Sanibel Island Florida. Shelling and beachcombing the seashell capital of the world. Spring 2021
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- Опубликовано: 17 апр 2021
- Sanibel Island Florida holds a very special place in my heart. Over half of the island has been reserved for wildlife and there are only 2 chain restaurants on the entire island! The only buildings taller than 2 stories were built before 1974, which gives the island a really lush, old Florida-type of feel. No high rises blocking your view here!
Sanibel Island Florida is different from any of the other island beaches down here I’ve visited. I've grown used to the sleepy feel of Sanibel and I always take note of the surroundings when I visit other beaches. I know there is no such thing as a bad beach, however I would say that some beaches are better than others. I love the remote feeling that Sanibel has and the effort the city has made to keep it special. It’s known as the seashell capital of the world and does attract shellers from all over the country. I’m so fortunate that Sanibel is so close to where I live and I’m fortunate that I can share this beautiful part of Southwest Florida with you.
If you’d like more info on the photos I used in the beginning of my video, you can follow the links provided:
Black and white photo of Sanibel Causeway
Bridge to Sanibel Island. 1965. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.www.floridamemory.com/items/s....
Color photo of Sanibel Causeway
Marks, Don(Donald J.). Bridge to Sanibel Island. 1972. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.www.floridamemory.com/items/s....
Car Ferry
Car ferry "Yankee Clipper" loading automobiles - Sanibel Island, Florida. 1955. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.www.floridamemory.com/items/s....
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Being on a Sanibel beach just after sunrise, looking for shells to the sound of the waves, is my idea of a dream day. I love this place!
Yes that does pretty much sum up a perfect day doesn’t it? I don’t know what it is about the beach but I am totally under its spell!
doesn’t everyone? its a dream vacation!
In the 1960s my parents and I came here for every summer. There were only a few hotels. We stayed in a cottage right on the beach. Screened windows and no air conditioning. I still have many more shells from Sanibel. No bridge just a ferry. Haven been there in at least 59 years. Would love to come AGAIN
WOW!!! I would have loved to have seen the island back then. It must have been so much more of an adventure and rustic. I'm thrilled they have done such a good job keeping commercial development under control. I love Sanibel. It's changed so much since you were last here, but it's still beautiful!
Once I collected amazingly large 3 to 4 inch conch shells on Galveston Beach at the north end… couldn’t understand why nobody else was out there. Found hundreds as the tide went out. Collected about 30 of them on a bag and went home. As I was rinsing them in the sink (soaking them) things started to move. Every one of them contained a living hermit crab. They were all hiding! I felt so horrible. I put them in a box of sand to return them the next day… but in the middle of the night they used each other to stack up and hurl themselves over the wall of the box onto the carpet below. I woke up to a line of crabs and shells clinking against the sliding glass door. It was like a nightmare until I figured out the sound when I flipped on the light. 🐚 🌴
You are not the first person this has happened to, which is why I like to try to educate people about the things that can be found at the beach. One always has to check to make sure the shells are empty. And it's happened to me too! I've had to return 2 shells to the beach when I got home. One was a wentletrap and one was a little shell with a hermit crab in it. I only live about 15 minutes to the closest beach but I was really glad I didn't find them dead the next day!
I could do that all day long. I absolutely love the beach. Sanibel is on the top of my list of places to visit
Me too! Time FLIES when I'm out making these videos. I could do it every single day. I hope you do make it to Sanibel one day. The island is gorgeous!
I agree it was fantastic the day, the beach, the scenery, the weather, the critters, Our WONDERFUL guide/host & the AWESOME SHELLS she found!!! FANTASTIC!!! I want to go to SANIBEL ISLAND NOW!!!
Well when you're ready to go, Sanibel will be there! 🐚
I love Sanibel Island. It's my peaceful place. Where I send my mind when there is too much chaos. ❤
That is a great way to put things. I'm never upset when I'm at the beach!
Sanibel is beautiful and the shells are usually beautifully colored and the variety outstanding! You did find some really great scallops, but all the shells you scored were great! Thanks for another lovely walk down the beach!
