About
Exploring the small downtown of Trinidad, CA makes for a relaxing day with ocean breezes flowing through from the natural coast and harbor nearby. As you make your way around, be sure to take a step off of Main Street and seek out the tiny shop called Sea Around Us. Looking much like a sea captain’s shack of old but with a charming allure that beckons you in, this is one of those locales that can surprise you.
As you enter the front door, you immediately catch a beachy, Native American vibe as you glance around, attempting to take in what the store actually sells. I hesitated at the door the first time I discovered this place, then felt drawn in. As a beach lover, I’ve always had a thing for shells, so thought I might like to buy a necklace or something to remind me of my time here in Trinidad.
Inside, shelves display various sizes of shells kept in glass jars, small bags, and boxes, accompanied by photos and artwork of Native Americans placed throughout. Handcrafted jewelry sits out in displays, including shell necklaces and earrings. But there’s more than shells. Beads, leather, and buttons are also on display, meant to be used to create something unique and wonderful.
About
Sea Around Us is more than just a gift shop. It is a family-owned business, starting back in 1967, and is as much a craft supply shop as it is a place to purchase finished products. Spanning three generations and changing locations three times, the descendants of its founder continue to keep it going, adding their own unique touches along the way.
Charles Snell, the original founder’s son, is the one who started the initial expansion. When in his early teens, Charles dove for abalone nearby and became hooked on gathering sea-related items, then selling them. As the shop moved to its second location, he set up a workshop. Feeling connected to the Native American culture and history of the area, he soon also began providing materials, including shells and buttons, for the creating of the traditional Native American regalia and crafts.
In 2010, Charles’ daughter, Loré Snell, took over, naming her shop the Windan Sea and opening up a second one called The Trinidad Trading Company. Because of this, it can get a little confusing as to how to find the current Sea Around Us. It is there, however, in a tiny building behind The Trinidad Trading Company.
The family stays involved, filling the material needs of those making the traditional regalia. They also gather materials for local artists and make their own jewelry to sell to visitors who stop in to look around.
Sea Around Us is open 7 days a week during the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Location
Sea Around Us sits inside a tiny, historic, 100-year-old building in the small community's downtown area. Its address is 460 Main St. in Trinidad.
You can get here by taking Highway 101 to the Trinidad exit. From there, continue straight into downtown Trinidad on Main Street. Look for the shop on the right-hand side of the road.
Local & Specialty Goods
The shop is filled with collections of decorative sea shells from the California coast, along with minerals, artifacts, and hand-crafted jewelry. You may also find crafts by local artists for sale here.
A few things you can expect to find include
- Collectible shells
- Ornamental shells
- Craft shells
- Vintage shell buttons
- Beads
- Leathers
- Red Abalone shells (from the area)
- Green Abalone (from Southern California)
Many of these are used in creating Native American regalia and also various other craft projects. One specialty of Sea Around Us are dentalium. Dentalium are in a class all their own and are the distant relatives of the scaphopods, including the octopus and squid. Native Americans have used these in their regalia long before contact with outside populations.
For a unique outing while in Trinidad, don’t miss out on a trip to Sea Around Us. You may even meet one of the owners and learn more about this remarkable place while there.
