Every year, when I’m sharing our shelling adventures on social media, the same three questions pop up, so I thought I would share the answers all in one place.
Where are you shelling?
We are at the Isle of Palms in South Carolina. We’ve been coming here for Spring Break for several years, and it’s a wonderful area for shelling. I’ve been to the Outer Banks, Myrtle Beach, Wrightsville Beach, and Hilton Head, and this is where we’ve found the most reliable shelling. Since my mom and I enjoy it so much, this is where we continue to take our family beach trips. We also have extended family in this area, so that makes it ideal as well.
You can find a shelling guide for Isle of Palms and Wild Dunes Resort HERE. I’ll add some more tips to the guide after this trip.
What do you do with all of the shells?
I use them around my house and in the garden. I will admit, I don’t *need* any more shells, but I really enjoy collecting them and bringing a bit of the beach home. You can find a few posts about decorating with shells here…
Decorating with Shells in the Garden
Decorating with Shells in the Home
Is it okay to shell at that beach?
I always receive a few comments and questions from people concerned about how shell collecting affects the environment and local wildlife. The most important thing is that shelling is allowed at this beach. (It is actually illegal in some places to take shells or even the sand, so always take a minute to read the signs.) Just because it’s not allowed at one beach or park doesn’t mean it’s bad/wrong in another. It really does depend on the region, the wildlife, the kind of shells, and how the area may have been impacted by erosion, commercial fishing, dredging, etc.
The shells we collect at Isle of Palms are regenerative. Olive snails and whelks are both born in their shells, grow with their shells, and discard them when they expire. Some shells are repurposed by barnacles, oysters, clams, bryozoan, and coral, but by the time they end up on the beach, those critters are done with them as well. I have also never seen or heard of hermit crabs on these beaches that need these discarded shells as habitats.
What a charming tip — I’m inspired to try it.