Page Updated: September 18, 2023
Sanibel Island
Point Ybel Light - Sanibel Island FL
Sanibel Island is famous for its beaches loaded with seashells, and the hype is no joke. Shells lay in large swathes for miles down the coastline making it hard to walk without stepping on them. To do so almost seems irreverent.
Shellers big and small look intently for the perfect specimen. Serious shellers bring a long handled netted scoop know as a sand dipper and pail. Novices just tuck ‘em in their pockets.
On September 28, 2022, Category 4 Hurricane Ian made landfall near the island of Cayo Costa, FL. Damage to the island and the surrounding greater Fort Myers area was catastrophic. Many communities lost businesses and homes. The determined began the arduous process of rebuilding. Others have chosen to move on.
Wednesday we were with the birders; Thursday, the shellers!
We stopped at the Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce when we arrived on the island and found the typical brochures aimed at tourism. When we spotted the impressive shell sculpture In My Heart of Hearts by Ginny Dickinson, we knew we were in for a treat.
We started our day at Bowman’s Beach wading in the surf and searching through shells. The plan was to beach-hop along the Sanibel Island coast, but Bowman’s was so nice we opted to hang out here longer than thought we would.
Our visit was on a Thursday at the end of April, and there wasn’t much of a crowd. The further we walked, the farther we were from people. Restrooms, showers, and picnic areas are located between parking and the boardwalk. At Bowman’s, it’s a 1/4 mile walk from the lot to the beach.
When the sun got to be too much, we gave up searching for the perfect shell and had a quick snack in the car before moving on to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum.
This place has some neat stuff and we spent a couple of hours walking the exhibits and looking at their variety of aquariums.
As beautiful as Sanibel Island is, our early dinner at Dante’s Coal Fired Pizza was a train wreck. We thought we were escaping the heat, but the joke was on us because Dante’s had no air-conditioning. Burnt calzone, anyone?
At the end of the day, we decided to check out Lighthouse Beach Park on the tip of Sanibel Island. The beach here wasn’t as impressive for seashells, but we enjoyed poking around the skeletal lighthouse. It made for some pretty good pictures.
-b&b
Manatee Park
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
