| Contact Us. My fianc and I went last June, and planned on staying a few days. 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. For the experience to be memorable, collectors should enjoy their time looking for shells, preferably by taking a seat next to a pile of them. The best way to discover the greatest shells is by getting in the water and getting positioned where the waves break. All have handicap parking. If you are new to shell collecting, you may not know the protocol for taking your new seashells home. You can make it an overnight Florida shelling trip at Cayo Costa State Park! This prevents any smells or dirt from sticking to the seashells. Apr 29, 2023, 5:01 PM. You might also want to revisit the Waterside Inn, those fruity colored rental cottages right on the beach in Sanibel. This beach is toward the middle of the island along Algiers Lane off Casa Ybel Road. What to Pack When You Travel to Southwest Florida, Creative Ways to Find Laptop Sunshade and Work from the Beach. Although these beaches are the best for shelling, they are not the ideal beaches for swimming. Maria promotes initiatives that make the world a better place to live and enjoy! What you should do depends on what you are using the shells for. Where did you find your shells on Sanibel? You might even be lucky enough to find a coquina shell; look out for stripes, solids, and even plaids! If youre already well-versed in Sanibel beach parks, a little refresher wont hurt. It stretches far into the water, which is great for fishing or taking photos even surfing when wind conditions are right. Blind Pass Beach is popular with shellers as well as fishermen and fisherwomen. My husband and I own a few timeshares on Sanibel Island and wouldnt trade it for the world! on the island of Cayo Costa! Camping near a shelling beach in Florida: 7 Best Beaches on Sanibel And Captiva Islands - Florida Trippers If you see one of their nests, please make sure not to disturb it. The Sanibel City Pier, also commonly called the Sanibel fishing pier, Shelling on Sanibel Bowmans Beach is another good option that tends to be less crowded. The Best Shelling Beach on Sanibel and Captiva Beaches: 2021 They're hunting for treasure. Some of the best shelling beaches in the United States are in Florida! Here are ten tips for those interested in trying it out for themselves! PEARL HARBOR HI (Limited parking means limited people on the beach!). If youre planning a visit to our Sanibel Island rentals, you simply cant leave without hunting for some seashells. Sanibel Island is world renowned for its shells. 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. Every beach has different conditions each day, so it pays off Bring a bucket or net bag and a scoop. Photo by Anne McKinnell. Public restrooms are available and parking is free, too. All that is required to shell are one's hands and bags to put the shells in. For that reason, we recommend checking out Sanibels Blind Pass Beach. The bestshelling beach on Sanibeland Captiva islands! But if they are for display, it is necessary to clean them right away. Contact us today to learn more. Best shelling net? - Sanibel Island Forum Good progress at Loggerhead Mar 30, 2023. Thus, most people choose a beach along the way and never reach Turner Beach. Shelling is an exciting hobby, and theres alwayssomething to learn about it. Best beaches for shelling in Southwest Florida Eventually the beach becomes smooth and wide. document.getElementById('cloak3aa4edd50788e863c9742e65823c8950').innerHTML = ''; You can make it a multi-day Florida shelling trip by staying in a rustic camping cabin at Cayo Costa State Park! This stays true for Turner beach which is on the northern tip of the island. Please return to water. Local laws prohibit the collection of live shells. There are nature trails to enjoy if youd like a change of scenery. If you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). Luckily, weve got all the tips and tricks youll need for finding unique shells on the shores of Sanibel Island. Keylime Bistro is shooting for September and the Captiva Island Inn, sometime in 2024. The fishing and shelling combination makes the perfect date for beach lovers. You might also consider going shelling after a storm when the tides have been a bit rough and are more likely to bring shells up to the shore. 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. The suggested time you give yourself is 2.5 hours. If it is brown with spikes, it is most likely alive. P.S. And then the other main beach of Marco Island is South Beach. Any questions? Sanibel Island Return them to the water. moves back home Apr 05, 2023. It can be difficult or impossible to get to some of the finest shelling beaches if there is no nearby lodge. We have a variety of Sanibel Island condo rentals to choose from. Privacy & Legal Notice. If the aperture of the shell discovered has a hardcover, then there is a creature inside. Walking this Sanibel beach is a treat. For family fun, the most popular activity on Sanibel Island is shelling you barely can walk a step on the beach without indulging in the so-called "Sanibel Stoop" to search for shells. If you find one you get to be in the local newspaper. The fishing and shelling