Rent a Gulf Coast villa and visit one of America's best shelling beaches

Families planning some beach fun on their Gulf Coast villa holiday may be interested to know that they can visit some of the best shelling beaches in the US.

According to the official travel planning website for the beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel, Sanibel Island was named a "sheller's mecca" by Travel and Leisure magazine.

It said that Bowman's Beach on the north end of the island is the best place to search for "unburied treasure" such as coquinas, sand dollars, scallops and whelks.

Shell hunters may be lucky enough to find a junonia - a twisted cone-shaped mollusc with distinctive marks similar to giraffe spots - which is seen as the ultimate Sanibel Island treasure.

While visiting the island, families can also head to the Bailey Matthews Shell Museum to find out more about the specimens they've uncovered.

Those renting Gulf Coast villas in Fort Myers will be just a ten-minute drive from Sanibel Island, as well as the beautiful Captiva Island.

The beach at Fort Myers itself is also well worth a visit, especially in the evening when attractions for all the family are on offer.

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