Unusual shells on a Florida beach ?
 

This question is on behalf of my two children. We will be going to Florida for a 10 day vacation and would like suggestions as the best beaches to find some exotic, nice shells. We have never been to Florida, but read somewhere that there are many places to look for "treasures" there. We have been to Cancun last year and the kids were disappointed because they could not find any. Please help.

Sanibel is generally considered to have the best beach for sea shells. frankly, though, I've been disappointed when I've gone there. All the shells there (though there are plenty) are all pretty much the same stuff. I have found some great shells (and great variety) on the Jacksonville beachs, and further south (on the Atlantic side of Florida). But be forewarned - the shelling is largely dictated by weather tidal, and other conditions on the Eastern side. this means, that one month there may be great shells, but the next month there may be NOT so great shells.

If you've never been to FL, you will find tons of shells you'll consider exotic, whether you are on Sanibel/Captiva, Bonita Beach, Clearwater/St. Pete, Sarasota or wherever people go on the east coast of FL for shelling. They may not in fact be exotic, but you and your kids will think so, being new to this area, and that's all that counts. <BR> <BR>For sheer numbers of shells, as Capt Kirk said generally Sanibel/Captiva is considered the premier beach, and there are plenty of beauties there, but we live in the Tampa Bay area and can't go to beach (St. Pete/Clearwater) without picking up more that are just too pretty to pass up. I've got jars of them everywhere in the house. <BR> <BR>Venice Beach has the added fun of sharks teeth (NOT recently lost) <BR> <BR>About the only place in FL we haven't found too many is the Destin area in the Panhandle...can't address other beaches up there.

<BR>I agree with JT ..Sanibel has plenty of shells but, when we were there, they seemed to be mostly the same, <BR> <BR>Experienced "shellers" have told me that the best time for exotic shells on Sanibel is during or right after a major storm that brings the best shells up to the beach

Marco Island also has some good shelling.

Thank you very much for all the suggestions !

most of the sw coast has tons of shells. I'm not a shell collector or even interested in shells and I always end up picking them up and being fascinated with them. My car has a bunch in the back and under the back seats...the only drawback to all the shells is it makes walking on the beach a little rough. Take beach shoes.