We have an amazing variety of shells down here. I recently asked everyone to let me know their favorite shell and there were 45 different favorites! There's a lot to love about these shells down here! Thank you so much for watching!
Another great day at the beach! Just hearing the water in the background, just makes my day!
The water in the background is better than any music or sounds I could artificially put in there. I love it too :) Thanks for watching!
I just have to say again how much I love, love, love ❤️ your channel!!! I play a game now while watching you hunt for all those goodies. I try to shout out the name of the shells or critters before you do. It's a challenge because I'm still learning all the names of the beach things. But I'm having an absolute blast doing it!! Again, thank you so much. I'm still watching 👀 your past posts and very much looking forward to your new ones! Your awesome 👌
Thank you so much! I try to remember that people want to guess what I'm finding so I will try to identify the shells slower in the videos when I remember ☺️ Thank you so much for coming in my beach walks with me!
Wow, so amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this! ❤️
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching!
Isn't nature amazing???? The older I get, the more I appreciate it. We've been home from our latest Florida trip for about a month now, and I miss the beach so much. It's 38 degrees right now in Wisconsin and I could really use some sun, sand and water. You surely hit the motherlode as far as scallops go. Love those scallops, and I have an affinity for the dark ones, too.
I know EXACTLY what you mean about missing the beach. When we knew we were going to move down here and we would come to visit, I was desperate to somehow be in touch with the area once I got home and I would miss the beach so much! I'm glad I'm now a part of helping people get their "beach time" in even when they can't be here. Thank you so much for watching!!
Thank you so much for this video. Now I have a new location on my bucket list to visit.
Everyone should visit Sanibel at least once in their life :)
I have learned so much about the shells. Have. Thank you
You are very welcome!
I went to the exact beach she went to, it’s really amazing!
Your shelling videos being me so much joy! I love learning about the shells and hearing the pretty waves in the background... so much beauty in Florida
Thank you so much! I'm loving my move to Florida and I'm so grateful I can share all it's beauty and treasures with others! Welcome to my channel!
🤩🤩🤩😍😍😍 beauteful shells
Thank you for watching!
I'm quite late to this shell party! 😆 I'm Loving the Calico Scallops, and of course all the shells. Many Thanks 😎
Got my Sanibel fix all the way here in Ohio! Keep the videos coming!
Thanks so much for coming along with me!
Thank you so much for what you do your voices is clear and easy to listen to and your history explanations are great love it 😍
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed my video!
I cant belief all the shells thats amazing
Thanks for letting me go shelling with you.. You always find really nice shells
Thank you for taking the time to come along with me!
This beach is now at top of my bucket list
That flat scallop knocked my socks off!!! Thanks for another great video!
I love when those fantastic surprises just wash up on the beach for me. Thanks so much for watching!
My late husband and I spent our last vacation before he lost his battle with cancer on Sanibel Island. We spent a lot of tome doing the Sanibel stoop collecting shells. Now whenever I visit his grave I place a scallop shell on his tombstone that we collected .
I am sorry for your loss. My family is no stranger to cancer unfortunately. I hope this video brought you good memories. xoxo
Beautiful
Thank you! Cheers!
I love hearing the names. I collect shells from Half Moon Bay down to Carmel and I never knew some of the names. Obviously clams and scallops are self explanatory but I didn't realize the different patterns had meaning. Definitely something to start researching
I love figuring out what these shells are. The most popular ones I've pretty much gotten down but there are smaller ones and then ones I've never found before that send me down a research rabbit hole. One of these days I'll know them all! Thanks so much for watching!
This would be
enjoyable, dear.
She's given us a good
visual lesson, and
the weather is perfect.
Thank you! 😃
Beautiful shells!
Beautiful Calico Scallop
Have so many of these shells and love this video
So much to choose from!😍
I love your videos! And you get so excited with your finds. And you explain things very well.
Thank you so much! It's turning rather into an obsession but I'm thinking there's worse things I could be doing with my time :) Thanks so much for watching!
