Top 20 most popular coastal towns for beachcombing in the world

Beachcombing is a relaxing and enjoyable activity where people search along the shore for interesting natural and man-made treasures like shells, sea glass, driftwood, and more. Here’s a list of 20 popular coastal towns around the world known for their excellent beachcombing opportunities:

1. Sanibel Island, Florida, USA

• Famous for its abundance of seashells, Sanibel Island is one of the best spots in the world for beachcombing, especially for rare finds like junonia shells.

2. Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA

• Known for its long stretches of sandy beach and iconic Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach is great for finding colorful agates, driftwood, and sand dollars.

3. Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

• This world-famous surfing town is also known for beachcombing, offering shells, sea glass, and sometimes fossils along its pristine beaches.

4. Eleuthera, Bahamas

• The pink sand beaches of Eleuthera offer excellent opportunities for finding rare seashells and beautiful pieces of coral washed up from the Atlantic.

5. Kaikoura, New Zealand

• Famous for its marine life, Kaikoura’s beaches are perfect for collecting unique shells and sea-smoothed stones while enjoying the scenic coastline.

6. Glass Beach, California, USA

• Once a dumping ground, Glass Beach in Fort Bragg is now famous for its abundance of smooth, colorful sea glass, making it a top spot for beachcombers.

7. Fraser Island, Queensland, Australia

• The world’s largest sand island offers an incredible variety of shells and unique pieces of driftwood, perfect for beachcombing along its long, deserted stretches of beach.

8. Bay of Fires, Tasmania, Australia

• Known for its white sandy beaches and striking orange rocks, Bay of Fires is a pristine beachcombing destination for finding seashells, sea glass, and interesting stones.

9. Hunting Island, South Carolina, USA

• This remote barrier island offers quiet, natural beaches where beachcombers can find shells, shark teeth, and driftwood.

10. Vik, Iceland

• The unique black sand beaches near Vik, especially Reynisfjara, are ideal for finding smooth volcanic pebbles, interesting rocks, and sometimes whale bones.

11. Shell Beach, Western Australia

• As the name suggests, Shell Beach is entirely made of tiny white shells, offering one of the world’s most unique beachcombing experiences.

12. Lamu Island, Kenya

• Lamu’s beaches on the Indian Ocean are quiet and unspoiled, offering the chance to find beautiful seashells, sea glass, and pieces of coral.

13. Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA

• The Outer Banks is known for miles of undeveloped coastline, where beachcombers can find shells, sea glass, and even Civil War-era artifacts after storms.

14. Shetland Islands, Scotland

• The remote beaches of the Shetland Islands offer unique finds like sea glass, pottery, and sometimes even ancient Viking artifacts.

15. Galveston Island, Texas, USA

• After a storm, Galveston’s beaches are often littered with treasures such as shark teeth, seashells, and even fossils, making it a favorite spot for beachcombers.

16. Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA

• This barrier island is known for Driftwood Beach, where visitors can find unique pieces of driftwood, seashells, and sometimes shark teeth along the shore.

17. Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda

• Bermuda’s famous pink sand beaches are perfect for beachcombing, offering shells, coral, and the occasional piece of sea glass.

18. Whidbey Island, Washington, USA

• Located in the Pacific Northwest, Whidbey Island offers opportunities to find agates, sea glass, shells, and driftwood along its rocky and sandy shores.

19. Vieques, Puerto Rico

• The unspoiled beaches of Vieques are ideal for beachcombing, with unique finds like sea glass, shells, and coral fragments washed ashore by the Caribbean Sea.

20. Isle of Harris, Scotland

• The remote beaches of the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides offer beautiful beachcombing opportunities, with finds like sea glass, pebbles, and sometimes remnants of ancient pottery.

These coastal towns offer a variety of beachcombing experiences, from the chance to find rare and beautiful seashells to hunting for unique treasures like sea glass and fossils. Each location provides a unique combination of natural beauty and coastal treasures.