combination makes the perfect formula for beach lovers. So theres more to Sanibel island than just shells! This is also the only Sanibel beach with barbeque grills, so keep this in mind if youre planning to grill out. For more shelling tips and facts keep scrolling! EVERGLADES FL Which has a rating of 4.6 stars with almost 600 evaluations on Google Reviews. You will be just a few minutes walk away from a shelling beach! Yes, Sanibel Island does have public beaches! Sanibel and Captiva Islands are barrier islands with an east-west orientation. Gulfside City Beach Park. Quick list of where to find some of the best shelling beaches in Florida: ROAD TRIP AMERICA For shell picking on Sanibel, timing is critical. GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS TN NC Learn more in ourCookie Noticeand ourPrivacy Policy. Most islands are north-south. Shelling is an exciting but relaxing hobby, and theres always. I hear the shell exhibits at the museum are fabulous! Shell Florida by Land: Go Beachcombing On my latest trip to Sanibel, I came armed with a list of places I wanted to go shelling, but after doing some research into the area I found out that the best shelling in the area wasnt actually on Sanibel, but at nearby Cayo Costa State Park. The beauty with this beach is you need to drive by many other scenic beaches on the way to it. When you visit Sanibel Island beaches, you can find shells almost anytime if you look hard enough. The saying "earlier is better" is certainly true when it comes to shelling. Beach (Lots of people rent bikes on Sanibel Island.). Unless you have your own boat, the best way to get to Cayo Costa for shelling is on a shelling tour with Captiva Cruises . Well, not technically. Which is good, because as of early 2023, Sanibel Island beaches are still closed from the historically destructive hurricane in September 2022. Honeymoon Island State Park is a Florida state park near Tampa. CAPTIVA ISLAND. Both Sanibel and Capitva are barrier islands, which means they create a barrier between the mainland and the harsh forces of the ocean. MAMMOTH CAVE KY AMONG ALL THE TOP SHELLING BEACHES OF SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLANDS, FIND THE BEST LOCATION FOR SHELLING THIS YEAR. tour right now. Justvisitour websiteand take a virtual webcam tour right now. That said, I found lots of shells at Oasis Beach without walking very far from the parking lot! You wont find many hotels near it, either. The fighting conch is one of the most common shells on Sanibel and Captiva Islands, and you can recognize it by looking out for the brilliant orange color. Conde Nast Traveler names Bowman Beach one of the nation's top 24 beaches. It was probably 65 degrees at 9AM (beginning of December) but overcast and with the wind it was pretty cool. Shelling on Sanibel 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. Youll find the best shelling in Sanibel Island along all the Gulf-side beaches, from the Lighthouse to North Captiva. Lighthouse Beach Park. Airbnb is preferable to rent since it offers better prices in addition to the indoor and outdoor space in relation to the hotels. People of all ages can be seen stooped over, shuffling along the beach with their buckets and nets in hand. In gastropods such as conchs and whelks, you can usually see the live mollusk tucked inside. 1640 Periwinkle Way, Suite 1 Tarpon Beach is a great family-friendly spot thats perfect for shelling. During a Its also good doggie etiquette! Sanibel Island This is a structure that reaches from the beach through the ocean to prevent erosion. WebBowmans Beach. People think it catches shells differently, Burgard says. What You'll Find: Sand dollars, olives, ocher stars, Chelle Koster Walton the Local Expert for Naples, Florida and the Caribbean has been covering the destination for 30 years. Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, this shelling cruise with Treasure Seekers. 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. The city ofSanibel Island, located along the Gulf of Mexico just a short drive from Fort Myers, is justly famed for its sunsets, lighthouse, and luxurious resorts. From the tiny dock, it was a short walk down a boardwalk to the beach. Sanibel Island offers a full day of walking with its 15-plus miles of mostly unbroken beach. Our guide to Sanibels public beach parks includes information about: Pets are allowed on Sanibel beaches, but they must follow the rules and be leashed, and owners must clean up after them. A spectacular Sanibel Island sunset captured by Nature Study. If youre planning to visit the area, make sure to do plenty of research to find out whats open, whats available and whats just not even there anymore. Theres a reason why the beaches of Sanibel Island are considered some of the best shelling locations in the world! You may discover a new favorite beach! Its a bit cooler after a storm, but we promise the shells are worth it! You may be wondering why this beach is so unoccupied if it is wonderful. But if we I swear I saw it, and I also swear I wasnt drinking. There is the Cayo Costa State Park campground, so you can go tent camping. These beaches are your first impression of Sanibel Island and its not a bad one, if we do say so ourselves. All