Shell Shore Your guide to the coast, wave by wave.

Shell Shore

Your guide to the coast, wave by wave.

Latest Articles

Salt Air and Second Chances: How to Hunt Vintage Treasure in America's Coastal Towns
Beach Activities

Salt Air and Second Chances: How to Hunt Vintage Treasure in America's Coastal Towns

The best coastal towns aren't just hiding great beaches — they're sitting on goldmines of nautical antiques, retro beach gear, and mid-century seaside décor waiting to be discovered. From weathered fishing villages in Maine to sun-bleached surf towns in Southern California, thrifting the coast has become its own kind of adventure. Here's how to plan a weekend around the hunt.
Something Strange Is Washing Ashore: The Rare Shells Showing Up on US Beaches Right Now
Beach Activities

Something Strange Is Washing Ashore: The Rare Shells Showing Up on US Beaches Right Now

Beachcombers across the country are finding shells they've never seen before — and marine biologists say there's a real reason for it. Unusual ocean currents and shifting water temperatures are delivering rare, tropical, and deep-water specimens straight to American shorelines. Here's what's happening, what to look for, and how to handle what you find.
Washed Up and Unexplained: The Strange World of Ghost Ships Appearing on American Shores
Coastal Adventure

Washed Up and Unexplained: The Strange World of Ghost Ships Appearing on American Shores

Every so often, a beachgoer stumbles across something far more unsettling than a jellyfish or a lost sandal — a full-sized vessel, crewless and rusting, half-buried in the surf. Ghost ships and derelict boats are turning up on US coastlines with surprising regularity, and the stories behind them range from mundane to genuinely chilling.
Crack One Open: The Oyster Farm Tours and Pearl Hunts Coastal Travelers Can't Stop Talking About
Beach Activities

Crack One Open: The Oyster Farm Tours and Pearl Hunts Coastal Travelers Can't Stop Talking About

Forget combing the shoreline for washed-up shells — a growing wave of coastal travelers is heading straight to the source. From Gulf Coast oyster leases to Pacific Northwest aquaculture farms, hands-on pearl and oyster experiences are quietly becoming one of the most talked-about things to do at the beach.
Ports of the Past: America's Forgotten Harbor Towns Where History Still Floats
Coastal Adventure

Ports of the Past: America's Forgotten Harbor Towns Where History Still Floats

Some beach trips are about switching off. Others are about waking up to something bigger than yourself. These lesser-known harbor towns carry centuries of American maritime history in their docks, shipwrecks, and waterfront lodges — and visiting them turns a regular coastal getaway into something you'll actually remember.
Sun, Sand, and Student Loans: The Real Story Behind Gen Z's Beach Town Migration
Coastal Adventure

Sun, Sand, and Student Loans: The Real Story Behind Gen Z's Beach Town Migration

Young Americans are trading city apartments for ocean breezes at a rate that's turning heads in small coastal communities from Maine to Malibu. But behind the aesthetic of sunrise surf sessions and farmers market Saturdays lies a far more complicated story about money, belonging, and what it actually means to start over somewhere new.
Picking Up the Pace: How US Beach Towns Are Winning the War on Ocean Trash (And How You Can Help)
Coastal Adventure

Picking Up the Pace: How US Beach Towns Are Winning the War on Ocean Trash (And How You Can Help)

From the Gulf Coast to the Pacific Northwest, beach communities are getting serious about marine debris—and they're inviting visitors to be part of the solution. Here's what's happening on the ground, which beaches are leading the way, and how your next trip to the shore can be more than just a vacation.
Lighthouse Keepers Still Exist — And Their Lives Are Nothing Like You'd Imagine
Coastal Adventure

Lighthouse Keepers Still Exist — And Their Lives Are Nothing Like You'd Imagine

A small, dedicated group of people still live and work inside America's historic lighthouses — and their daily reality is a far cry from the romanticized solitude most of us picture. We talked to a few of them about isolation, purpose, and what it actually takes to keep a coastal sentinel alive in the 21st century. If you've ever stood at the base of a lighthouse and wondered about the life inside, this one's for you.
Seaweed Rush: The Beach Towns Battling Over the Billion-Dollar Algae Washing Up on Their Shores
Coastal Adventure

Seaweed Rush: The Beach Towns Battling Over the Billion-Dollar Algae Washing Up on Their Shores

From Florida's Gulf Coast to the rocky shores of Maine, a quiet turf war is brewing over something most beachgoers barely notice underfoot. Entrepreneurs smell serious money in the seaweed piling up on America's coastlines, but locals, ecologists, and lawmakers aren't so sure they're ready to share. Here's what's really going on when the tide rolls in.
Binoculars on the Beach: How Coastal Birding Became America's Coolest Outdoor Obsession
Beach Activities

