Stinson Beach, Northern California.
By A THIRD PARTY ON BEHALF OF AQUA HOTEL & RESORTS
Different types of geographical landscapes to explore and enjoy, nothing resonates with me more than spending time at the ocean’s edge. Whenever I travel somewhere with a beach, it’s the first place I seek out.
Few things are more calming and inspiring than the ocean. Days spent at the beach equal a sense of rejuvenation, an abundance of exciting activities, and, often, natural souvenirs in the form of shells, sand, rocks or driftwood. From the rocky shores of the Mediterranean to the crystal-white soft sands of the Caribbean, visiting seaside locales around the world has been a lifelong passion. In addition to offering me unparalleled experiences such as snorkeling, surfing and scuba diving, I have a plethora of natural treasures to show off – sea shells. Shells are widely collected and prided around the world. Some of the best beaches here in the United States are places I visit again and again to bolster my collection.
Stinson Beach, Northern California
One of my go-to spots for its close proximity to my hometown of San Francisco and stunning natural beauty, Stinson Beach has a great selection of sea goods for the northern west coast. Sand dollars, beautiful, multicolored rocks and limpet shells are all easily found on this 3.5-mile stretch. Accessed by scenic Highway One, the trip out to Stinson Beach only adds to the allure of this Northern California gem located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Waikiki Beach, Oahu, Hawaii
Waikiki may be a tourist magnet, but it’s an all-around fabulous beach for many reasons. White sand, year-round reliable waves, safe swimming and an abundance of shells ready to swoop up make it one of my favorite beaches to visit. Conveniently located just a short walk from hundreds of Oahu hotels, restaurants and shopping, shelling at Waikiki can be an easy activity worked into the rest of your day. Since Hawaii is the only exotic tropical destination unlike anywhere else in the United States, it offers beautiful, rare shells perfect for jewelry and decorations.
Glass Beach, Kauai
The shoreline of glass beach is covered with millions of pieces of colorful sea glass, which takes about 10 to 30 years to be created, and serves as a lovely piece of ocean-made art. Found all over the world, the abundance of sea glass at this Kauai beach is possible because of broken bottles and auto glass dumped years ago on the western end of Kauai near Port Allen Harbor. The glittering beach is also nearby numerous Hawaii hotels and resorts, so you can easily take a jaunt out to collect to your heart’s content without having to spend the entire day getting there.
Marco Island, Florida
Revered as one of the best shell-collecting beaches in the world, Marco Island is the largest island within Southwest Florida’s islands. The Gulf Coast offers far superior selection of sea treasures than any other United States beach. Sparkling white sand, incredible weather and shallow, calm waters facilitate the ideal sea-shell collecting experience.