Sand Dollar island

If you decide to vacation on the Crystal Coast in North Carolina be sure to put Sand Dollar Island in Beaufort on your list of places to visit.

The waterways in Beaufort are probably the most scenic in Carteret County, and Sand Dollar Island is a must see. Influenced greatly by the tides Sand Dollar is fully submerged at a high tide. With the Beaufort Inlet being right next to the island a large amount of water moves in and out of the inlet each day. The shifting tide moves sand and sea creatures with it too. It is believed that the abundance of Sand Dollars at this island is due to the proximity of the inlet and the amount of shifting sand that occurs. Each day the island changes shape and over time with the storms and weather, it can move location entirely.

When you step onto the ephemeral sands of Sand Dollar you can literally dig your hands into the sand and pick up sand dollars each time. It's absolutely incredible.

If the sand dollar you find isn't a bleached white, it is still alive, so please place it back where you find it. The brown or purple color of the creature is caused by their hairs, spines, and pincers on their body surface. Interestingly, sand dollars hold their ground in swift currents by swallowing sand to weigh themselves down. They are related to sea stars and sea urchins in the family of echinoderms, which literally translates to "spiny skin".

Sand Dollar Island is very familiar to me because it is an area where we love to kite surf in the summer time. On a weekend there with be boats anchored all along the shores. The water is crystal clear and a beautiful emerald green. The predominant south-westerly wind in the summer time will create a nice buttery flat slick on the backside of the island. This is the ideal water surface and bottom surface combination for trying new tricks; the slick flat water to allow consistent jumping and edge control and a soft sandy bottom if you fall.