Shell Shore Your guide to the coast, wave by wave.

Shell Shore

Your guide to the coast, wave by wave.

Latest Articles

Lighthouse Keepers Still Exist — And Their Lives Are Nothing Like You'd Imagine
Coastal Adventure

Lighthouse Keepers Still Exist — And Their Lives Are Nothing Like You'd Imagine

A small, dedicated group of people still live and work inside America's historic lighthouses — and their daily reality is a far cry from the romanticized solitude most of us picture. We talked to a few of them about isolation, purpose, and what it actually takes to keep a coastal sentinel alive in the 21st century. If you've ever stood at the base of a lighthouse and wondered about the life inside, this one's for you.
Seaweed Rush: The Beach Towns Battling Over the Billion-Dollar Algae Washing Up on Their Shores
Coastal Adventure

Seaweed Rush: The Beach Towns Battling Over the Billion-Dollar Algae Washing Up on Their Shores

From Florida's Gulf Coast to the rocky shores of Maine, a quiet turf war is brewing over something most beachgoers barely notice underfoot. Entrepreneurs smell serious money in the seaweed piling up on America's coastlines, but locals, ecologists, and lawmakers aren't so sure they're ready to share. Here's what's really going on when the tide rolls in.
Binoculars on the Beach: How Coastal Birding Became America's Coolest Outdoor Obsession
Beach Activities

Binoculars on the Beach: How Coastal Birding Became America's Coolest Outdoor Obsession

Forget the mountain trails — America's most passionate birdwatchers are planting their feet in the sand and never looking back. From the tidal marshes of Georgia to the rocky shores of the Pacific Northwest, coastal birding is having a serious moment. Here's everything you need to know to get in on it.
Ahead of the Tide: The Coastal Towns Where Climate-Conscious Movers Are Quietly Landing
Coastal Adventure

Ahead of the Tide: The Coastal Towns Where Climate-Conscious Movers Are Quietly Landing

As sea levels creep up and wildfire smoke drifts across once-beloved shorelines, a new wave of Americans is rethinking which coast they call home. These are the beach towns quietly absorbing a population shift that planners, locals, and newcomers are only beginning to talk about — and they might just be the most livable stretches of US coastline you've never seriously considered.
Beach Activities

From Sand Dollar to Specimen: A Beachcomber's Field Guide to Collecting Shells Along the US Coast

Whether you're scanning the shoreline at dawn or wading through a low-tide flat, shell collecting is one of the most rewarding things you can do at the beach. This guide breaks down what to look for, where to look, and how to build a collection you'll actually be proud of.
Coastal Adventure

What the Ocean Is Actually Doing to Your Body and Brain (And Why Scientists Are Paying Attention)

It turns out there's real science behind why you feel so good at the beach. From the air you're breathing to the color of the water in front of you, coastal environments affect your body and mind in ways researchers are only beginning to fully understand.
Shell Shock: The Niche Coastal Hobbies That'll Make You See the Beach Completely Differently
Beach Activities

Shell Shock: The Niche Coastal Hobbies That'll Make You See the Beach Completely Differently

Swimming and sandcastles are great, but the beach has a whole other layer hiding just beneath the surface. From hunting sea glass on rocky New England shores to scanning the tide line for extraterrestrial debris, these niche coastal hobbies turn an ordinary beach day into something you'll actually remember.
Coastal Adventure

Pack Your Laptop, Leave the Commute: The Coastal Towns Remote Workers Are Claiming Before the Crowds Catch On

The remote work revolution didn't just free people from office cubicles — it sent them straight to the shoreline. We looked at which smaller beach towns are quietly filling up with laptop-toting transplants, and more importantly, which ones still have room before the secret gets out.
Coastal Adventure

Ditch the Resort: America's Coastal State Parks Are Hiding the Best Oceanfront Stays

Forget the valet parking and $28 poolside cocktails — some of the most stunning beachfront stays in America are sitting inside state park boundaries, waiting to be discovered. From rugged Maine headlands to sun-soaked California bluffs, coastal state parks offer something resort hotels genuinely can't replicate: the real thing. Here's why savvy travelers are booking these spots before the secret gets out.
Beach Activities

From Clam Shacks to Catch of the Day: How to Eat Like a Local All the Way Down the Coast

Every stretch of American coastline has its own seafood personality — shaped by the water, the history, and the people who've been pulling from it for generations. Knowing the difference between a Maine lobster shack and a Maryland crab house isn't just food trivia; it's the difference between a forgettable meal and one you'll talk about for years. Here's how to read the coast, one bite at a time.
Cheap Rent, Real Sand: The Underrated Coastal Towns Worth Moving To
Coastal Adventure

Cheap Rent, Real Sand: The Underrated Coastal Towns Worth Moving To

Forget the six-figure price tags of Malibu and Miami Beach. A new wave of remote workers and retirees is quietly discovering that authentic coastal living doesn't have to drain your savings. These under-the-radar beachside communities offer real sand, real culture, and real affordability — if you know where to look.
Your Beach Calendar Is Out of Date — Here's What's Actually Changing
Beach Activities

Your Beach Calendar Is Out of Date — Here's What's Actually Changing

The rules you learned about when to hit the beach — peak season, shoulder season, storm season — are quietly being rewritten. Warming waters, unpredictable weather patterns, and shifting marine ecosystems are changing the coastal travel playbook, and the travelers who adapt earliest will get the best experiences.
Beach Activities

The Off-Season Secret: Why Smart Travelers Are Heading to the Beach in January

The crowds have gone home, the rental prices have dropped, and the locals have their town back — and that's exactly when things get interesting. Off-season beach travel is one of the most underrated moves in the leisure traveler's playbook, and once you've experienced a coastal town in its quieter months, the summer rush starts to feel a little overrated. Here's why you should rethink when you head to the shore.
Coastal Adventure

Sleep to the Sound of Surf: America's Best Spots to Camp Right on the Coast

Forget the hotel alarm clock — imagine waking up with salt air drifting through your tent and waves doing the work of any white noise machine. America's coastline is dotted with campgrounds that put you steps from the water, and knowing where to look (and how to snag a spot) makes all the difference. Here's your region-by-region rundown of the best beachfront and near-beach camping in the country.
Coastal Adventure

So You Want to Learn to Surf: How to Pick the Right US Beach for Your First Wave

Picking up surfing is one of those bucket-list moves that sounds amazing right up until you're standing in a surf shop trying to figure out if you need a longboard or a shortboard and whether you should go to California or just stay in Florida. Don't stress it. The right first surf destination depends way more on your personality and travel style than on where the pros compete. Here's an honest breakdown to help you figure out where to paddle out first.
Beach Activities

Tiny Worlds at the Water's Edge: Your Complete Guide to Tide Pooling Along the US Coast

Tide pools are basically nature's aquariums, hiding sea stars, hermit crabs, and electric-colored anemones just inches from the shoreline. Whether you're planning a family beach day or a solo nature escape, tide pooling is one of the most rewarding — and totally free — coastal activities out there. Here's everything you need to know to find the best pools, spot the coolest creatures, and do it all without harming a thing.