On the hunt: Some of the best places to find sea glass and beach stones in Rhode Island

Walk the Rhode Island shoreline and you’re bound to find something that catches your eye trapped in the sand or tangled in the wrack line.

I’m always on the lookout for interesting rocks, ones that are crisscrossed with stripes or worn into smooth nuggets. My wife is a lover of sea glass, especially the elusive purple and blue pieces, while my kids always search for shells, those that are both empty and not. (We leave the occupied ones behind.)

Everybody has their favorite places to beachcomb along the Ocean State’s 400-plus miles of coast. Here are a few that are popular:

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, Middletown

This is my favorite place to look at rocks. The main trails take you past several cobblestone beaches that are fun to explore. And if you’re feeling adventurous, you can stay along the shore and clamber over boulders to find great spots with sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Barrington Town Beach, Barrington

This is our go-to beach for sea glass. It seems like the best places to find sea glass are the beaches in upper Narragansett Bay close to more urban areas and those that sit along shipping lanes. Barrington Town Beach ticks both those boxes. The beach is also pretty long, so there are lots of places to look for bits of glass or ceramics as you walk towards Nayatt Point. Remember that you will have to buy a pass in the summer.

Sandy Point Beach, Portsmouth

This beach on the Sakonnet River is another great place for rocks. While there’s a sandy beach just north of the parking lot that’s ideal for swimming, the shoreline in front of the lot and to the south is very rocky. You don’t have to walk far to make some good finds. This is also a safe beach for young children. You’ll have to pay for parking here, too.

Fort Wetherill State Park, Jamestown

On the southeastern shore of Jamestown, there’s a small beach nestled among the rocky outcrops that’s known to be good for sea glass. Even if you don’t find anything, a visit to the park is still worth it for the scenery and views. Combine it with a trip to Beavertail State Park to look for interesting rocks around the shore.

Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth

People have been telling me for years that the best place to find fossils in Rhode Island is along the beach at the end of Cory’s Lane that looks out over Narragansett Bay. I’ve never had any luck combing through the shale there, but I’ve seen photos of wonderful fossils of ferns and other plants that people have found.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Sea glass, shells, fossils: These are the best RI beaches to search