Went here on a visit to the island with friends recently. The beach is still being worked on as is the lighhouse which was fenced off for visitors at the time of our visit in Octomer 23. There is still lots of work to do here after hurricane Iain last year but that did not stop us parking nearby and walking along the shell beach to see the sights. If you go in the evening watch out for the no-see-ums and chiggers as their bites can be very nasty and can take many days to come out fully.

Warning!!!! Traffic getting off of Sanibel Island takes HOURS! It took us 3 1/2 hours to get off the island! Although the beach and lighthouse were nice, it was not at all worth the hours it took just to get back to the mainland. Until the causeway is restored, my recommendation is DONT GO!

This was a trip to prove two things. To find another lighthouse to mark off my list of so many I have yet to visit and to find out if the area was the seashell capital of the world. The best time to visit is early in the morning, before the traffic on the causeway and island drives you crazy. When you travel alone like I do, getting on the road at 6 am is easy to do. Although it was a hunt, I found the lighthouse, shot a few pictures with my 35 mm camera and made my way to the other side of the island for a class on shelling. Unlike a child, I used a regular mop bucket for my shell collecting because I knew I would spend the day searching up and down the beach for all types of shells to take home. The informal class was fun and only increased my desire to learn more about seashells, the animals and ocean life. Tip-There are so many shells on the beach and in the water that beach shoes will save your feet from many jabs, pokes and cuts!