There are several public beaches on Sanibel Island and you can find shells at all Sanibel Island beaches. Being limited to boat traffic means the shelling is MUCH less picked over than nearby Sanibel and Captiva islands. Best pools on Sanibel? We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. Please note that alcoholic beverages are prohibited November through May. You might also want to revisit the Waterside Inn, those fruity colored rental cottages right on the beach in Sanibel. Consider booking one of our Sanibel Island beachfront rentals! Report inappropriate content. When it comes to seashells, remember that an open bivalve shell (such as a clam, cockle or scallop) does not mean there is no life. 11 Gorgeous Sanibel And Captiva Island Beaches To Visit There are nature trails to enjoy if youd like a change of scenery. You will drive through Sanibel Island to get to Captiva Island. Just awesome. When the cruises leave from the resort marina, youll need to pay $5 cash at the guard shack for parking (when they leave from their other location, they collect your parking fee online when you checkout). This is a Florida shell identification guide for the Florida Gulf Coast that was posted near Honeymoon Island shelling beaches. There is the Cayo Costa State Park campground, so you can go tent camping. You wont find many hotels near it, either. And I was very happy with the amount and kind of shells I found. What to wear shelling in Florida: Wear water shoes when youre shelling in Florida! Theres tons of parking (including several handicapped spaces) that makes it easy to get onto the shore. This is because of the difference in tourism. This prevents any smells or dirt from sticking to the seashells. Sanibel island has an annual Shell Fair and Show that is held every March. The island is actually made of shells. If you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). Find your Sanibel Home and Learn About Life on Our Island. If it is open and then closes after you touch it, it is definitely alive. If it is brown with spikes, it is most likely alive. Her top-selling Sarasota, Sanibel Island, Photo Credit: Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. Finding fossils can also be done during the off-season, which is during the colder months because the beaches will be less crowded and there will be fewer UV rays. When sighting a lot of Sand Dollars and 9-Legged Sea Stars in the waters, that means that it is the spawning season. I picked up almost a dozen sand dollars (and I was kind of at the back of the pack of people on our boat who headed the direction where the sand dollars are most often found) and found quite a few lightning whelks, olives, and even some urchins. MICHIGAN If you are new to shell collecting, you may not know the protocol for taking your new seashells home. Fruit Flavored Fun at Waterside Inn Beach Cottages in Sanibel, FL, Serene Sanibel Cottage Style Home in Blue & Yellow with some Pink and Florals in the Mix, Beaches in the US where you Can Walk for Miles and Miles, Heavenly Beach Cottage in Pastel by Tracey Rapisardi. We have a variety of Sanibel Island condo rentals to choose from. I think its safe to say, Sanibel Island, FL, has the worlds best shelling beaches. It doesnt take much to go shelling in Florida, but you may want to pack extra things for your Florida shelling trip like a shell scooper! Visitors should be very careful with where they step throughout the spawning season. 4 min read. Both Turner beach and Blind Pass beach are popular for fishing, shelling, and jet skiing. You can look for shells along any Marco Island beach. This beach has a good-sized parking lot, but you will have to walk a bit to get to the beach. Photo by Anne McKinnell. What fun to go shelling along the surf and beaches of Sanibel Island, unique in that it lies east and west, different than most islands which lie north and south, this direction allows Sanibel Island to catch abundant sea shells that the Gulf of Mexico brings to its shores. You may also be interested in shelling at Caladesi Island State Park. You may also be interested in stopping by the National Shell Museum on Sanibel Island. For instance, what are the rules or laws in the area for taking shells? Sanibel is so great for shelling, it stands to reason the beach just to the north Captiva -- is also really good. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. And there are many stunning options. If you have never been, I strongly suggest you find your way there real soon!! Some beaches you might not have to look as hard! Copyright 2023 Sandalfoot Condominium Association, Inc. all rights reserved -. In addition to being a haven for shell collectors, Sanibel Island is also known for being a stunning location for sunbathing. For that reason, we recommend checking out Sanibels Blind Pass Beach. Keep in mind that both beaches have limited parking, and you cannot use your Sanibel beach parking receipt on Captiva beaches. Blind Pass Beach. Since Sanibel is made out of shells, created by nature over thousands of years, when locals dig in the backyard they often find perfectly intact conchs, whelks, scallops and clam shells. If the aperture of the shell discovered has a hardcover, then there is a creature