Stay up-to-date with the latest shell finds, awesome shelling destinations, and more.
![Shelling and Fishing Charters in the Florida Keys](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/1718810026418-RT32TDD0GD2C9WAFUDMJ/IMG_1291-scaled+%281%29.jpg)
Shelling and Fishing Charters in the Florida Keys
Seashells in the Florida Keys? You bet! You just have to know where to go.
![Legend of the Sand Dollar](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/1718813406818-E5ZFN70VJ03A0PXPTWY0/Sandollars.jpg)
Legend of the Sand Dollar
We made this poem into beautiful bookmarks for my nephew and his bride’s Florida wedding reception; guests took them home as a sunny reminder. Ask me how we made place card holders from seashells and a Dremel tool!
![Double Rainbow and an Imperial Venus](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/815aa116-232e-48a6-8d0c-5de14386f441/Double-rainbow.jpg)
Double Rainbow and an Imperial Venus
The one good thing about rain and thunderstorms is that they produce shells like crazy, AND rainbows.
![Fun Facts About Sand Dollars](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/1718884753617-14F7JKKHF5PW7XC6EFN0/Sand%2Bdollar%2Bin%2Ba%2Bhand.jpg)
Fun Facts About Sand Dollars
I love sand dollars. I have been lucky enough to find several washed up on the shore of Sanibel and Captiva over the years, nearly white from being faded by the sun.
![Sanibel Island Beach Resort is Open](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/f2c3d99a-4369-417e-acc8-6efa6f61be0a/Up+close+view+of+shells+on+the+shore+with+a+blue+sky+in+the+horizon.jpg)
Sanibel Island Beach Resort is Open
As Sanibel and Captiva recover from Hurricane Ian, restaurants and resorts are opening slowly but surely. I recently stayed at the Sanibel Island Beach Resort on Middle Gulf and loved the experience.
![Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum in Sanibel](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/1718889621958-D9EAEWZ3LQFIXI0EHSW9/Bailey%2B-museum-interior.jpg)
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum in Sanibel
Ok shellers, if you haven’t been to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum in Sanibel, you simply must visit!
![A Gift From The Sea – Broken Junonia](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/d06d1883-f421-40c0-988b-14f960acdc5d/Broken+Junonia.jpg)
A Gift From The Sea – Broken Junonia
It counts! It’s broken and beat up, but it’s a junonia! Yay!
![Holy Horse Conchs](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/3d9eab3f-7150-43f4-85d7-400749c3e7f2/Horse+conch+seashells.jpg)
Holy Horse Conchs
These five horse conchs are not even thoroughly cleaned yet but look how gorgeous they are! And huge!
![She’s a fatty and I love her](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/e09c5922-738c-4275-acb1-f9464876703e/tulip-shell.jpg)
She’s a fatty and I love her
I found this fat tulip today while shelling on West Gulf Drive. I also found these two colorful lightning whelks.
![Mermaid’s Purse and Double Cones](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/f0417d5b-5a4d-4896-b6d4-b05fe1241213/Double-cones.jpg)
Mermaid’s Purse and Double Cones
Today had me seeing double! These two alphabet cones are a little worn but for being on the sand, they’re in pretty good shape. And a mermaid’s purse was also found on the low tide line at Turner Beach.
![Cone and Tellin Kinda Morning](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/85dacf17-da07-46c3-ae6e-82b15769cbc5/cone-and-tellin.jpg)
Cone and Tellin Kinda Morning
I was rewarded for putting back that live cone yesterday because today I found an alphabet cone — and more!
![Sanibel Shells – Fine Specimens](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/41afc108-c3b7-43f1-802c-d7c07337cf3f/sanibel-fine-specimens.jpg)
Sanibel Shells – Fine Specimens
This morning was worth waking up for. These beautiful specimens were found while walking by the Sanibel Lighthouse, in the water.
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/f5a46052-7368-4dac-93c6-a8200ec70304/Shell+Illo.png)
“At the beach, time you enjoy wasting, is not time wasted.”
– T.S. Eliot
![](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/667024464cd8264f4abcc3cb/1719214256357-MVMBB686LNQKPCQBPXWX/image-asset.jpeg)
Dreaming of living in paradise? Already have a property in paradise but need a property manager?
Call Michael Martin, PA, CAM, at 786-505-0530 or email mmartin@SouthDadeHomes.net.
He’s not only a licensed pro who has written five books on real estate, he’s my better half and he’ll take great care of you!