Meanwhile in North Carolina: Without loads of tourists packing into the outer banks during the stay-at-home directive this month, hoards of seashells have been accumulating on many of the state’s beaches. It’s a natural occurrence, of course, but not one that many truly anticipated – since we’re preoccupied with settling into new routines to best navigate the pandemic and stay safe.

And while it's normal all year long, particularly in the early morning hours, to find shells all along the coast, this short break from the large number of people collecting those shells on a regular basis has transformed the beaches for the time being.
Scott T. Smith / Corbis Documentary Collection via Getty Images
In this pre-pandemic scene captured from Cape Hatteras, a soft shell bank is scattered in one section of the beach, and the rest of the beach seems practically picked clean, either by shell collectors or the tide.

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Collecting seashells is a favorite pastime for locals and visitors alike. It's typical to find several small "keepers," like those seen here (photo captured prior to the pandemic). But the beaches on the Outer Banks — and particularly the Crystal Coast — are now swimming in shells, thanks to the lower number of daily collectors.
Jennifer Blount / EyeEm Collection via Getty Images
Who knows what treasures await once the coast is clear to travel again?
Flickr/Amanda Hirsch
Over at the Cape Lookout National Seashore, the beaches are still open to groups of less than 10 people; however park offices and facilities are closed for the time being. But the good news? The shells should still be accumulating for when travel restrictions are lifted!

To get a peak at all of the shells, check out the video below posted by the Facebook page of the Cape Lookout National Seashore!

What are your plans for when it’s safe to travel again? Where in North Carolina will you be heading: to the beach or the mountains? We’d love to hear what scenic spots in North Carolina you miss the most! Tell us about them so we can feature them here.

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Cape Lookout, Cape Lookout Rd, Harkers Island, NC 28531, USA