Beaches of the USA Atlantic Coast

Collecting sea shells on the beach is a relaxing activity for people of all ages. Beaches along the USA East Coast yield a wide range of shells, artifacts and unique treasures from the ocean.

Shells found on Atlantic beaches include knobby whelks, smooth whelks, moon snails, periwinkles, bay scallops, ocean quahogs, hard clams, jingles, limpets, cockles and others. Collecting can be made much more interesting by carrying any of the many sea shell books that are available.

In addition to mollusks and shellfish, there are other items such as sand dollars, starfish, ray and shark egg cases, horsehoe crab egg cases, crab shells, sharks teeth and occasionally even gold or silver coins!

Time and location are important if success is priority for the shell collector. While the warm days of summer find most beach lovers on the island, the best shell collecting is actually in the cooler months. One good way to find shells is to look for low stretches of beach where the water can surge farther up on the sand.

In these areas, small patches of beach can be covered with shell fragments and sometimes shells in excellent condition. These often occur during a strong storm from an easterly direction. Once the storm subsides and the waters recede, sea shell enthusiasts can explore in hopes of having a new crop of shells to choose from.

Assateague Island is one of the most popular beaches along the mid-Atlantic region. The area is within a few hours of Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC and Richmond.

Much of the recreation around Assateague is water-related. There is swimming, sunbathing and exploring at the beaches. Fishing, clamming and crabbing are also popular activities. There is also kayaking, power boating, sailing, and nature cruises.

One of the most popular water activities is surf fishing on Assateague Island. Surf fishing is relatively inexpensive, peaceful, requires little in specialized tackle and no boat is needed. Anglers can reach the surf on foot from Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, or drive on designated areas with a 4 wheel drive vehicle. A permit is required for over sand vehicles.

Collecting sea shells on Assateague Island is a relaxing activity for people of all ages. The beaches on the ocean side sometimes yield a wide range of shells, artifacts and unique treasures from the ocean. Local shells include knobby whelks, smooth whelks, moon snails, periwinkles, bay scallops, ocean quahogs, hard clams, jingles, limpets, cockles and others.

In addition to mollusks and shellfish, there are other items such as sand dollars, starfish, ray and shark egg cases, horsehoe crab egg cases, crab shells, sharks teeth and occasionally even gold or silver coins!

South Beach is a part of Miami Beach, Florida that runs from Biscayne Bay to the Atlantic Ocean. First developed in the early 1900's, the beach has become one of the most famous Miami attractions.

Visitors flock to South Beach not only to lie out and enjoy the ocean, but also to tour its range of nightclubs, hotels and restaurants. People from all around the world come to South Beach to enjoy the sun and the surf.

One of the best beaches in Southern New England is Hammonasset Beach State Park in Connecticut. Hammonasset Beach State Park is a gorgeous two-mile long public beach located in Madison, CT. It is a wonderful place to enjoy beach activities, plus take advantage of exceptional facilities and amenities.

At Hammonasset Beach, visitors can cool off in the ocean surf after sunbathing on the sandy beach. Beach goers can hunt for shells and build sand sculptures or simply relax and enjoy the view of Long Island Sound. Binoculars can be used to spot ships or marine life while lounging on the beach.

Canoe trips are also available at Hammonasset Beach, and anglers can fish off the stone breakwater. For birdwatchers, there are hundreds of bird species at Hammonasset Beach State Park.

Cape May NJ is a favorite destination for New York and New Jersey residents. This coastal town features an incredible number of beautifully restored motels, bed and breakfasts and inns.

The resort also has a famous boardwalk, filled with attractions for people of ages. Cape May has beautiful beaches, a thriving art community, specialty shops, fishing charter boats, festivals and other recreational activities.

The Environmental Protection Agency report entitled "The National Coastal Condition Report III" (NCCRIII) found that the overall condition of the nation's coastal waters has improved slightly. The NCCRIII is the third in a series of environmental assessments of US coastal and Great Lakes waters.

The report is a collaboration of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, coastal states and the National Estuary Program. America's coastal conditions were judged using five indicators of condition: water quality, sediment quality, benthic community condition, coastal habitat loss, and fish tissue contaminants.

The report rated overall condition of America's coasts as "fair" with US coastal waters improved slightly since the 1990s. The next National Coastal Condition Report is expected to be released in 2011 and will provide an assessment of the status of U.S. coastal waters from 2003 to 2006. More information on the National Coastal Condition Report III (NCCRIII) is available at www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/nccr.

Kiptopeake State Park in Virginia has one of nicest beaches in the area. The sand is excellent and the view looks out onto the Chesapeake Bay. The water is sheltered, shallow and perfect for kids.

This beach is located on the southern tip of Virginia's Eastern Shore and is within a few minutes of Virginia Beach. In addition to the outstanding beach, the park has showers, camping facilities, hiking trails, scenic overlooks, a fishing pier and boat ramp.