So much fun! And you have the best narration voice!
Oh thank you so much! I never got hired as a voice over artist, so I just do it on my own videos - LOL!
A glorious beach walk. Thank you so very much. Your ventures always make me smile.
Glad you enjoyed it! I appreciate you taking the time to watch and leave me a comment! xoxo
Love the history you share 💛
I try to give share some sort of good info in each video :) Thank you for watching!
Thanks for a beautiful beach walk!!❤️
You're very welcome Pat - thank you for watching!
Another great video! Thank you! 👏👍❤️
You are so welcome! Thanks for coming along with me!
look at all those goodies! thanks for taking us along!
You are so welcome! Thanks for coming along with me!
Such beautiful colors ❤
They really are quite pretty :) Thanks for watching!
Great to see Sanibel again,spent many vacations there collecting shells,I have so many & lots of the calico scallops
Sanibel does have the best scallops :) Thanks so much for watching and coming along with me on my Sanibel walk!
Oh my gosh I love that piece of horse conch!
Wow! What a haul! I really look forward to your videos, such a calming affect
Why thank you! I'm glad you enjoy my walks as much as I do!
Love your treasure trove!❤️
Thank you! 🤗
I love your videos!! Anytime I miss Sanibel, I can watch your videos and remember beautiful Sanibel!!
Thank you so much! Sanibel is truly special and I can see why you would miss it when you're not here. Hurry back!
Went there 2 months ago..beautiful island
Thanks so much for the history!
Love that!!
Glad you enjoyed it! I didn't know a ferry was used before the causeway was built!
@@SWFBeachLife I grew up in MI...the Mackinaw Bridge was built in the same time period....My grandma work on the ferry before the bridge was built. They must have been building bridges to replace ferries all over the USA at that time. :)
@@neesiedavis4062 Wow! It makes sense that some technology was discovered and bridges started being built at the same time. That’s so cool!
I love all the different colors of scallops you found! A "scallop rainbow "! 🌈 thanks again for taking us along with you!
You are so welcome! Thanks for taking the time to come along with me!
Love your videos!
Glad you like them! I appreciate you taking the time to watch them Lori!
Wow, what a gorgeous shell haul. Lovely beach shelling day. 🐚😍
Yes it was! Hoping I can enjoy a few more "cool" shelling days before the heat arrives!
Love your video! Informative and entertaining.👍
Thank you so much!
The walk to the beach here is beautiful
It is! I love Bowman's Beach :)
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Fantastic scallops. I make quilts, recently decided to make a shell themed one. Should be an interesting learning journey.
A shell themed quilt - I LOVE IT! I hope you have fun making it. I recently did a project with my shells and while I was dreading starting it, once I got going I loved it!
We would love to see your quilt when finished!
I love your videos! You make the best shelling videos💕💕💕
Thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to leave such a lovely comment!
You make the best videos out there keepem coming love love love them!!🦀🐚
Thank you so much!!! I appreciate your support!
Another special walk on beach...wonderful, pretty shells. Thanks for taking me along....be blessed !
Hugs my northern beach friend. Thanks as always for watching! xoxo
Yowza! What an awesome beach day. Love Love Love all the scallops. 💙
Lucky for me those are what I went to Sanibel to find! Thanks for coming along with me!
What a great haul, I have a piece of a flat scallop but never a whole piece, good for you. We plan on coming to Sanibel soon, your videos are awesome, thanks so much for sharing!
I hope you find lots of great shells while you are here - maybe even a whole flat scallop! Happy planning and thanks for coming along with me on my walk!
Great scallops! I love this beach. One of my favorite places on earth. ❤❤❤❤❤❤
It's a gem for sure! Thanks for coming along with me!
Missing Sanibel😢
Needed to jump back in time.
Love them all!!!!
Thanks for watching!!!
Neat different shells. Beautiful scallops. I like how they are different in color and patterns. Lots of very good finds. I always enjoy your beach shell hunting, you have a very good video.
Thanks Sally! Next week I find a bucket list shell!