inside. Along the shoreline, you can find tons of small shells, and the more you look, the greater your chances are for finding different types of shells! Related: 10 Of The Best Florida Beaches For Families. The view from the causeway is amazing in its own right, but the Causeway Beaches are always teeming with happy beachgoers, parasailers, kiteboarders and boaters. Theres a reason why the beaches of Sanibel Island are considered some of the best shelling locations in the world! Shelling and Beaches | Sanibel Island Tourist information provided by the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber. You can go to any of the beaches on Sanibel Island and you will find shells. Everybody comes to Sanibel for the shelling, right? Sanibel and Captiva Islands are barrier islands with an east-west orientation. So, here are some tips for visitors on Sanibel shelling in this slice of heaven that will show them where, when, and how to find the finest shells and build a stunning collection. Sanibel City Pier beach. There are NO facilities at this part of Cayo Costa so you need to bring everything you want with you (but there is a restroom on the boat). You can also check out the Lighthouse Beach Park Virtual Tour from Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), which is updated weekly with a new photo showing the beach and its surrounding waters. This is a Florida shell identification guide for Paradise Coast that was posted near Marco Island shelling beaches. The museum opened in 1995 with dozens of seashell exhibits and expanded in 2021 with aquariums and touch tanks filled with live mollusks, which include octopi and cuttlefish in addition to seashells. We boarded right on time and were off pretty quickly. Its also good doggie etiquette! This leaves the best shelling beach on Sanibel Island free of crowds. Its not unusual at some Florida beaches to see people bending over in shallow water in search of shells! The further you walk from the public parking areas, the better chance youll have of finding unique shells this goes for any beach access point.. The islands unique formation and east-west stretch is ideal for finding special shell treasures. But Tigertail Beach is known as the best shelling beach on Marco Island. Blind Pass, Bowmans Beach, and Lighthouse Beach, Sanibel Island. Located at the western end of Sanibel, Bowman's Beach is one of the premier beaches to find good We had come prepared with sweatshirts and beach blankets and it was still pretty brisk so pack accordingly. And its part of section 10-62 of the Sanibel code, which states that dogs must be leashed on beaches, public property or on any public right-of-way. Its low amount of tourists and rare variety of seashells makes it a paradise for all shellers. Your experience may vary! BIG ISLAND Every beach has different characteristics, with shells of different kinds and qualities. This is because of the difference in visitor numbers. You wont be disappointed with any of them. Beachfront. Also on Sanibel Island, sea turtles come to deposit their eggs. Expect to take a small hike from the parking lot to the beach. Shell The extremities of an island are often the best for both fishing and shelling. Sanibel Island I also met someone who found a baby starfish around here. Some people create shell art right on the beach. But if we had to choose, we think Lighthouse Beach, Blind Pass Beach, and Tarpon Bay Road Beach are some of the best for shelling on Sanibel, heres why, Located on the east end of the island, Lighthouse beach lands a number of unique shells that get washed into the bay from the Gulf. So, if you want to go swimming at a Sanibel or Captiva Island beach, it is best to swim with caution or choose a safer beach such as Alison Hagerup Beach on Captiva Island or Bowmans Beach (also known for as a top shelling beach) or Tarpon Bay Beach on Sanibel. Bowmans Beach is another good option that tends to be less crowded. Its one the largest beaches and one of our favorites! Remember,maintainingand cleaning your seashellsis all part of being asavvy shell hunter. Find your dream rental today and book! My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. Shelling in Sanibel Island is a one-of-a-kind experience that you and your family are sure to love. The boat ride to shelling hotspots will take about 15-20 minutes. Caladesi Island is also considered to have some of the best shelling in Florida. The boat ride to shelling hotspots will take about 15-20 minutes. Collect your seashells, then take a fun trip to the Bailey Matthews National Shell Museum. Thanks for stopping by! The points of an island are often the best for both fishing and shelling. All of our Sanibel beaches are great for shelling. Every beach has different characteristics, with shells of different kinds and qualities. The types of shells on the beaches can vary according to the time of year. You will be just a few minutes walk away from a shelling beach! Theres a small bridge that you can drive across or walk across or bike across! Sanibel Island Strong winds may lift a variety of marine treasures that are ideal for adding to shell collections. Our captain and first mate gave us a great tour of the surrounding area and let us know what to expect