Visitors will find fall to be one of best times to visit most beaches of the Mid Atlantic. While it varies from year to year and by locations, Mid Atlantic coastal waters often remain warm enough for swimming thru September.

The trip from major metropolitan areas to a coastal beach can be extremely enjoyable during the fall. Traffic is much lighter and the highways are lined with wildflowers in bloom and maturing crops. Farmers markets along the way have a wealth of local produce in fall. Summer produce such as tomatoes, peppers, corn, beans, melons and others are still available. In addition, fall harvests of apples, pumpkins, squash, greens, cabbage, honey, other produce and specialty foods are available.

Arriving at coastal beach resorts, visitors will notice seasonal changes. Gone is the heat and humidity and traffic is lighter. Visitors to wildlife refuges will find that birds of all kinds are on the move as the Atlantic Flyway begins to come to life. Experienced birdwatchers bring along cameras, spotting scopes, and their favorite field guide.

During the fall, beach lovers have the beaches more to themselves, and many decide to explore them more. A walk after one of the late summer hurricanes may reveal a new crop of shells along the shoreline. Several types of whelks, surf clams, scallops, cockles and other shells wash up, mixed in with mysteries of the ocean such as sand dollars, devil's purses, driftwood and sometimes even coins or other antiquities.

Surf fishermen also find fishing improved as local fish migrate down the beaches. In addition to smaller species, surf anglers begin to fish for the monsters of the beaches, as striped bass, red drum, black drum and sandbar sharks all make their way down the coastline.

Shoppers will be ecstatic while touring the shops of coastal towns. End of season sales offer some excellent bargains and most shops offer a unique variety of holiday-related gifts.

Summer field trips along the Atlantic coast provide a range of nature-related activities that inspire painters and other Artists. Among the most common field trips are expeditions to collect shells, explore tide pools or explore nature trails.

Many of these activities offer artists inspiration and a foundation upon which to create works of art en plein air. En plein air is a French expression which means "in the open air", and is typically used to describe the act of painting outdoors.

Exploring tide pools is an excellent way to find subjects and materials for art projects such as cockles, moon snails, whelks, conchs, scallops, angel wings and other attractive treasures. Field trips to explore tidal areas are a wonderful activity for nature enthusiasts of all ages to learn about the creatures that live there.

The Atlantic coast is an excellent place to paint scenes such as sunrises and sunsets, seascapes, wave actions, marine mammals and people. Bird watchers will find plenty of subjects along Atlantic shorelines. Most areas are home to gulls, terns, oyster catchers, herons, egrets, pelicans, ibises, plovers, sandpipers and other shorebirds.

Artists also find kites of every description along the coast. To fly a kite successfully, enthusiasts need wind and open areas, which are usually plentiful along the coast.

The Atlantic coast has thousands of hiking trails which offer a wide range of scenery. Coastal destinations such as National seashores and public beaches usually provide trails with a range of landscapes and wildlife.

Storm watchers and visitors should always be wary of storm dangers when visiting Atlantic coast beaches.

Hurricanes, tropical storms and Noreasters can produce high winds, heavy surf, strong storm surges, rogue waves, rip currents and coastal flooding.

Rogue waves near break walls and jetties are particularly hazardous to beach-goers during hurricane conditions. Sudden large waves can easily sweep storm watchers into the water or drag vessels off moorings or piers.

The Coast Guard recommends that beach-goers exercise caution around heavy surf conditions and be wary of the dangers associated. Rip currents pose serious hazards to even strong swimmers and may develop in areas where they are not normally seen. Rip currents may not be visible from shore and often develop in advance of hurricanes or tropical storm systems.

During periods of bad weather, mariners and beach-goers are asked to keep a watchful eye. If something is out of the ordinary, don't hesitate to call Coast Guard watchstanders or 911.

According to a U.S. Geological Survey report, New England and Mid-Atlantic beaches are eroding. Scientists studied more than 650 miles of the New England and Mid-Atlantic coasts and found the average rate of coastal change was negative 1.6 feet per year.

The past 25 to 30 years saw a small reduction in the percentage of beaches eroding - dropping to 60 percent, possibly as a result of beach restoration activities such as adding sand to beaches.

According to the study, beach erosion is impacted by a variety of factors, including changes in the amount of available sand, storms, sea-level rise and human activities. How much a beach is eroding or prograding in any given location is due to some combination of these factors, which vary from place to place.

The study found that the Mid-Atlantic coast from Long Island, N.Y. to the Virginia-North Carolina border is eroding at higher average rates than the New England coast. The researchers found that, although coastal change is highly variable, the majority of the coast is eroding throughout both regions, indicating erosion hazards are widespread.

Researchers used historical data sources such as maps and aerial photographs, as well as modern data like lidar, or "light detection and ranging," to measure shoreline change at more than 21,000 locations.

The report, titled "National Assessment of Shoreline Change: Historical Shoreline Change along the New England and Mid-Atlantic Coasts," is the fifth report produced as part of the USGS's National Assessment of Shoreline Change project.