One of our favorite facts about Maine is that the coast is actually longer than that of California! How is that possible? If you look at a map you’ll notice all the craggy ins-and-outs that make up the coastal areas. These inlets feel so unique to the state and they also make for a lot more land than you might expect. With all that coast, it’s not surprising that there are so many great places to search for seashells. One of our favorites is a state park just a bit north of Portland and while you can’t take them with you, it’s so much fun to find the shells at low tide!
Hidden on a bit of land in Phippsburg you’ll find Popham Beach State Park. The park, which is open year-round, is a wonderful place to explore the nature of Maine.
rdpine / TripAdvisor
The long sandy beach here is right on the Atlantic Ocean, which means you can expect lot of rolling waves. Unfortunately, this has led to some erosion but there’s still plenty of sand to enjoy.
Andrew Sims / alltrails.com
In addition to being a beautiful beach to enjoy on hot summer days, it’s a fantastic place to search for seashells.
Marcus König / Google
The dynamic shape and location of the beach make for lots of seashells and if you visit at just the right time there will be plenty to find.
Andrew Sims / alltrails.com
We especially love exploring the more rocky areas to see tide pools where other small critters have made their home. Remember not to disturb anything here as the more people who visit and touch things like crabs, the more potential for ecological damage.
Heidi Leavitt / Google
But shells are perfectly fine to collect and look through. Just be sure to leave them where you found them before you go home.
comstock / Flickr
The best time to find shells is during low tide. This is when the sea has retreated leaving behind lots of fun surprises.
pavdw / Flickr
You might also visit after a storm when the rocking waves and chances to the ocean have brought more to shore.
auntjojo / Flickr
Beachcombing is a great activity year-round. Be sure to plan a trip to Popham Beach to explore one of our favorite areas of the coast.
christwise / Flickr
Popham Beach State Park is open year-round from 9 a.m. to sunset. Always respect posted notices and if the park is closed for some reason, plan on coming back another day. Also, remember that nothing natural can be removed from a state park, so you’ll need to find the shells and let them go. To learn more about visiting check out the website. There are three trails to explore in the park. To learn more about those check out alltrails.com.
rdpine / TripAdvisor
Andrew Sims / alltrails.com
Marcus König / Google
Heidi Leavitt / Google
comstock / Flickr
pavdw / Flickr
auntjojo / Flickr
christwise / Flickr
If you’d like to take your shells home, there’s another great place to visit. East End Beach in Maine is absolutely paradise if you love hunting for seashells!
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Address: Popham Beach, ME 04562, USA
