best beach for shells

Hi there! I have enjoyed reading so many of your threads about Bonita Springs, especially about the restaurants. We will be arriving Easter week with our two kids, ages 6 and 9. We will be staying at the Hyatt Coconut Point. Looking forward to it. Can anyone suggest a beach to take the kids to collect cool shells and swim in the Gulf? Also, where would we go to catch a ride through the Everglades that the kids would enjoy? Thanks so much!!!

best beach for shells

Coconut Point has a boat that takes their guests to their own beach area. Shelling probably isn%26#39;t as good as Sanibel, but I am sure your kids will come home with bags of shells. When there if you walk back around the beach to the pass area you will have a great chance of seeing dolphins. We spent an afternoon there once with our grandkids and there was always dolphins in the area.

If you have a car you might want to also try Barefoot Beach. They have a lot of gopher tortoises there and the kids will love watching for them. They also have facilities at the beach which is nice. They have large parking lot which is great during spring break times.

Bonita Beach will have lots of activity. Parking can be a problem. Lot is small, just have to be lucky and catch someone leaving when you are pulling in. Doc%26#39;s Beach House is there and great place to have lunch or supper, then watch the sunset.

As far as the Everglades, if you have a car, its only about a hour away. I would take 75 and get off at the exit to Everglade City or Hwy.29 This comes out on 41 at the intersection to Everglade City. There is a welcome station there at the intersection. They can suggest places to stop as you travel east on 41.

Linda of Bonita

best beach for shells

Linda,

Thanks so much for all your input. I really appreciate it. We will be renting a car for the week so we can drive all around. How far of a drive is it to Sanibel? Is there a public beach there with changing facilities and such so that we could swim there?

Amy

Its only 30 miles but about a hour drive. I%26#39;m not that familiar with the facilities on the beaches. We are in Bonita and our trips to Sanibel are by boat. You might want to post that question on the Sanibel forum. I do know you would enjoy the day at Sanibel. Great shopping and restaurants. Ding Darling is a must if you spend the day.

Linda

Linda,

Thanks for all your input. Can%26#39;t wait to arrive. We are getting flooded out badly here in NJ. Anyway, I have read that kids use ';shell nets'; to dig and sift the sand off the shells. Where can we buy these nets when we arrive?

Amy

Thanks again!

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