Beautiful finds
Thank you for watching!
@@SWFBeachLife your welcome
I look forward to your videos! Sunday Fun day 😊
Thank you so much for coming along with me on my walks!
I always loved the calios.🐚🐌❤
For good reason - they're so pretty and Sanibel always seems to provide the best calico scallops.
You have found some really beautiful shells. What a beautiful day to search for shells. What a fantastic place with no homes and businesses. Definetly a beautiful place to go to. You are blessed❤️
I really am blessed to live here :) Thanks so much for coming along with me on my walks!
An old friend of mine has a beach property home on Sanibel. What a life!
Oh man! Wish that was me. What a life indeed. Lucky lady!
Oh my good ess..a fabulously educational as well as entertaining video!!! Those voices would have made their wat to my big jar!! Tlip and conch! Awesome finds all around..and all those scallops!! Thank you!!!!!
You are so very welcome! I'm going to be dangerous once I become a Florida Master Naturalist but in the meantime I just research certain things and I share anything I find interesting. Thanks for coming along with me beach friend! xoxo
I’m watching this from Nanaimo Canada, this was fascinating to see so many different shells that I’ve never seen on our beaches here, we are cool pacific, lots of clams and mussels
Yes, some of those northern scallops are huge! We're subtropical here so we get lots and lots of different snails, which gives us lots and lots of shells. It's a great place to explore beaches!
19:03 that scallop! Wow!
I found a few of these shells rushed on the shore of Huntington Beach, California about weeks ago, but definitely nothing compared to Sanibel beach ..Would love to move here soon. Thank you for this posting . So beautiful and tranquility 👍
Living down here is the best :) Especially if you love the water and the beach. And I do have to admit, the shelling is pretty great too :) Thanks for coming along with me on my walk!
When I lived in southern California, seashells were scarce. However, sea glass was bountiful! I have so much sea glass including some very rare colors! I would love to spend more time in Florida!
I've seen photos of Fort Bragg and all the sea glass. That place looks amazing! I do have to say, I'm quite spoiled and love our southwest Florida beaches and all the things I encounter on my walks!
We were at Bowmans beach in the late week, and at low tide the beach was completely empty! So glad you found so many goodies though!
Oh I've been there when there was NOTHING and I just keep walking and walking. I was lucky on this day that at least there were shell piles to go through, especially since I was looking for scallops. Hope you enjoyed your time there!
I love Sanibel! I have such a bad reaction to the sand fleas that we had to stop going. Thank you for sharing!
I've seen people absolutely covered with bites but the bugs don't seem to bother me. I do tend to stick close to the water and the breeze helps keep them away I guess. Either that or they don't like me - which I am totally find with LOL!
Love the flats!
Me too!!!
You have truly taught me so much already about shells and their names.. I’m obsessed with shell hunting. Hi friend!! New to your channel from the hills of southeast Kentucky. We always travel a 16hr drive every so many years to Flagler Co Florida to Flagler beach for our quiet relaxing family vacay because it’s all pet friendly there. How close is Flagler beach to sanibel? I see signs along our trip there but I don’t know much about that area. Is it pet friendly there? We have to travel with two small dogs that we love to take on the beach with us. Flagler doesn’t have pretty shells like those you have shown you have found so I hope someday we can visit Sanibel too because I dream to have so,e pretty shells like you have found. Sending love and channel support from my channel ❤️
Hello beach friend! I didn't realize how utterly obsessed I am too with the shells until I took my BFF shelling last week. I got her hooked too!! Looks like Sanibel is a 4.5-5 hour drive from Flagler. The beaches I visit are dog friendly as long as you have your pups on leashes :) I hope you get to make it over there one day too! Thanks for watching my beach walks and welcome to my channel!
What a beautiful beach! No houses or hotels near the seashore. Just nature in all its beauty. Love it!
You've found so many gorgeous shells! You know I'm in love with the kitten paw and the Calico scallop. ❤ Especially when they have colors like the one at 19.09 minutes in the video.
