National Seashell Day 2022
National Seashell Day was founded by Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau on the first day of summer in 2016 and we have celebrated it every year since, on June 21st. Each year, the celebration grows and expands to include more activities and more avid shellers celebrating.
Header photo by @susie290783
2016 – First National Shell Day
To commemorate the first National Shell Day, Good Morning America and host, Ginger Zee, did a live broadcast right from Sundial! The host practiced her Sanibel Stoop, showed off sand and shell art, and shelled with a group of young guests and visitors.
2018 – Breaking a World Record
Two years later, 1,093 participants gathered on the beach of Fort Myers to create the “Largest human image of a seashell” and GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ was there to document the entire event and grant the new world record title to the city visitor bureau.
Photo from Visit Fort Myers
Ways to Shellebrate this Year
Self-Guided Shelling
Shell the shores of Sundial and pack your shell bag with a wide variety of local finds. Once you’ve collected your haul, visit the Shelling Station to clean your bounty and identify all the treasures you now get to add to your collection.
Take a beach walk with a shelling expert
Join a Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum marine biologist at the Island Inn on Sanibel Island for an hour-long beach walk exploring the shells, mollusks and other marine life that washes ashore on Sanibel Island. Meet at 9 a.m. daily (except holidays). Reservations and ticket information at 239-395-2233.
Photo from Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
Cruise the Coast for your Collection
Adventures in Paradise offers shelling boat tours – the perfect excursion for families and avid shellers. Enjoy a narrated guide by captain and naturalist as you sail to your shelling island destination. Once you arrive, grab your shelling back and take to the shores and the waters to discover what shells lie in wait. The tour even includes snorkel masks for underwater exploration.
Photo from Adventures in Paradise
