• Splendid beaches for shelling are found on the Atlantic Ocean coastlines.sea shells image by Shirley Hirst from Fotolia.com
  
  The mild, warm coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico move billions of shells along the Atlantic Ocean shores. Conch, cone, puka, whelk, scallop, clam and many other types of shells are washed up on the soft sandy Atlantic Ocean beaches. The best times to hunt for shells include springtime, low tide and right after Gulf storms. Sea shells, collected by the sea shore, are fun to hunt and find, and make incredible mementos of vacations and travels.
  
  

Sanibel Island, Florida

• Sanibel Island on Florida's southwestern tip lies amid a string of coastal islands between Fort Meyers and Bonita Springs. Reminiscent of the Bahamas or the Caribbean, this blue and breezy tropical area balances tourism, conservation and ecology to create a harmonious ecotourism culture. The beautiful white sugar sand beaches, bright blue water and tropical sunsets along with resorts, shopping, golf and dining are the perfect setting for the tons of seashells washed up daily by the Gulf waters. Sanibel Island is famous for its shells and inspires travel guides and blogs about shelling on its warm, sandy beaches.
  
  

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

• White sand beaches, palm trees, expansive dunes, live oaks covered in Spanish Moss and sea oats along the shorelines await visitors to the Atlantic Ocean coastal area of South Carolina. Hilton Head Island is just 20 miles north of Savannah, Ga., and almost 100 miles south of Charleston, S.C., a blend of southern comfort and laid-back coastal communities. The resort community here attracts travelers for the beautiful setting, golf, cultural events, shopping, water sports and a huge variety of shells carried by jet streams of the Gulf of Mexico.
  
  

Eleuthera Island, Bahamas

• Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas is a long, thin island that lies 50 miles east of Nassau. Surreal pink sand beaches, colonial pineapple fields and rough access roads make up this dreamy island landscape. Visitors to this sparsely populated island will find beautiful tropical scenery, peace and privacy, swimming, snorkeling and surfing opportunities, along the beaches, bays and oceanside resorts. Shells and driftwood are found in abundance on the 110 miles of Eleuthera beaches.
  
  

Tunnels Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

• Tunnels Beach on the north shore of the breathtaking Hawaiian island of Kauai, is a big draw for snorkeling and diving. With mountains in the background, white sand and dark blue water, caverns and reefs to explore as well as awesome Hawaiian sunsets, visitors to Tunnels Beach will find a wealth of puka shells for necklaces, bracelets, earrings and hair jewelry.