Best Nearby Beach to go Shelling

[mapmakerj]

DS saw a Travel Channel show on FL best beaches and now would love to go shelling when we take our trip to FL next June. Can anyone recommend a beach with good shelling within a couple hours from Orlando? I assume our best bet will be on the Gulf. Thanks for any help.

 

[caa1277]

We went to WDW last June in 2007 and then went to St. Pete Beach for 4 days. We absolutely loved this place! Not to crowded, beautiful sandy beaches, and crystal clear water. It is on the Gulf side and about an 1 1/2 - 2 hour drive from Disney. The highlight of our trip was when we went to Fort De Soto Beach State Park, a small little barrier island off the mainland and about a 20 minute drive from St. Pete Beach. Simply GORGEOUS!!!! We got a ton of shells from there plus a handful or so of sanddollars. If you'd like to know more, please pm me.

P.S.-My DS, who is now 12, wanted to go back there this year and next year he loved it so much.

 

[mapmakerj]

That sounds like fun, and just what DS was hoping for. I will have to look into that area. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[LauraAnn630]

We went to Marco Island. I never saw so many shells on a beach! It was GREAT!

 

[caa1277]

We went to Marco Island. I never saw so many shells on a beach! It was GREAT!

Where is Marco Island?

 

[mapmakerj]

I had to look it up. Marco Island is just south of Naples, which is in the southwest part of the state.

 

[jdvm]

Not sure but I think the wast coast (Gulf) is better than the East (Atlantic). We love going to the islands around Sarasota (Anna Maria, Lido Key and Siesta Key). I'm a big shell fan and just got back this evening from a day collecting shells on Siesta Key.

John