Shell Yeah! Inaugural event planned June 20 in Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, Florida

            There’s a national day for everything, it seems, so why not National Seashell Day?

The 50 miles along the pristine beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, Florida, is among the best places to find seashells in the country, if not the world. So it only makes sense that they would proclaim a nice summer day — June 20, 2016 — as the inaugural National Seashell Day. In addition to beachcombing for shells, there will be special travel deals, seashell attractions, shelling lectures and tours, workshops with local shell artists and much more.

Some hotels, vacation rentals, beachfront accommodations and vintage RV parks are offering the fourth night free during this time. Certain properties are also offering add-ons, such as free shelling cruises to barrier islands, shell guides and bags, free breakfast and more. Visit www.nationalseashellday.com for a full list of properties participating in the fourth night free deal and to check out special events.

Don’t miss out on the chance to enter the Shell Yeah! Sweepstakes to win a three-night stay at Sanibel Inn with a Captiva Cruises shelling excursion to Cayo Costa.

Here’s some shelling tips from tourism folks:

“The best shelling locations are on Sanibel Island (Bowman's Beach and Lighthouse Beach), named the best shelling beach in the U.S., and also in less populated areas such as the uninhabited Cayo Costa, Big Hickory Island and Lovers Key State Park.  Peak shelling season in the Fort Myers/Sanibel area is May–September and shelling is best an hour before and after low tide, or high tide after storms. Walk the high tide shell line where the highest waves stop, as this is where groups of shells arrive. Another good spot is the slight drop in the surf line, where gentle waves break before rolling to the beach. It's prohibited to collect any shell with a living mollusk or creature inside. Beachcombers work to preserve this natural resource and protect live shells from being over-harvested and endangered.”
            For weather information, web cams and shelling news, visit Sanibel Island artist and ‘shell-ebrity’ Pam Rambo at www.iloveshelling.com.

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel