Photo from FreeportSeascapes/Shutterstock
Reader’s Digest recently highlighted the 15 Beaches with the Best Seashells in the World, encouraging readers to “feast your eyes on these stunning destinations that are brimming with whelks, cockles, Scotch bonnets, and conchs.”
Not surprisingly, Sanibel Island topped the list!
They wrote:
Named the best shelling spot in North America by Travel & Leisure magazine, Sanibel Island — located near Fort Myers on the Gulf of Mexico — is a true haven for seashell-spotting enthusiasts. “It turns out this region’s east-west topography makes it an ideal final resting place for an amazing variety of shells,” says Gabe Saglie, senior editor, Travelzoo. “There are 400 varieties in all, rolling onshore by the thousands every day. Horse conches, jingle shells, giant cockles, calico scallops — take your pick. The Junonia shell is a locals’ favorite.” Sanibel is also home to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, the only museum in the United States dedicated to shells. A word of caution to all well-intentioned seashell gatherers: Collecting seashells from any beach may disrupt the local aquatic ecosystem (they provide homes for hermit crabs, a place for small fish to hide, and material for birds to build their nests), so it’s best to admire, take pictures, and then leave them in their natural habitat.
For the rest of their choices, click here!
