Isabelles Tips

Though you’re free to do what you please at this point, it’s wise to visit Isabelle at the town hall for a few basic tutorials. We’re happy to guide you through this part, so let’s get to it!

Meet Your Neighbors

First, Isabelle suggests that you introduce yourself to each of your neighbors in town. You may have already done so by this point, but in case you haven’t, make a quick run around town and say hi to everyone.

Mail a Letter

After you’ve introduced yourself to every neighbor, Isabelle recommends that you try writing a letter. She even gives you some stationary to use!

Go ahead and try writing a letter. It’s easy! Just open your pockets with %, select the stationary that Isabelle gave you, and then choose “Write a Letter” from the command list. Choose the name of the recipient and then type out your message. Don’t worry, you can always make changes or start over again.

When you’re happy with your letter, head up to Main Street and enter the post office, which is right next to Nook’s Homes. Speak with Pelly at the counter, and she’ll mail your letter for you, free of charge.

Shell Seeker

Now that you’ve mastered the art of sending mail, Isabelle’s next tip involves visiting the beach to collect seashells. Isabelle just loves seashells and hopes that you’ll bring one back for her.

Look at your map and notice two slopes leading down to the beach. Use either one to reach the sandy shore, then press ^ to pick up every shell you see.

Stuff your pockets full of seashells, then return to town hall and hand one to Isabelle. Thrilled that you remembered to bring her a seashell, Isabelle gives you some fruit in return. The fruit that Isabelle hands you is different than the type that grows locally in town, making it very valuable!

Fun with Tools

After handing you her favorite fruit, Isabelle hints that you should purchase a shovel from Timmy and Tommy’s shop on Main Street. Hurry over there without delay!

Timmy and Tommy run a ramshackle shop called Nookling Junction. Head inside and see what’s for sale.

If you’re lucky, the shop will have a shovel in stock. It’s a steal at just 500 Bells, so don’t think twice—buy it!

Now that you’ve got a shovel, return to Isabelle to learn how to use it. She instructs you to dig a hole, open your pockets, and then choose to bury the fruit that she gave you. This is how you grow your very own fruit trees!

Head outside and pick a good spot to plant Isabelle’s fruit. Make sure to give your tree a little room to grow. Don’t plant it in the shadows of other trees or buildings, and make sure it isn’t too close to a river or cliff.

Dig It

Return to Isabelle after planting your fruit trees, and she’ll offer you more advice on the use of shovels. She tells you to dig at star-shaped cracks in the ground—if you’re lucky, you’ll dig up a long-lost fossil!

Hurry back outside and look for those special star-shaped cracks on the ground. Dig at these spots until you discover a fossil. Awesome!

Now that you’ve found a fossil, head up to Main Street and visit the museum, located on the right end of the street. Head inside to speak with the museum’s curator, a wise old owl named Blathers.

Blathers will gladly assess your fossil, free of charge. He’ll then ask if you’d care to donate it to the museum’s fossil exhibit. Feel free to donate the fossil if you wish, or bring it back to Re-Tail and sell it for Bells if you so desire. Either option is totally fine!

Catching Critters

After selling or donating your fossil, return to Isabelle for your next piece of advice. She informs you that the locals here make a lot of Bells by fishing and catching bugs around town and then selling them to shops. Tell Isabelle you’d like to either fish or catch bugs (it doesn’t matter which), and she’ll ask you to catch three specimens for her.

Visit Timmy and Tommy’s shop to purchase either a fishing rod or a net (if they have one in stock), then set off to catch your specimens. If you’re after fish, you’ll find them swimming in rivers, ponds, and the sea. Bugs can be found all over the place, fluttering through the air or hopping along the ground.

Catch three specimens for Isabelle, then return to town hall. Show Isabelle your encyclopedia as proof of your deeds, and she’ll offer you a little more advice on fishing or bug catching.

That’s It for Tips

Nice work, you’ve finished all of Isabelle’s tutorials! The friendly secretary hands you a watering can as a reward for all you’ve learned today. Now you can water the flowers in town to keep them looking lovely!