Posted in Maine Nature June 05, 2018 by Michelle

The Amazing Sand Dollar Beach Every Mainer Will Want To Visit

With more coastline than California, it’s not surprising that Maine has some epic and glorious beaches. Not all of them are feet-friendly (they don’t call it a rocky coastline for nothing,) but the ones you can walk on feature the whitest, softest sand in New England. Laying around on the beach is a great way to spend the day, but if you’re the more curious type we bet you’re going to want to do some exploring. If this sounds like you, head to Long Sands Beach. You’ll find seashells, but you also just might find one of nature’s coolest creations – a sand dollar! And this might be the best beach for sand dollars in Maine.

Unique sand dollars are one of the most fun finds to make on a beach.

While beachcombers often find them in skeletal form, called "tests," they are actually slightly spikey when they're alive.

Sand dollars primarily live in colonies of shallow ocean water, buried in the sandy bottom.

While they're special to find, it's certainly not impossible once you know what to do.

Sand dollars can be found on the beach one they've died and washed ashore.

A great first step is to track storms - chances of finding a sand dollar are greater after a large storm blows through causing large waves to bring them to shore more easily.

You may need to wake up early since this often happens in the morning or at the end of the day, depending on where you are.

Be sure to search at the high tide line, which is the highest place the water will have come up before going out again.

If you see a round patch in the sand or any kind of depression, look beneath it as these are signs of sand dollars that have been covered with sand from the tide.

You'll probably find lots of other fun sea creatures as well, but always be careful not to disturb anything that's living - this is their home and touching them can disturb the living ecosystem.

And, if you're lucky, you'll come away with a haul like this!

From the lower section of the beach you'll have great view of Nubble Light on Cape Neddick.

Whether you're beachcombing or simply looking for a way to relax, Long Sands Beach is beautiful at any time of year.

Sea glass is another fun find on the coast of Maine. These 10 beaches are some of the absolute best for finding and collecting these colorful treasures.