rights reserved. And even more than that, Sanibel Island beaches are known for being the best beaches for shelling in all of the United States! Fortunately, Sanibel has plenty of stores that offer a wide collection of equipment to choose from, including these and other beach-related goods. But this year I will!! When looking on aSanibel island shelling map, you may see that Blind Pass beach is right next to Turner beach. If you are both a shell enthusiast and an angler, Turner Beach is also an appealing beach destination. Somewhere in Lee County, Florida lies every new and experienced shellers dream. Its normally operated on a motorized catamaran that makes the trip from Captiva to Cayo Costa in about 30 minutes, but the day before our trip I got a call that the boat had been taken in for repairs and we would be sailing on a sailing catamaran (which also had a motor) so our trip was extended a bit until 12:30PM or so since it would take longer to get there and back. In 2008, Susan and Jim became permanent Sanibel residents, starting McCallion & McCallion to bring a fresh approach to real estate. THEODORE ROOSEVELT ND Lighthouse beach is a common area for shells to wash up on the shore, resulting in large quantities. Blind Pass Beach is a very close second to Turner beach when it comes to the best shelling spots on Sanibel island. Marco Island is another popular beach destination in Florida. Wear waterproof shoes and hike down to the park's Sculptured Beach for the best tide-pool viewing and shelling. Many of our beach vacation homes and condos have easy access to Sanibels white sand beaches, too. You can go to any of the beaches on Sanibel Island and you will find shells. Lighthouse Beach is just off the causeway, to your left at the first intersection. So the shells remaining on the beach are of common kinds. Turner Beachis the best shelling beach on Sanibel and the Captiva islands. The types of shells on the beaches can vary according to the time of year. This is Turner Beach at Blind Pass, Captiva Island. There are many gulf coast beaches you can go to whereif you look hard enough you will find at least a few shells! With so many beaches to choose from, it could be difficult to know which is best for collecting seashells. Let dry. WebSanibel fishing pier and lighthouse beach, one of the six public beaches on the island. Sanibel City Pier beach. And more specifically, Southwest Florida can make for a perfect Florida shelling trip where you can go beach hopping along the coast from Tampa to Marco Island to different beaches in search of shells and beautiful views! Bowman's Beach. In addition to a gorgeous white sand beach, there is a historic lighthouse, fishing pier and boardwalk nature trail. If any barnacles or other matter is left remove with a pick or toothbrush. Positive news from Blue Dolphin Apr 02, 2023. However, fossils can be discovered all day long on Sanibel Island. If it is open and then closes after you touch it, it is definitely alive. And one of the things that makes Cayo Costa State Park special is that you need to go by boat to get there! This is an island right next to Sanibel Island. WebYou have plenty of choices. Plus, theyve got nature trails and kayak launches! Remember. WHAT MAKES TURNER BEACH SO UNFORGETTABLE? Explore the map. var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; Its also a popular place to catch the sunset. The legendary Sanibel stoop. Privacy Notice: We use cookies on our website to enhance your experience. Seashells are important to the islands chain of life and it is against the law to collect live shells, same is true for neighboring Captiva island. NATIONAL LAKESHORES Its amazing what people create with their Sanibel Island shell bounty! As a result, Sanibel and Captiva are at an advantageous position the oceans current literally delivers the shells to you. var addy_text3aa4edd50788e863c9742e65823c8950 = 'info' + '@' + 'sanibelisland' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloak3aa4edd50788e863c9742e65823c8950').innerHTML += ''+addy_text3aa4edd50788e863c9742e65823c8950+'<\/a>'; Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. This stays true for Turner Beach at the pass between Sanibel and Captiva, where waters flush through, bringing both shells and fish. HALEAKALA HI Blind Pass Beach is on the Sanibel side and Turner Beach is on the Captiva side. RC Otters has announced they will be having a grand re-opening sometime in May, according to the Sanibel Captiva Guide. For Shelling on Sanibel 11 Gorgeous Sanibel And Captiva Island Beaches To Visit Shellers point out that the jetty causes shells to pile up, making them easily accessible. ), This can also be a reason to bring snorkeling gear when you go shelling! First, youll need the right equipment. GULF ISLANDS FL The Best Shelling Beach on Sanibel and Captiva Beaches: managed by RealTech Webmasters. More information: You will be just a few minutes walk away from a shelling beach! Explore more things to do in Southwest Florida! This makes them very accessible to shellers. Map of where the best shelling in Florida is located. We hope this helps give you a place to start when shelling on Sanibel Island. Live shells and mollusks cannot be taken off the beach.