Shell Island

[Ocean Lover]

If you rent a pontoon boat, be careful.

1.) If moving never just shut off the motor suddenly, water stops a boat pretty quickly. If you do this the front of the boat will generally go under, not sink, just go under. Ask jdarg.

2.) Anchor the boat out a little way from the beach and walk to the beach, if you park it on the beach you may have a beached boat when the tide goes out. Seatow charges a small fortune for to pull the boat back in the water. If you choose to wait the rental place will call the coast guard if you're not back within about 20-30 minutes of the agreed upon time.

3.) It's tempting, but it's also illegal, to feed the dolphins. Unfortunately they have been trained to congregate for free food at the mouth of the pass. You can enjoy the show, but do not feed or touch them. If you want to swim with dolphins you need to go over to Gulf World and pay for that, you get a cute picture too.

Good info, I was sunbathing at the front of the boat when my dad decided to cut the motor for some reason...not funn!!!!

 

[seacrestgirl]

It takes maybe a half hour to get to Shell Island. There are several boat rental places, but i think we used http://www.shellislandtours.com/index.htm.

You guys would have a blast.

We've never done this, but it looks like a lot of fun!!! Will have to put it on the list!!!

 

[dana k]

Did that once, years ago, and I recall that it was one of the most miserable days of my life.
If you want to find some great shells, go down to Indian Pass and spend a day on the beach. It is one of the most beautiful, uncommercialized places that you can find in the area. Huge, beautiful shells everywhere. Then, head over to the Indian Pass Raw Bar for some of the best oysters you've ever had in your life.

 

[nodilberthere]

We've rented from SI tours the past four years, and it is by far the best day of our two week trip every year. The beaches are aMAzing on Shell Island, and we've never seen more than one or two other people on it when we go (in August.) We take a whole day, but honestly 1/2 would be fine for me. I am amazed at how pretty the shells are that we collect each year. I edged my garden with them.

It is a "tradition" now that we bring a picnic lunch for the beach. I make fried chicken, potato salad, iced tea, etc. When you park the boat, there is a little less than a 1/4 mile walk across the sand to get to the beaches, but it is sooooo worth it. Bring the bare minimum because it's a hike to get to the ocean side.......

Last year we got stuck in a bad thunderstorm coming back to the docks. It was raining so hard that within eye distance to the docks, we accidently went outside the designated rope area, causing the boat to get stuck. My husband jumped out, without shoes, mainly out of embarassment, to push the boat back to the proper path. He cut his feet very very badly. We really should have taken him to the emergency room immediately for stitches, but he insisted he was fine. I should have insisted, he could have really ended up with a nasty infection. It put a real damper on the second half of the trip for him, but he was a real sport.


This year we're thinking of taking this ferry over from the park. http://www.shellislandshuttle.com/
We love renting the pontoon boat, but we're doing the vacation on a shoestring, and trying to really cut costs. Does this let you off at a quiet spot? I've never noticed anyone else, or a shuttle boat for that matter.

 

[florida girl]

Did that once, years ago, and I recall that it was one of the most miserable days of my life.
If you want to find some great shells, go down to Indian Pass and spend a day on the beach. It is one of the most beautiful, uncommercialized places that you can find in the area. Huge, beautiful shells everywhere. Then, head over to the Indian Pass Raw Bar for some of the best oysters you've ever had in your life.

I second that!

 

[nodilberthere]

What's not to like about SI? Is there another spot that is over crowded that I've been luck enough to miss? We go to the spot that the guy at the rental booth tells us and there's never anyone else there....


Can you tell me a little more about Indian Pass? We drove out to Appalachicola a few years ago and ate dinner at a little place on the water that had tons off flying biting bugs. I ended up having to leave and sit in the car while my husband and the kids ate, I got bit so bad. We didn't really find too much to do there. Did we miss something, maybe?

 

[florida girl]

What's not to like about SI? Is there another spot that is over crowded that I've been luck enough to miss? We go to the spot that the guy at the rental booth tells us and there's never anyone else there....


Can you tell me a little more about Indian Pass? We drove out to Appalachicola a few years ago and ate dinner at a little place on the water that had tons off flying biting bugs. I ended up having to leave and sit in the car while my husband and the kids ate, I got bit so bad. We didn't really find too much to do there. Did we miss something, maybe?

Could it have been Dog Flies?!!!

 

[nodilberthere]

I have no idea what kind of bug. They were small like gnats.

 

[florida girl]

In a previous thread we had a heated discussion concerning the existance of nuisance flies, and how the state had gotten rid of the Dog Fly Spraying Program and plane. There are those who do not believe we need to spray. We have been in a drought condition for a couple of years so it hasn't been as bad. Don't know what folks will do when it rains as normal again.

 

[Matt J]

This spot here is actually a lot thinner than the picture shows, it's a little bit further down the island, but it is secluded and quiet. It's also one of the thinnest spots. You can spot it by looking for the only two houses on the "island".

>>Clicky<<

Little fact, it's not an island anymore there was a small pass on the Eastern end and they have let it close back up. The tides were washing the bay water out and it would get really nasty looking on the Gulf side.

P.S. It's not really a locals secret if you have google maps.