Thank you for taking me with you on this beautiful morning! It was (as always) a lot of fun.
Wishing you a wonderful week. Can't wait to see your next adventure!
Sending you lots of love from the Netherlands. 😘 xx
Our next adventure is going to be fun - I find a bucket list shell that I've been searching for! Not the big horse conch but one I've mentioned in the past and I finally find it. Can't wait to share! Hugs from Florida! XOXO
@@SWFBeachLife You're teasing me! Now I have to wait a week until I can see what you have found. 😂
Thank goodness, there are still some video's of you that I've never seen (yet). So I'll spend my time with watching them, until it's Sunday again. 😅
What a fun video! You always leave me wanting more! (Wink). Wondering how long we would have had to walk to get to silver key from where we were shelling that day in Steve’s spot. So many beautiful scallops, And that zig zag flat...PERFECTION!
Silver Key is much closer to Blind Pass than it is Bowman's but all the mangroves have made it impassable on the water/beach side so I had to walk around the backside of the trees. If I had to guess I would say we would have maybe had to walk 20-30 minutes at a slow pace to get there. I think we were better off at Steve's spot anyway! Yes, that flat scallop was a real gem of a find. Thanks for watching Tracy!
I love that place
Me too!
Sanibel is a small island so while u drive past I was like okay I remember this,and that,and so on lol
Nice flat!
My calico cat is watching when you say calico oh and also ps: love your videos! 😊😊
Maybe I can teach your cat a few shell names too! 😂😂😂
@@SWFBeachLife yaay ! 🤗🤗
I went today. The tide was high, and it was late in the day, but I found a slipper! I was so happy to find something and be able to identify it. Thank you for your videos!
That's awesome! I think it's more enjoyable when you know what you're finding right? Congrats on your slipper!
cool video
I meant to comment last week.... North Captiva Island! I was there the first week in March, my favorite place. The very first day I walked down to the surf and within minutes the first shell that rolled up to my feet was a baby’s ear. I knew then it was going to be a great week! I found a bunch of scallops, lightening whelks, fighting conch, turkey wings, and cockles (and many more). It’s funny how you go with an idea of you’re only going to pick up certain ones but I just can’t do it. I love them all🤗. Keep up the great work!
Oh I can never go to the beach without picking up something. Even if we're going with friends and just hanging out I go to the water and walk around a bit to see if there's anything interesting to check out. I can't help myself!! Your trip last March to North Captiva sounds AMAZING! If I had a baby's ear roll up to my feet I'd be pretty excited about the week I was going to have too. Thank you for coming along with me on my beach walks!!
We were just at Bowman's Beach a couple weeks ago. So many shells!
Yay! Isn't it pretty? I hope you found lots of goodies!
I love Sanibel
Bowman's especially
Nice flat😍and nice to see the beach and some sunshine.
Weatherman says some snow for me up here in Ohio this week, really? Grrrr! Anyways, two months and I’ll be back on Sanibel and I cannot wait to get my toes in the sand and just shell to my hearts content! Thanks for another awesome video!
Snow?? This morning it was not even light out and it was 79 degrees. I think summer weather is finally here. You'll be nice and warm when you get here!
Ah very nice. I love Sanibel. So want to go back. It's been a while since I've commented. Life has been crazy these past two months but now things are better. Glad you found so many scallops. White Ibis or Florida Chicken.
Ha ha - Florida Chicken. We used to call pigeons (NY) City Chickens so I get it. I know you had a lot going on so I'm glad to hear things are better now. xoxo
Love those turkey wing shells
I love Sanibel, I hope to come back.
I hope you can too!
The flat one and the red s& yellow calico are my 2 favorites!
That flat one was one of my favorites too!
@@SWFBeachLife it would make a beautiful necklace!
