Hello All.

   It looks like the family will do a trip to Florida this December for a
couple of weeks.  We are going to drive down from Indiana. It's been a few
years for me so I'd like to get some recs from the list.  It looks like we
will be in Orlando, then Sanibel, Everglades for some nature photography,
across to SE Florida (Miami area, no Keys this trip) and back north, maybe
to the Port St. Joe area.

So,

Are there any good shops that one would recommend that sell quality
material (non-beach souviner shops?)  Somewhere I have a 'Sheller's
Directory', but generally everything in that book seems to be dated.

Where on Sanibel would you recommend staying? (nice but not too expensive)
Almost 10 years ago we stayed at a very nice small place that had a sink
to wash out our goodies, unfortunately I cannot recall the name of the
place.

Are the Gulf waters around Sanibel safe for Snorkeling? I'm a pretty
strong swimmer, but would like to avoid places with serious undertows.

Yes, I know, no live stuff. But if one finds material with dead animals in
it that just need to be cleaned is that ok?

I know this is kind of specific, but on my infrequent trips to Florida
I've been skunked on one 'common' species and that is Ficus communis.
I've found large pieces around Port St. Joe, but that's been about it.  If
anyone has any insight to this species in W. Florida I'd much appreciate
their input.

I will certainly be going to the Shell museum this time.  Last time I
messed up as my only open day was when the museum was closed.

I'm hopeing my 3 year old daughter gets the 'shell-bug'. Otherwise who is
going to inherit my collection?

The trip has to be balanced of course; my wife is an orchid grower and so
we will be hitting orchid greenhouses as well.  But any shelling tid-bits
would be appreciated.

Cheers and many thanks!

Doug

Please feel free to respond privately as necessary.

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