Discover The Wild Side

You shall see shells…

The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel spokesperson, Francesca Donlan pulls no punches when she says her Florida destination is particularly suited for those who love gathering seashells on ocean vacations.

“We’re sort of the wild side of Florida,” she says. “We have this amazing sort of natural playground that the other destinations don’t have as much of.”

And that’s particularly underscored, she says by the island duo of Sanibel and Captiva being known for what she confidently declares is the “best shelling in the world,” with Sanibel’s Bailey Matthews National Seashell Museum displaying some 400 types of seashells.

Visitors are also welcome to gather seashells from the beaches, with some locals referring to the practice of picking them up as the “Sanibel scoop,” a reference to the ease with which they’re gathered.

And, adds Jeanette Faria, Canadian representative for The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel, that’s only one side to the Gulf of Mexico-fronting destination that many travel agents are unaware of.

“A lot of travel agents don’t have a great feel about what makes us different,” she says. “A lot of agents don’t realize what the destination has to offer.”

For the full story on The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel check out this week’s digital edition of Travel Courier.

Oh, and even better, Travel agents have a chance to win a trip to The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel in this week’s issue.