Most people spend at least part of their vacation here walking on the beach looking for seashells. Everyone hopes to find that perfect shell — the treasure of a lifetime — and this just might be your lucky year! But there are things to know about collecting seashells and when you leave your North Myrtle Beach hotel to go out collecting keep these things in mind.
When you’re collecting seashells try to have a plan. Shells can be works of art if collected and preserved correctly. One of the most important things to remember is to be sure you’re not collecting live shells that contain inhabitants. If you do notice that one you pick up is alive just gently place it back in the water.
Having a plan for how to use your shells once you get them home or back to your North Myrtle Beach hotel helps avoid wastefulness. In the words of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of famed aviator, Charles Lindbergh, seashells should be viewed as individual pieces of art: “One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach. One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few.”
Here are tips to follow when shell collecting:
~ Shell at low tide preferably and after a storm to find the most shells.
~ Be prepared by bringing a bucket and wear plenty of sunscreen or a hat.
~ Soak shells in 50/50 solution of water and bleach for a few hours or overnight after getting them home.
~To make shells shine after they are clean and dry wipe them with baby oil or mineral oil.
