Fernandina Beach Shelling Adventures

Wonderfully rich in history, outdoor adventure, and natural beauty too, Amelia Island is a must-visit destination for travelers with interests of all types. While you could easily spend your time here fishing, boating, restaurant hopping, or shopping in style, it’s most certainly a place where time is always well spent on the shoreline. When you’re not soaking up the sun from a lounger, you’ll find Fernandina Beach shelling is an activity you’ll definitely want to add to your to-do list too while you’re in the area. Shell hunting is a fun way to spend time with family and friends, or even on your own, as it puts a firm focus on some of nature’s most fascinating wonders found right in the area within the sand below your feet.  

A Fernandina Beach shelling adventure with a focus on finding hidden treasures below the sand is exciting, but you can make even more of your next Amelia Island getaway when you request a copy of our Free Vacation Guide! Tailor your itinerary to your style when you take advantage of access to local insight on events, activities, and attractions you won’t want to miss while you’re here.  

Connect with Nature at Your Own Pace 

Amelia Island is home to incredible creatures of all kinds, making it an amazing place to spot marine life or enjoy birding at its best year-round. However, taking some time to enjoy Fernandina Beach shelling during your stay is a unique way to connect with nature at your own pace as you scour the shorelines slowly looking for gorgeous shells left behind in the water’s wake on the sand. In total, Amelia Island hosts 13 miles of beaches to explore, meaning there’s no shortage of options when it comes to places to put your shell-hunting skills to work. It’s an engaging activity suitable for travelers of all ages that will likely give you a greater appreciation for the stories the ocean tells through the remnants it leaves behind for beachgoers to find.  

The Best Local Shelling Beaches to Explore 

Just about everywhere you encounter sand in this area, you’re bound to find opportunities to enjoy Fernandina Beach shelling fun. That said, there are a few destinations on the map that typically find shell hunters coming away with some truly great finds. The beach by Fort Clinch State Park tends to be a fan-favorite stop for local shelling while Little Talbot Island State Park is known for its great shelling too, especially around low tide. Just keep in mind that no matter where you set your shelling sights, if a shell still has a living organism inside, the law dictates you must leave it behind.  

Top Time of Year to Add Shell Hunting to Your To-Do List 

While Fernandina Beach shelling is an activity that visitors and locals can truly enjoy year-round, winter comes with a reputation for shell hunting excellence thanks to the overall stronger seasonal ocean currents. It’s also a time of year more prone to storms which wash shells up in more abundance on the beach. With fewer visitors around this time of year, the opportunities to be the first to spot some incredible shells on the sand expand too. No matter when you decide to head out and enjoy shell hunting, low tide is always the best time of day to search among what’s been deposited at the water line.  

Shells You Might Find Along the Way 

Travelers who take time to enjoy Fernandina Beach shelling during their Amelia Island getaway will find a wide variety of shells waiting to be discovered. Some of the more common finds include clams, lightning whelks, great heart cockles, sand dollars, and baby’s ear moon snails. If you’re lucky, you might stumble across a shark tooth or two on the shorelines here as well.   

Book a Shelling Adventure with a Stay at The Addison on Amelia Island