Florida - Seashells by Millhill

April Vacation in Florida – Get Away From the “World”

Are you planning – or have you planned over the winter – a Florida vacation and trip to the beach? So many people in New England, where I now live, head to Florida for April (spring) vacation that when I lived in Florida I dreaded that month. With the state overrun by tourists, Disney World would sometimes have to close it’s gates because it was filled to capacity – and that’s a big place!

But Florida is a great place to visit in April if you want to avoid the mid-summer heat.

April is a great time to stay at the beach too. The water may be too cool for locals who are used to the 80 degree summer water temperature, but northerners would most likely love the ocean water. Being around a beautiful beach is more my idea of a vacation than standing in long lines, with millions of other people at Disney World, so my vacation would take place at a beach. (And Disney, Universal Studios, etc. are centrally located so you can always take a day trip there.)

New Smyrna Beach was always a favorite and it’s close to Daytona so visiting the Daytona Speedway and Museum would be fun. I went there on a field trip with one of my kids and we got in a bus that drove us around the track. You wouldn’t believe the steep sides where the drivers race! It’s worth the visit. There is a small lake nearby that was made when they dug up the dirt to make those driving hills.

If it’s shell collecting you want, plan to visit or stay on Sanibel Island on the Gulf coast. It is the 3rd best shelling spot IN THE WORLD! (updated to say: Sulu Islands, Philippines and Jeffries Bay, South Africa are #1 and #2.) I wish we’d have been able to get over to Sanibel more often when I lived in central Florida. It was only 4 hours away, but the cost was just something we couldn’t afford back then. We did get there a few times. Now the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum is open with interesting seashell info and history.

Don’t forget to visit the numerous state parks. And head out on the water on a charter boat or rent a boat yourself and navigate the ICW, ocean or rivers. Taking some low-key, un-touristy trips to places the locals visit may make some excellent Florida vacation memories.

Read my other article on how to plan a Florida beach vacation, with tips on which beaches offer drive on traffic.

Would You Have a Seashell Driveway?

Coquillages à Fadiouth, Sénégal — Image via Wikipedia

One option for a southern driveway would be to fill it with seashells. Obviously this would not work in the north and no company (that I know of) even offers it where driveways need to hold up to snow plowing. But it’s an option for those living in a tropical climate and the crushed shells add an old Florida look to the yard.

Lets list the Pros and Cons of this type of driveway.

Pros:

All natural
Good looking and light colored (cooler than pavement)
Porous – won’t hold puddles
Won’t crack or stain
Can be used right away

Cons:

Rough surface – no going barefoot!
As a play area the kids might not be so happy. (Biking, roller skating, scooters, etc.)
It will move around – shells can be displaced and end up in the lawn and nearby gardens.

Truthfully, I like the idea of having a seashell driveway, but these are things to think about. I don’t know how the cost compares to concrete or asphalt, but it’s another option if you need a driveway in the south. If you live near Jupiter, Florida give Brier’s Bobcat a call with your questions.

New Seashell Coloring Page: Free Printout of Shin-Bone Tibia Seashell (seashellsbymillhill.com)
The Amazing Lion’s Paw Seashell (seashellsbymillhill.com)
The Jewelbox Seashells Are Leafy, Spiny and Corrugated (seashellsbymillhill.wordpress.com)

Uses For Seashells

What do you do with the seashells you collect? Finding pretty shells on the beach is fun, but then what? Do you take them home and clean them for display or use them to make crafty items?

Beach shells can sit alone as a decorative accent in the bathroom, on the fireplace mantle, or on the kitchen window sill. They are good reminders of a fun vacation or trip to the ocean.

Seashells are useful as q-tip holders and nightlights (I have a couple) and even planters. Years ago the Calusa Indians in Florida used them as soup bowls and digging tools. Seashells were so plentiful in Florida and other places that they became a source of currency. The cowry shell was used most often as money, but other types of shells were used according to what was available.