We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Beachcombing and shelling are popular activities for those heading to the seashore throughout the year. However, the seemingly innocuous ...

Note to readers: Multiple generations of a family of shell collectors gathered earlier this summer in Southwest Florida, combing the beaches on Captiva and Sanibel looking to add to their collections.

Most of us have picked up a shell or two that caught our eye while strolling the beach, and many of us might even have a small collection of favorites that decorate our shelves and counters at home.

They’re usually up with the sun, long before the crowds flock to the Wilmington area beaches for a day of sunning and wading in the ocean. Those early risers — the shell seekers — will tell you when ...