Hunt For Sand Dollars On The Beautiful And Easy Long Sands Beach In Maine
By Michelle|Published March 10, 2021
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Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
When thinking about Maine, a lot of people immediately imagine the coast. Rocky and rough, it’s one of the state’s most defining features. But what some people from away don’t know is that quite a few of our beaches are beautiful and sandy, perfect for a leisurely walk or day in the sun. While we love these areas in the summer, year-round they’re beautiful for explorations. And searching for the elusive sand dollar is a great activity at one southern Maine beach!
Because they’re so unique-looking, sand dollars are one of the most fun finds you can make on the beach!
Most of the time when they’re found on the beach they’re already in their skeletal form, referred to as “tests.” But when sand dollars are alive, they have spikes and really do resemble their sea urchin cousins.
But while sea urchins are spikey and spindly, sand dollars have spins that are made of soft fur. If you touch them they’ll feel a lot like velvet. Because their mouth is underneath their bodies, sea urchins use this fur to help move food into their mouths.
The sea creatures live together in colonies in shallow ocean water. They’re mostly buried in the sand just beneath the surface. Finding one feels special (and it is!) but it’s not especially hard once you know what to look for and when.
The reason it’s rare to see one alive is that they wash up on the beach once they’ve died and can be moved more easily by the current and waves. A great way to start searching is to check local storms in southern Maine. Storms often create larger waves which help move sand dollars to shore.
Another great way to search is by heading to Long Sands Beach during low tide. This is often early in the morning so you’ll need to set that alarm clock!
When you arrive at the beach during low tide, head for the area where the highest tide has reached. This is called the high tide line and it’s where sand dollars are often left behind.
But what are you looking for exactly? If you see a sand dollar right away, great! If not, try searching for round patches or depressions in the sand. The sand may have covered the sea creatures as it went up and back.
Remember that this is their home and it’s best not to disturb anything that’s living. Even touching them can alter the ecosystem leading to significant damage.
Long Sands Beach in York operates using parking kiosks from May 15th through October 15th each year. Parking is $2 per hour or you can apply for a local parking permit for $40. Senior parking permits are $20. You can learn more about the beach and how to access it by checking out the York Parks and Recreation website. Remember to leave things as you found them when visiting any natural area in the state.
