Ready to chase sparkle along Maine’s salt-etched edges?
These beaches mix wave-crafted color with just enough mystery to make every step feel like a tiny treasure hunt.
I have walked these shores with pockets that jingle and a grin I could not hide.
Grab a small bag, mind the tides, and let the hunt begin.
Seawall Beach — Pemaquid Point
Thunder in the rocks sets the tone here, as the surf slaps stone like a drumline. Seawall Beach is rugged, loud, and oddly generous after a blowy night.
I felt the wind shove my hood while the sea tucked green frost between ankle-biting boulders.
Scan between stones near the seawall, where small pockets gather like confetti after the party. Kneel often, because the good pieces hide shallow.
You will spot pale aqua first, then milky white, and occasionally a rare cobalt wink that stops your breath.
Timing matters more than luck. After storms, the cobbles shift and spill secrets right along the splash zone.
I carry a tiny jar and a soft brush, taking only a couple memorable finds and leaving plenty for the next wanderer.
Old Orchard Beach — Old Orchard Beach
Sunrise paints the sand gold while gulls heckle your focus in the best way. Old Orchard Beach is mainstream fun with a side quest for glass, especially right after high tide.
I like to start near the pier, where human history and wave action mingle.
Hit it early, before footprints stitch the wet sand. Look where pebbles pepper the surface, then trace the wrack line for frosted whites and seafoam greens.
Persistence pays, and the boardwalk coffee helps you clock the laps.
On a lucky morning, a gentle swell sorts tiny gems into scalloped ripples. You might find a softened bottle lip or the corner of a vintage soda shard.
Pocket a couple, admire the rest, and let the tide keep training you.
East End Beach — Portland
City energy meets salty calm on this pocket of Portland. East End Beach pulls in finds with its pebbly mix and steady tidal tug.
I have strolled here between coffee runs, letting the rhythm of Casco Bay reset the busy brain.
Scan the pebble fans where textures change. Sea glass tucks itself beside granite freckles, and the contrast helps your eyes lock in.
Watch for rounded edges and frosting that reads like sea-sanded velvet.
Low tide shows a wider canvas, but the turnover after a breezy afternoon can be surprisingly good. Expect consistent whites and greens with the occasional brown.
A cobalt speck will make your day, and a rare stopper might make your month.
Willard Beach — South Portland
A crescent smile of sand hides sly treasures near the rocks. Willard Beach is chill, sheltered, and sneakily productive when the tides run high.
I once paused for a lighthouse photo and left with three frosted greens and a story.
Start at the rocky edges where wave energy meets cover. Pieces wedge in cracks, then tumble free during spring and fall tides.
Move slow, and look for matte shimmer rather than shine.
Wind from the east often improves the sweep. Expect common colors first, then keep scanning for a seafoam or teal that thrills.
When the tide turns, reset your route and make a second pass because fresh finds appear out of nowhere.
Fort Williams Park Shoreline — Cape Elizabeth
Lighthouse views steal the show until your eyes drop to the rocks. The Fort Williams shoreline is not soft sand, but the coves sift glass like pros.
I like to prowl the wet edges where waves reload the table every few minutes.
Check nooks between boulders for well-frosted pieces. Strong currents here round edges quickly and surprise you with thickness.
Browns and greens are common, yet every so often a cobalt sliver winks near a tide pool.
Good shoes are mandatory on the slick stone. Work methodically, then reposition after a splashy set rolls through.
You leave with salty cuffs and a pocket whispering like a tiny wind chime.
Sand Beach — Acadia National Park
Granite headlands frame a stage where collecting is restricted, so think spotting, not taking. Sand Beach teaches patience and respect while the surf polishes souvenirs you should leave behind.
I keep my hands in my pockets and enjoy the visual hunt.
Stroll the stone-fringed sections and let your eyes find frosty textures. The rounded rocks cradle pastel glass like tiny beacons.
It is a reminder that the ocean does the art, and we do the admiring.
If you want keepsakes, explore outside park boundaries later. Here, photograph your finds, learn the shapes, and train your search pattern.
The best reward is awareness sharpened by tide and time.
Little Hunters Beach — Mount Desert Island
Cobbles click like castanets when the surf breathes in. Little Hunters Beach sounds musical, and the rhythm reveals color.
I crouched here once and felt my knees approve the soundtrack while my hands sifted smooth stone.
Look for tiny frosted chips tucked between larger cobbles. The wave energy rounds pieces quickly, so edges feel kind.
You will mostly see greens and whites with a rare warm amber or bold blue star.
The walk down adds to the secret-cove vibe. Time your visit for a gentler tide so you can linger safely.
When the swell rises, step back and scan from higher ground, letting the ocean shuffle the deck again.
Birch Point Beach — Wiscasset
Silence does the guiding at Birch Point. The beach is quieter, the search unhurried, and the finds feel personal.
I once followed a gull’s footprints and discovered a soft green shard at the exact turn.
Work the high-tide line where shells gather. Sea glass tends to drift into those subtle arcs that the morning rewrites.
Kneel, sift gently, and let the sand reveal what it kept from the last blow.
After storms, the payoff improves. Expect modest quantities, not heaps, and celebrate the serenity that comes with each small success.
Leave with a lighter mind and a couple frosty souvenirs in a pocket you nearly forgot.
Reid State Park Beaches — Georgetown
Options are the magic here, because Reid State Park gives you multiple beaches to work. Strong tides rearrange the stage after weather swings.
I have looped from one cove to another and watched the conditions flip within an hour.
Target rocky sections and transition zones where sand meets stone. Glass fragments collect in scalloped troughs and pebble deltas.
After a windy day, the wrack line can glitter with possibility if you crouch low.
Take breaks to enjoy the wild setting, then reset your eyes and sweep again. You will find reliable whites, greens, and amber bits that feel satisfyingly worn.
Keep pockets small and gratitude big, and this place keeps on giving.
Popham Beach — Phippsburg
Sandbars shift like plot twists, so Popham never tells the same story twice. Dramatic tides move the goods and hide them again.
I once chased a glint across a bar only to watch the sea take it back with a grin.
Expect sporadic finds, which makes each discovery sweeter. Search near rocky outcrops and along fresh-cut channels.
When the tide drops, new lines appear, offering a short window of possibility.
Keep your route flexible. Check the edges, loop back, and watch how ripple patterns hold tiny treasures for minutes, not hours.
Victory here is patience and the occasional perfect pebble companion.
Ferry Beach — Scarborough
Pebble pockets act like tiny vaults at Ferry Beach. The mix of sand and stone creates tidy catch basins that reward slow scanning.
I like to zigzag the tidal wash zones with a relaxed, almost meditative pace.
Look for clusters of shell grit and dark pebbles that trap glass. The pieces are usually small but sweetly frosted.
Greens and browns dominate, while an occasional aqua steals the headline.
Edges perform best after a good churn. Bring a small pouch and a patient eye, and you will leave with a satisfying handful.
The beach is friendly, the walk easy, and the finds honest.
Long Sands Beach — York
Space to roam is the promise at Long Sands. After nor’easters, the shoreline churns and spits up surprises like a reset button.
I once strolled a mile and back, picking two gems within ten minutes of the storm’s sigh.
Scan the wide wet edge first, then trace the wrack line for concentrated color. The beach delivers in bursts, so do not be fooled by quiet stretches.
Keep the pace steady and your gaze soft to catch frosting instead of glare.
Expect classic whites and greens with the occasional brown arc from old bottles. When the wind lifts, sand skitters and reveals new specks.
Call it a victory lap when your pocket clicks once on the way to the car.