We will be visiting Orlando next week from Idaho. We want to spend 1 day away from Olando at the beach as the kids love the beach and shells, of course. Saw all the messages about great shelling on Sanibel. Unfortunately it seems like a long day trip drive from Orlando. Are there beaches closer to Orlando (on the gulf side) that would have shells? Does Caladesi Island have shells? How is the water temp? Can one swim this time of year or is it only wading temp? Thanks for any information you can share.

You're right, it's really too far for a day trip -- but it's well worth visiting for a couple of days.

Sanibel beaches catch shells because of the island's boomerangish shape and its location, just far enough out in the Gulf to catch the current. There are other islands in that immediate area with good shelling also, generally only accessible by boat.

We usually go to Sanibel in February (we leave on Friday!): some years the gulf is warm enough for swimming -- depends on what sea temp you are used to, and the local weather. Sorry, don't know anything about Caladesi.

GG, there are shells on Caladesi, but it's no better shelling there than it is on more easily accessible Clearwater Beach...except of course there are more people to pick them up on Clearwater Beach. Take 60 to CWB, make a right at the roundabout in CWB and head north just a bit to the first public parking area off on the left. You can park here then walk north on the beach. Within a mile you have left the tourists, condos, hotels behind and are in a sparsely poplulated but beautiful beach area...some beautiful $1 mil+ homes, few people, plenty of shells. Keep walking even further and you actually end up on Caladesi Island, which is no longer an island, the cut having been filled in by a storm a few years back.

If your children are very young this might be too much of a walk for them, but they'll find plenty of shells right in the area of CWB where the parking lot is I've directed you toward, and it's a beautiful stretch of beach where you may also rent umbrellas and beach chairs.

Water temps are pretty cold right now, 67 at CWB, but some people, amazingly are still swimming. Much depends on what you are used to and how badly you want to swim.

My husband started his extensive shell collection when he was on a business trip to Clearwater Beach. Later we visited Sanibel several times and the shelling there is superb, but Clearwater should be just fine if you are just starting a collection and especially with kids. Do try to get to Sanibel on another trip though, it's a wonderful place to take kids.

GG: I used to take my wife and kids to Madeira Beach every year in June just after school was out. Madeira Beach or Indian Rocks or Redington Beach are south of Clearwater and on the Gulf. There is good shell hunting there to satisfy the basic sheller's desire, but not as extensive as Sanibel/Captiva. However, you can find many beachfront condos to rent - most with ocean views and a quieter atmosphere than Clearwater - which is more college/spring break oriented. There are plenty of family type restaurants in the area as well, and shopping and water activities at John's Pass Village.

Try Suncoast Resort rentals in that immediate area-they're on the web. Seabreeze Condominiums is an 8 story condo - all rooms with balcony & ocean view, pool, sauna and walk out to the beach. Priced about $90-$120/night. I haven't been there for a few years, but I have great family memories - and had a very relaxing time after spending crowded days at Disney World / Epcot.

Good luck. Let me know if you go there. I might want to return.