Binoculars on the Beach: How Coastal Birding Became America's Coolest Outdoor Obsession

Forget the mountain trails — America's most passionate birdwatchers are planting their feet in the sand and never looking back. From the tidal marshes of Georgia to the rocky shores of the Pacific Northwest, coastal birding is having a serious moment. Here's everything you need to know to get in on it.
Ahead of the Tide: The Coastal Towns Where Climate-Conscious Movers Are Quietly Landing
Coastal Adventure

Ahead of the Tide: The Coastal Towns Where Climate-Conscious Movers Are Quietly Landing

As sea levels creep up and wildfire smoke drifts across once-beloved shorelines, a new wave of Americans is rethinking which coast they call home. These are the beach towns quietly absorbing a population shift that planners, locals, and newcomers are only beginning to talk about — and they might just be the most livable stretches of US coastline you've never seriously considered.
Beach Activities

From Sand Dollar to Specimen: A Beachcomber's Field Guide to Collecting Shells Along the US Coast

Whether you're scanning the shoreline at dawn or wading through a low-tide flat, shell collecting is one of the most rewarding things you can do at the beach. This guide breaks down what to look for, where to look, and how to build a collection you'll actually be proud of.
Coastal Adventure

What the Ocean Is Actually Doing to Your Body and Brain (And Why Scientists Are Paying Attention)

It turns out there's real science behind why you feel so good at the beach. From the air you're breathing to the color of the water in front of you, coastal environments affect your body and mind in ways researchers are only beginning to fully understand.
Coastal Adventure

Pack Your Laptop, Leave the Commute: The Coastal Towns Remote Workers Are Claiming Before the Crowds Catch On

The remote work revolution didn't just free people from office cubicles — it sent them straight to the shoreline. We looked at which smaller beach towns are quietly filling up with laptop-toting transplants, and more importantly, which ones still have room before the secret gets out.
Shell Shock: The Niche Coastal Hobbies That'll Make You See the Beach Completely Differently
Beach Activities

Shell Shock: The Niche Coastal Hobbies That'll Make You See the Beach Completely Differently

Swimming and sandcastles are great, but the beach has a whole other layer hiding just beneath the surface. From hunting sea glass on rocky New England shores to scanning the tide line for extraterrestrial debris, these niche coastal hobbies turn an ordinary beach day into something you'll actually remember.
Coastal Adventure

Ditch the Resort: America's Coastal State Parks Are Hiding the Best Oceanfront Stays

Forget the valet parking and $28 poolside cocktails — some of the most stunning beachfront stays in America are sitting inside state park boundaries, waiting to be discovered. From rugged Maine headlands to sun-soaked California bluffs, coastal state parks offer something resort hotels genuinely can't replicate: the real thing. Here's why savvy travelers are booking these spots before the secret gets out.
Beach Activities

From Clam Shacks to Catch of the Day: How to Eat Like a Local All the Way Down the Coast

Every stretch of American coastline has its own seafood personality — shaped by the water, the history, and the people who've been pulling from it for generations. Knowing the difference between a Maine lobster shack and a Maryland crab house isn't just food trivia; it's the difference between a forgettable meal and one you'll talk about for years. Here's how to read the coast, one bite at a time.
Cheap Rent, Real Sand: The Underrated Coastal Towns Worth Moving To
Coastal Adventure

Cheap Rent, Real Sand: The Underrated Coastal Towns Worth Moving To

Forget the six-figure price tags of Malibu and Miami Beach. A new wave of remote workers and retirees is quietly discovering that authentic coastal living doesn't have to drain your savings. These under-the-radar beachside communities offer real sand, real culture, and real affordability — if you know where to look.
Your Beach Calendar Is Out of Date — Here's What's Actually Changing
Beach Activities

Your Beach Calendar Is Out of Date — Here's What's Actually Changing

The rules you learned about when to hit the beach — peak season, shoulder season, storm season — are quietly being rewritten. Warming waters, unpredictable weather patterns, and shifting marine ecosystems are changing the coastal travel playbook, and the travelers who adapt earliest will get the best experiences.
Beach Activities

The Off-Season Secret: Why Smart Travelers Are Heading to the Beach in January

The crowds have gone home, the rental prices have dropped, and the locals have their town back — and that's exactly when things get interesting. Off-season beach travel is one of the most underrated moves in the leisure traveler's playbook, and once you've experienced a coastal town in its quieter months, the summer rush starts to feel a little overrated. Here's why you should rethink when you head to the shore.