Beachcombing for sea glass: The best beaches on the SouthCoast to find your treasure
Heading to the beach is about tanning in the sun, braving the waves for a refreshing swim, and finding that perfect souvenir while beachcombing.
Finding seashells has always been a favorite pastime at the beach as you walk along the seashore, but in recent years sea glass has become the main attraction.
It’s always a happy moment when you are searching along the water’s edge and you see the unique colored pieces glistening like hidden gems.
What is sea glass?
Sea glass begins as an old glass bottle, glassware, or jars of all different sizes, shapes, and colors that have often been dumped on the beach.
This “litter” takes a natural tumble through the water, sand, and rocks, over time the broken shards are rounded, and the glass becomes frosted — leaving you with a colorful treasure. It can take sea glass 40 to 100 years to get its smooth texture and shape.
According to the sea glass rarity chart from realseaglass.com, the common colors of sea glass are white, brown, and green. In comparison, it’s ultra rare to find multi-colored, orange, yellow, red, turquoise, or teal.
What are the best local beaches for sea glass?
Horseneck Beach: With a two-mile-long stretch of shoreline you are sure to find treasure at 251 John Reed Road, Westport. Swelling waves bring in a bounty of seashells and sea glass that litter the shoreline.
Knowles Beach: The rocky shoreline makes this beach the perfect spot for beachcombing. You will find sea glass, oyster shells, whelks, and more at Smith Neck Road and Gulf Road in Dartmouth.
Gooseberry Island: Known for its rugged shores, the island is the perfect place for pieces of glass to get roughed up. Located on West Shore Road, Westport, it is a great spot to explore for treasure.
Fort Taber Beach: The beach is known for having small pieces of sea glass on the sandy shoreline and rock jetties. Close to Buzzards Bay’s opening at 1000 South Rodney French Boulevard, New Bedford, the beach gets a variety of fun finds on its shore.
Apponagansett Park: A perfect spot to look for sea glass with children, this beach has calm shores with a mix of sandy and rocky areas to hunt. Located at 77 Gulf Road, Dartmouth.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: The best beaches in Greater New Bedford to find sea glass
