Shelling in the Grand Strand, where to find the best shells

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Shelling in the Grand Strand, where to find the best shells

The Myrtle Beach area is made up of miles of shoreline.  And along the shoreline you will find many different types of shells.  Whether you are a collector or just out to see what you can find, you will enjoy hunting for them here.  


Here are some tips from William Tilley, a founder of the Grand Strand Shell Club, for hunting and finding shells along the shores of Myrtle Beach.


    •    The more deserted the beach, the better the chance of finding shells; there’s less competition. Barrier islands, generally accessible only by water, are the best. Huntington Beach State Park, about 15 miles south of Myrtle Beach, is another good bet.
    •    Best times to look: early in the morning before the beach gets crowded, and after a storm. A rough sea usually tosses many shells onto the shore.
    •    One can often find shells at the high water line, at water’s edge, or in the small pools left on the beach at low tide.
    •    Shells you might find are the lettered olives (South Carolina’s state shell), knob whelks and channel whelks, giant heart cockles, tulips, augers, and shark-eye moon snails. Though not technically shells, sand dollars, sea urchins, and shark’s teeth are other prizes found on local beaches.
    •    Though big shells are the “showiest” and easiest to spot, don’t overlook the small ones. You’ll find some real beauties!
    •    Unless you plan to eat what’s inside, it’s best, ecologically, to leave “live” shells where you find them.
    •    Don’t take your treasures home and throw them in a drawer. Frame and display them for your enjoyment and as a reminder of your wonderful Myrtle Beach vacation!

What a great souvenir when you are heading home to remind yourself about your Myrtle Beach vacation.