Seashells serve as an instant reminder of those joyful days you spent on the beach and cost you absolutely nothing. When your beach journey brings you to the shores of the Cape, this guide will help you find the best shelling beaches on Cape Cod and explore everything you need to know about the activity.
Best Beaches for Shelling on Cape Cod
- Sandy Neck Beach in West Barnstable: Best for large shells, including whelks, oysters, and slipper shells
- Crosby Landing Beach in Brewster: Best for tide pools and smaller shells
- Skaket Beach in Orleans: Best for colorful sea glass and small shells
The Best Seasons and Times of Day to Explore
Surprisingly, summer is not the best time of year for shelling on Cape Cod. The reason is simple: you will face more competition as the beaches are more crowded. Spring, fall, and after a really good winter storm are all great times to add to your collection. Low tide and early mornings are the best times of the day to search.
Common Shell Types Found Around Cape Cod
Our shells on Cape Cod are probably going to be a little different than what you find on other beaches, including the quahog shell; its deep purple interior makes it a beautiful shell for creating jewelry or other art pieces. Other shells include:
- Moon shell
- Jingle shells
- Corded Neptune
- Blue mussel
- Atlantic sea scallop
- Slipper shells
Book Your Cape Cod Vacation Rental Near the Area’s Best Shelling Beaches
You will find your hunt for shells on Cape Cod will go all that much smoother when you are staying in our Massachusetts rentals near the beach. Coming home to our Pretty Picky Properties vacation rentals will be your favorite way to begin and end each day. Contact us to reserve your favorite property today and discover more reasons a Cape Cod vacation really will be a dream come true!
