Sanibel Island, FL

Gulf Coast Treasures

Have your kids ever found a whole, live seashell? You know, the kind with little critters still living inside? If not, they're in for a real treat on Florida's Gulf Coast.

No more buckets of broken shards. No more imagining what a full scallop shell really looks like. On Sanibel, they can actually find and hold perfect conches, starfish, and sea urchins -- of the quality you'd see in a picture book.

More than 200 varieties of shells wash up on these shores each day. There's so much to see above and below the water, visitors must complain of sore backs from hunching over as they search for hidden treasures.

Between winter baseball, wildlife, and Thomas Edison's legacy, there are enough activities on Sanibel and at nearby Fort Myers Beach to keep everyone happy for at least a week.