'Truly perfect activity': Shell Island in Bay County ranked among best places for shelling
PANAMAM CITY BEACH − A popular destination in Bay County known for its natural beauty is garnering national attention.
In a July 5 post, Trips to Discover, a vacation destination website, named Shell Island in Bay County among the 14 best places for shelling in the U.S. Shelling is when beachgoers scour the coast in search of sea shells to take as souvenirs.
"What makes Shell Island so special is there is seven miles of undeveloped, preserved beach that offers more of a reserved and secluded beach experience," said Rachel Banks, spokesperson for Visit Panama City Beach. "There's really so much to do from boating, snorkeling, kayaking and then obviously shelling.
"It really has all the makings of truly a perfect activity filled beach day."
Where is Shell Island?
Shell Island is a portion of unincorporated Bay County between St. Andrews State Park and Tyndall Air Force Base. It boasts access to Saint Andrew Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Where did Shell Island rank on the list?
Though Trips to Discover did not specifically rank the beaches it dubbed the best in the country for shelling, Shell Island was the second location listed in the group's online article. It followed Turner Beach in Sanibel Island. They were the only Florida beaches to make the list.
What other beaches were listed?
Along with Shell Island and Turner Beach, Trips to Discover also highlighted:
Dauphin Island, Alabama
Folly Beach, South Carolina
Little Shell and Big Shell Beaches in Padre Island National Seashore, Texas
Point Beach in Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
Dungeness Beach in Cumberland Island, Georgia
Silver Strand State Beach in Coronado, California
Calvert Cliffs State Park in Lusby, Maryland
Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii
Maple Beach in Point Roberts, Washington
Crescent Beach in Shelter Island, New York
Cannon Beach, Oregon
Stinson Beach, California
Local spotlight: Popular blog names top 15 seafood restaurants in Florida. This Panama City icon made the list
Why visit the Panama City Beach area?
For Banks, Shell Island being acknowledged by Trips to Discover is just another example of how the Panama City Beach area has something for anyone to enjoy.
"We really do have so much to do in Panama City Beach from our entertainment options (to) our dining options," she said. "There really is something for everyone. We've (also) got a packed event schedule all year round, so there's always an event going on.
"Shell Island truly lives up to its name. You can find so many shells there. ... If you're into shelling, this is definitely a great place to come."
Visit Trips to Discover's website to view the list.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Shell Island ranked among best places for shelling in US
