A beach vacation in Gulf Shores can be many different things to different people, but in all cases, it will be peaceful, beautiful, and filled with fun. Although our coastal town is filled with lots to see and do, you may find that your favorite moments are the ones you spend on our white sand beaches, relaxing, playing, and quite possibly, searching for shells. Shelling in Gulf Shores, Alabama, is a popular beach activity, one that doesn’t require more than sharp eyes and a willingness to come back home with a little extra white sand in your pockets.
A Relaxing Beach Activity for All Ages
Your Gulf Shores shelling adventures will be even more fun and easy to access when you choose one of our beachfront retreats to call home during your Alabama getaway. They are just steps from the beach, ensuring that you can head outside and be on the sand within seconds, ready to begin your search.
Shelling is an activity that people of all ages can enjoy. Work together to gather an extensive shell collection that will also serve as a wonderful souvenir. Children can run all over the beach while the adults keep watch over the treasure they find, oohing and aahing over each one they bring back. Relaxing and fun, this activity will also be fascinating, as each shell is unique in color and shape, giving a glimpse into sea life that will never be forgotten.
Best Places for Shelling in Gulf Shores
When shelling in Gulf Shores, Alabama, there really aren’t any bad places to begin your hunt, but there are some beaches on which you will find a more abundant selection of shells. We have listed our favorite shelling spots below.
West Beach at Little Lagoon Pass Park in Gulf Shores
Little Lagoon Pass Park has a fishing pier, restrooms, and is a great place to find shells. The shallow water connecting the lagoon to the Gulf is a popular spot for mollusks, making it easier to find all manner of shells. Popular shells to find include red scallops and lightning whelks.
- Location: Google Maps
Fort Morgan Beaches
We are going to step outside of city limits as we hunt for the best Gulf Shores shelling spots, and our first foray brings us to the beaches of Fort Morgan. Secluded, quiet, and offering a beautiful variety of shells, shell seekers may find giant cockles, moon snails, and oyster shells on these serene beaches.
- Location: Google Maps
Shell Beach in Orange Beach
Located east of the Perdido Pass Bridge, Shell Beach, as its name suggests, is one of the area’s most popular shelling spots. Also, quiet and secluded, shell seekers may find sand dollars, Florida fighting conches, and quahog shells in this spot.
- Shell Beach Public Parking: 28273 Perdido Beach Blvd, Orange Beach, AL 36561
Tips for a Successful Shelling Experience
There is an art to finding the best shells. The first thing you want to consider is the time you start your search. As the sun rises, this is when you should start your shelling in Gulf Shores, Alabama. This will give you first pick of the shells that have washed ashore overnight, and generally, you will have less competition. Just after low tide is another great time to find good shells, and if a storm has recently blown through, that too will help you add something wonderful to your burgeoning shell collection.
Plan Your Gulf Shores Beach Getaway Today
Your Gulf Shores shelling experiences will please the entire family, just as our Gulf front condos will. Take a nap in the most comfortable beds in the state after waking up at sunrise during your hunt for shells, spend at least one evening puttering around our fully equipped kitchens preparing a meal for family, and plan on spending many evenings sitting on our balconies that overlook the sea, sipping your favorite beverage as the sun sets over the Gulf. Every day will dawn that much brighter when you choose our retreats for your Alabama sanctuary. Reserve your favorite space with Poole & Associates today!
