Shell Key Preserve Beach
Tierra Verde, FL
An uninhabited barrier island in Tampa Bay reachable only by boat or water taxi, where the shelling is genuinely as good as the name promises. Local boaters treat it as a day trip destination, anchoring offshore and wading in rather than docking.
Bring a bag for shells and one for trash both. The preserve asks visitors to pack out anything they bring in.
More Gulf Coast beaches
Siesta Key Beach
Siesta Key, FL · Gulf Coast
Fine quartz sand that stays cool underfoot even in summer, sloping gently into calm Gulf water, and consistently rated among the best family beaches in the country.
Clearwater Beach
Clearwater, FL · Gulf Coast
A lively Gulf-front strip with a fishing pier, a nightly sunset celebration at Pier 60, and calm, shallow water that makes it an easy family favorite.
Pensacola Beach
Pensacola Beach, FL · Gulf Coast
Sugar-white sand within the Gulf Islands National Seashore, with dunes protected from development and water clear enough for snorkeling near the jetties.