Funny, just before you found the flat scallop, I was thinking what shell would I like to find and there you went and found the flat scallop. Hi from Canada 🇨🇦
Hi Canada! I'm glad we're on the same page about those flat scallops - yes, they're awesome :)
It's funny you go to Sanibel for scallops. I love them and most people walk right by them. Have a huge bag of calico's from Lido! I've only just seen the first 2 and can't believe how gorgeous! Shelling was pretty decent on Honeymoon today with the storms last night. I practically had the place to myself 😃! Thought of you! xxoo
Oh I love the calico scallops. Some of the colors are ridiculously beautiful! We've had some storms down here too and hoping I can capitalize on it. Have the crowds started to thin out yet? It's starting to get back to "normal" here - LOL!
@@SWFBeachLife Well yesterday is not a good judge because of the weather. I did see some of the dredging pipes on the Oasis parking lot but haven't seen any actual dredging yet. The pipes did not look as big as the ones at Lido. Interesting...
@@gingermackeen5741 Either way I’m coming up there. Might be a real long day instead of a weekend but I’m coming to check it out! I want to see a turban operculum!
Hi, cool pelican! 😊🤗👏 And hello SWF beach life!
Hello Michael! 🙂
(whispering back) I love pelicans, too. Wow! That horse conch.....*sigh* Someday! From your end round-up, it certainly did look like Mission: Accomplished! I hope this was for a project -- maybe that Mirror???
Correct! I really wanted scallops for the mirror I'm covering with shells. It's almost done. I j just need a few touch ups and I can put the video together to share :) I might have found something else with shells to obsess over!
@@SWFBeachLife Looking forward to the Mirror video! Is that 'something else with shells' another teaser??
@@salishseaquest7952 I might need to start making other things with shells. After making the mirror I feel like making all sorts of things covered in shells ☺️
@@SWFBeachLife I agree -- I have a wreath in one of my bathrooms that has some beautiful shells and I love it. I don't even want to think how long I've had it.....it's a favorite.
Hello friend! I hope I find an apple murax like the one you found! June can't get here fast enough!⏳😆
That was a nice surprise that apple murex I found and probably why I really like shelling in the water. I hope you find a whole bunch when you come in June!!
Another lovely expedition.
Have you seen a comb bittersweet? It looks like the 3-toothed carditid.
I love that you say “co-hog” - that’s what we’ve (in the Northeast) always pronounced the quahogs.
Blessings
I have never found a comb bittersweet but I just looked it up and it sure does look like the 3-toothed carditid. I'm telling you, some of these shells make me crazy trying to figure out what they are!
I was pronouncing the qway-hogs like so, until someone said it's coe-hogs. I never bothered figuring out what they were when I lived in the Northeast but I sure wish I had!
@@SWFBeachLife I started appreciating he Quahog when I took the time to beachcomb in Florida. I am looking forward to finding them up here too.
Yes...some shells can be challenging. I have a few I'm studying to understand differences -- and then the teenies/babies...a whole other level of challenge. :)
@@bmiller7017 Oh I hear you. The tinies are really fascinating though! Next Sunday I'll be identifying some tinies and I hope to get most of them right - LOL!
@@SWFBeachLife I am so excited to learn more about those precious cuties. I’m looking forward to it.
We've visited every year and the shells were bountiful; however, we've noticed a decline since the 2018 red tide horror. 😔
I've only been here since 2019 so I have nothing to compare my shelling to pre-red tide. I would be delighted if the shelling actually got better!
We were just there this past week. We go every year. My fav beach has always been the light house. Although this time there's almost no beach left even in low tide a good place for 🐚 is Blind Pass Beach
The Lighthouse Beach has never really given me any good shells but I do plan on going scooping over at Blind Pass a few times this summer. Maybe try snorkeling too. Thank you for watching and hope you enjoyed your time while you were here!
Found another video I haven’t seen. Great o e
Glad you liked it!
I just love love love your videos 💞 and isn’t it a beautiful world 🌎 that we live in we all need to look after it xx and can I ask you what do you do with all your beautiful shells? Take care can’t wait to see your next video xx
Thank you so much! Yes, it truly is a beautiful world. It's quite hard to be on a beach and not be so grateful for all the good things life gives me :) So happy I can share it! Thanks so much for coming along with me!