Sanibel Island is located on the west coast, the Gulf coast of Florida.
It is known for being an excellent place to find gorgeous seashells. I visited and stayed there twice in the 25 years I lived in central Florida, but it would have been nice to go without kids so I could have strolled the beach leisurely…but I have NEVER been without kids…so I enjoyed the area from a kids view.
The gulf area is perfect for young children because the water is generally calmer than the Atlantic water and therefore not much of an undertow. It’s perfect for anyone because it’s just so beautiful. We watched gorgeous sunsets through the palm trees and were up early every morning (did I mention that we had kids?) to scour the beach for shells.
Stingrays would glide along just off shore and beach shoes of some kind were necessary because the beach is made up of shells- crushed and whole. We were afflicted with the “Sanibel Stoop” just like everyone else vacationing there!
I have large jar of shells that mostly came from the beaches there (in 1990 or 91) and I have recently been identifying them.
The Strawberry Conch (pronounced ‘konk’) is prettier inside than out, showing off an orange pink color. I drew it along with a few other shells to make a coloring page. I also drew the Lightning Whelk and show a photo of the shell and drawing here.
I write more and have more photos and vacation links on my Seashells Lens at Squidoo
Although I’d heard of Sanibel Island, I never knew about it until reading your post. What a place! I wish I’d known about it when I travelled to Fort Myers Beach many years ago.
Oh wow, you were so close too!! Thanks for stopping by my blog.