Description:

Metal detecting is a gentle way to get some exercise and a potentially lucrative hobby. Which locations near you are likely to have buried treasures?

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Going for a walk with a metal detector can make you feel like a modern-day treasure hunter. You might dig up antique jewelry or old coins during your search! However, depending on where you’re detecting, you may also find a great deal of bottle caps and rusty screws.

When choosing locations for metal detecting, opt for places that are more likely to be lucrative—use this list to inspire you.

Fairgrounds

Plots of land used for county fairs, carnivals, and traveling Renaissance festivals see a great deal of trade. And where there’s trade, there’s bound to be loose change dropped or small baubles misplaced. Get ready to dig up plenty of coins when you bring your metal detector to your local fairground!

Playgrounds

Local playgrounds, whether attached to a school or a public park, also see plenty of foot traffic. Families with kids are bound to drop small articles during their visit.

Get permission from whoever is in charge of the playground before you visit with your metal detector, and try to go on a day when it isn’t crowded.

Historic Churches

Churches see large gatherings of people at least once a week. If there is a church near you that’s been in use for centuries, you may find valuable antiques buried in the yard.

As with any privately owned land, get permission before metal detecting on church grounds. Ensure that you also get the green light to keep whatever treasures you dig up.

Beaches

Metal detecting on the beach is a common pastime, and for good reason—beachgoers drop rings, coins, and other small metal articles in the sand all the time. Your local beach could be a jackpot for metal detecting.

Bring your detector to the beach either early in the morning, before it gets too crowded, or late in the afternoon when most beachgoers start heading home. You’ll have more space to detect without getting in anyone else’s way.

Sports Fields

Do you live near a sports arena or high school football field? Take your metal detector for a walk under the bleachers. Coins, keyrings, and other small articles frequently fall out of spectators’ pockets.

If you want to take up metal detecting as a hobby, research some of the most lucrative locations near you and plan your treasure hunt accordingly. If you want to detect on private property, secure permission from the owner before you detect or dig up anything. Happy hunting!