"I am confident that after reading this book, you will have the knowledge to find arrowheads. The only reason that you would not find them is not enough time invested. With enough time and good places to hunt, anybody can find arrowheads. I will show you how to find the good places. I will teach you the basics in easy to understand steps. Find your first arrowhead and you will know why so many are addicted to this hobby."

Yes, You Can Find Arrowheads!: Coleman, Bill: 9781505604269: Amazon.com: Books

Seashells on the Alabama Gulf Coast

There are a wide variety of shells that can be found on the shores of Alabama. Beachgoers enjoy strolling along the beautiful water on the white sand in search of shells. Even the most avid of shell hunters enjoy searching the pristine beaches for treasures to bring home. Here ares some of the Alabama Gulf Coast's most common seashells:


• Arks

Ark shells come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They are usually white or beige in color. Some of them have deep brown striped shells. They have a long, straight-hinged line that almost gives the appearance of teeth. Ark shells are commonly found in the area.

• Augers

Augers are also referred to as auger snails. The shells of these predatory sea snails are spiral in shape with ridges throughout. The shells actually have a slight resemblance to a rock drill bit. While alive, they live in the sand and prey on all kinds of marine worms.

• Bonnets

Bonnet shells are the remains of a medium sized sea snail. The bonnet shell got that name because it looks similar to the Scottish Tam O’Shanter, which is a traditional hat with a tartan pattern. It is usually white with colored patches on it.

• Nutmegs

Most nutmeg shells are less than an inch in size. They vary in size, shape and color. Most have a white background with darker colored markings on the shell.

• Conch

Conch shells are the shells of medium to large sea snails. They have a really high spiral and a siphonal canal. Conch shells are often used as decorative items because of the beautiful pink to red color on the inside of the shell. The shells can also be made into musical instruments and they are used this way in the islands of the Caribbean.

• Coquinas

Coquinas are the remnants of small clams that are edible. These beautiful shells usually wash onto the beach at low tide. They are only about 20cm in size. They can be very colorful and beautiful.

• Jewel Boxes

The jewel box shell is roughly an inch and a half wide. It has a thick, off white shell. The inside of the shell is glossy and has a pinkish hue to it. The ribs have frilly spines that protrude from them. The shell is surprisingly heavy for its size.

• Moon Shells

Moon shells are very common snail shells found on the Gulf Coast. They often have a white base color with tannish brown or gray swirls on it. Moon shells can be up to three inches in diameter.

• Murex

The giant Eastern murex is also common to this area. This is a predatory sea snail that is between medium and large in size. They are often collected on our beaches at 3 to 4" in length. These shells have really interesting shapes, ridges and spines, and have a whitish color with brown accents.

• Lettered Olive

The lettered olive shell is the remains of a large sea snail with a predatory nature. The shell is cylindrical and very smooth and glossy. The shells are usually tan or gray and have a brown zigzag pattern on them. They can be as large as 2 ½ inches

Pelican Place at Craft Farms

Pelican Place at Craft Farms is one of the newer shopping centers on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Located only four miles from the beach on Highway 59 (Gulf Shores Parkway), the shopping center has a diverse and wide array of specialty shops, big box chain store stores, dining establishments and a movie theater. This is a good place to spend a rainy afternoon during the summer or a cold day during the winter-- or if you like to shop, it's just a good place to spend some quality time. I can say this because I hate to shop and there's enough here to entertain me while my wife does her shopping. We're both happy.




The center has a modern design that makes parking convenient to the business that you plan to shop first. Each time that we have been to Pelican Place, there wasn't a lot of "parking lot walking" involved (that's one reason why many malls are suffering today).




Unless I'm hungry, my first stop is Books-A-Million. Most people who vacation here are familiar with this book store chain. For those who aren't, it has books, books, and more books. I'm not sure if has a million of them-- I sure wouldn't want to count them! Even though I buy a discount card every year that saves me 10% off anything in the store, I usually just buy a cup of coffee at their Joe Muggs Café and pick a few books to read while I'm enjoying the coffee (which is very good). The markup on coffee is probably more than it is on the average book or magazine so they probably don't care.




Another favorite stop at Pelican Place at Craft Farms is Sweetie Pies. Even though the bakery is new to this center, it has been in business for about twenty years. It was formerly in a street location on Highway 59 in Foley. No doubt it moved for more exposure, as more competition moved in closer to where most of the people are (the beach). They specialize in pies (whole or by the slice), but you can get just about any dessert that you can imagine here. You can take it out of dine in. The shop is very clean and attractive and the seating is comfortable.




Other places to get a quick snack or a full meal are Kitt's Kafe, Island Oasis, Stone Cold Creamery, Elli Bistro, Papa's Pizza, Mikato Japanese Steakhouse, Coffee Heads, Subway, and Longhorn Steak House. If you enjoy a cigar after a meal, there is even a cigar bar in the center called The Dunes.




One of the most popular spots in this center is the Cobb Pinnacle 14 Theaters. This Cobb location has stadium high-back rockers and an extensive food menu.




Also at Pelican Place at Craft Farms is a GameStop store where you can rent games to take back to the beach. If you want to take a computer back home with you or need an accessory for your Apple, there is a Mac N More Apple Specialist store.

You can also pick up computer games and supplies or buy a dvd at the big Target. Target is also a good place to pick up beach supplies and snacks for the beach or your lodging.




Another large store at this center is Bed, Bath, & Beyond. This store is a favorite of locals and those who own vacation property here.

A favorite specialty shop of University of Alabama fans is Bama Fever. The owner of this business is sure to love a season like the last one, where the Alabama football team won the National Championship.




If you enjoy surfing or skating you will probably want to visit Inner Light Surf and Skate. There, you can do just about everything related to those two sporting activities. If you had rather just lie on the beach or fish, shop for sunglasses at Sun Rays Sunglass Center.

Other shops in the center include Beach House Boutique, Maurices, Paisley Jane's, Hibbett Sports, Little Monkey Toes, and Hooch's Mama.