once we got to the island. Lighthouse beach, along with Blind Pass (between Sanibel and Captiva) are the two top destinations for shelling. Sanibel Island, Southwest Gulf Coast Sundial Beach Resort & Spa 3,818 Reviews View Hotel Sanibel Island, Southwest Gulf Coast West Wind Island Resort 3,145 Reviews View Hotel Sanibel Island, Southwest Gulf Coast Casa Ybel Resort 850 Reviews View Hotel Sanibel Island, Southwest Gulf Coast Waterside Inn on the Beach 760 Reviews You can make it a day trip for shelling at Cayo Costa State Park, or if youve got some time to spare, you can make it a night (or more!) And here are some Sanibel shelling facts and tips you want to know: Now let the Happy Shelling begin! For outdooradventures, consider the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a way station for migratory birds and a home for manatees and dolphins. See for yourself whySanibel is one of the best shelling attractions on the planet. But this year I will!! Justvisitour website,and take a virtual webcam tour right now. PICTURED ROCKS MI Privacy & Legal Notice. Shelling There are a few other shell beaches that make the top list, such as the one on St. Bart (Caribbean) and at Shark Bay (Australia), but none come close to Sanibels variety of shells. NORTH DAKOTA The waters of Sanibel Island beaches have a gradual slope, which allows shells to be washed up on the shoreline extremely easily. You can look for shells along any Honeymoon Island beach. Top 3 Best Beaches for Shelling on Sanibel Island Many of our beach vacation homes and condos have easy access to Sanibels white sand beaches, too. You should clean the shells right away in freshwater, with a little bleach if possible. Decide if youd like a public tour, with four to six guests, or a private tour with six guests maximum per boat. . ), This can also be a reason to bring snorkeling gear when you go shelling! But there is so much else to do on Sanibel Island fine accommodations, fresh seafood, fishing, boating, and just plain relaxation, a chance to get away from the hurly burly, a chance to draw closer to nature. Its not unusual at the best shelling beaches in Florida to see people walking into the water with their shelling stick! Does a beach vacation in paradise sound like its something you need in your life? It stretches far into the water, which is great for fishing or taking photos even surfing when wind conditions are right. Plus, theyve got nature trails and kayak launches! For instance, what are the rules or laws in the area for taking shells? All the popular beaches are located on the western side of the islands, facing the Gulf of Mexico and are easily accessed. I found a lot of sand dollars right on the beach, but our captain mentioned they were mostly found around a little point in shallow water. Water will be a brownish color, change water frequently until fairly clear or just continually flush with water until water stays fairly clear. Wake up and walk out onto a gorgeous white sand beach and look out at the glorious Gulf of Mexico as the sun shines on its emerald-turquoise waves. You can make it an overnight Florida shelling trip at Cayo Costa State Park! If you are new to shell collecting, you may not know the protocol for taking your new seashells home. Remember. A leashed dog prevents the chances of Fido accidentally digging up a sea turtles nest, disturbing a colony of shorebirds and disturbing sensitive beach vegetation. Chamber speaker shares real estate predictions, properties status Sanibel Island has a wide variety of beaches, some of which are less crowded than others. WebEdison and Ford Estates Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum BEACHES Lovers Key is a destination for beachside weddings and a home for manatees, roseate spoonbills, and bald eagles. Keylime Bistro is shooting for September and the Captiva Island Inn, sometime in 2024. All have handicap parking. The saying "earlier is better" is certainly true when it comes to shelling. Related: Shell Island Is A Hidden Secret In Panama, Florida. Thats why we chose the very middle of the island for our third location. The fishing and shelling combination makes the perfect formula for beach lovers. SNORKELING SHIRTS Walking this Sanibel beach is a treat. This leaves the best shelling beach on Sanibel island free of crowds. So it is no surprise that shelling on Sanibel and Captiva islands is on most shellers bucket lists. Its free. When people think about visiting the Sunshine State and taking a beach vacation with their loved ones, Sanibel beaches are often the first to come to mind. our few days turned into a month, and we had so much fun picking up shells and just enjoying the beautiful beach! That said, I found lots of shells at Oasis Beach without walking very far from the parking lot! var addy3aa4edd50788e863c9742e65823c8950 = 'info' + '@'; Map of where the best shelling in Florida is located. Loggerhead sea turtles have often been known to visit this beach. Photo by Anne McKinnell. Restrooms are located at all public beach accesses. Sanibel Island has breathtaking white sand beaches, clear blue water and an abundance of colorful shells that have been dubbed "Treasures From the Sea.".
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