research, there should be some around here.

[Anonymous]

I just brought back buckets full of seashells from Assateague Island. It's about 3 hrs away.

[Anonymous]

the sound and pond beaches all over Martha's Vineyard (but not necessarily the ocean beaches)

[Anonymous]

you can bet on Sanibel Beach in Florida, near Ft. Myers. Google images, you will be really amazed how beautiful there is and what kind of gorgeous shells you can find there.

[Anonymous]

Siesta Key, Sarasota FL -- sorry, not within 8 hours though...

[Anonymous]

Where do you recommend staying in Sanibel for 2 adults and 2 kids--4 and 2. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I second the Sanibel recommendation! And I would totally take my 3 year old. But keep in mind it would just be beach time, shelling, eating at some wonderful restaurants and wildlife preserve (J.D. Darling), there's nothing really kid targeted, like in Deleware or the OBX.

[Anonymous]

Cape Henlopen/Lewes Beaches in Delaware have lots of shells. It's only 21/2 hour drive from D.C. There are variety of shells: scallops, clams, oysters, mussels, etc. Once, I even found a live conch.

[Anonymous]

Please don't take the shells! Leave them on the beach so others can enjoy them!

[Anonymous]

We usually go to the Atlantic Coast beaches in FL - Jacksonville Beach, St. Augustine, etc. and there are always tons of shells. They aren't huge but they are intact and they're everywhere.

[Anonymous]

We find great sea shells (and even starfish) at Rehoboth Beach early early in the morning...by 9am they are gone.

[Anonymous]

South Carolina beach -- Kiawah has great ones, including sand dollars.