Isolated from the amusement parks and recreational activities of the beach, the Shell Island offers you the solemnity and quietness that you could not find at the Panama City Beach. The island has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world where the pristine wilderness is its primary key. If you’re looking for a peaceful day filled with interaction with Mother Nature, the gorgeous and serene island is the perfect vacation stop you must visit during your Panama City Beach adventure!

Where is Shell Island?

Located off the coast of Panama City Beach, FL, the undeveloped barrier island is around seven miles or eleven kilometers long from the east to the west side between the St. Andrew Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The name came from the abundance of shells located in and around the island so you might find yourself immersed with beautiful and alluring prized shell.

What does Shell Island Offer?

The island is a home for clean forests, sand dunes, and a variety of species of wildlife animals where they meet and coexist in the beautiful island. It is a nature-oriented island where you can’t find any trace of civilization such as restaurants or even a restroom. You have to bring your own food and refreshments when visiting Shell Island. The absence of facilities complements well with the pristine and pure nature of the island where you could enjoy the majestic sceneries, bountiful wildlife, privacy, and have peace of mind. There are also bottle-nose dolphins you could find along the way and have a chance of meeting the intelligent creatures of the sea! There’s plenty of room for you to have a relaxing afternoon where no one could disturb you. To have complete privacy is a luxury nowadays.

As a protected natural reserve, you have to play an essential role in helping the preservation of the island’s unspoiled condition. Whatever you bring in there, always be sure to take it with you and never leave any trash. After all, that’s the least we could do for Mother Nature.

How to get to Shell Island

There’s no need for you to secure a park pass to enter the island, but you need a way to get there. There are many tour boats, pontoon boats, and wave runners that allows you to safely travel to the island while enjoying the stunning view and interact with the friendly dolphins! Tour boats such as Shell Island Shuttle carries passengers that runs for seven days a week during peak summer season. You could find the shuttle port at the St. Andrews State Park and be sure to call in and check on the availability of the tour boat so that there won’t be complications when you get there. There’s also the PCB Shell Island Express Ferry in which you could find it at Capt. Anderson’s Marina.

Conclusion

Words could not express the beauty of the island. Despite being an island isolated from recreational facilities and activities, you could do numerous things at this island. On the way, you could enjoy the company of friendly dolphins. Upon arrival, you could relax on Panama City Beach’s white sugar sand beach, go snorkeling with your family, collecting beautiful shells, and walk around the forests of the island where you could find many deer, many types of birds like the shorebirds, and numerous endangered species such as loggerhead and green turtles.

Going to Shell Island is a must if you want to maximize and complete the entire Panama City Beach experience. Click here now and learn about the best vacation homes in Panama City Beach, FL!

How You Can Visit the Beach on a Budget

As the cooler months roll in, many people start daydreaming about a Panama City Beach vacation. There’s just something about the sun, sand, and water that makes you smile. You’d love to take a beach vacation, but you’re worried about how to pay for it.

Thankfully, there are ways to travel to the beach on a budget. Read on to discover how you can travel to and stay at the beach more cheaply.

Image Source: Pixabay

Traveling on a Budget

One of the most expensive parts of any beach vacation is the actual traveling, especially if you have to fly. However, there are ways to find cheaper tickets. RealSimple.com explains that airfares change regularly. What’s expensive now can get cheaper later. Sign up for email alerts when prices change. And if your beach is outside the country, look for non-U.S. airlines for cheaper prices.

Of course, driving to the beach will be cheaper. Search your area for lakes with beaches, as these can have the same feel and amenities as a coastal beach.

Nomadic Matt lists a few other ways to travel more cheaply:

– Sign up for an airline credit card. Many airlines offer free flights just for signing up, and you can earn points for cheaper flights later.
– Watch for deals giving you frequent flyer miles. Earning enough points by shopping at the right stores can help you get closer to free tickets.
– Put as much of your bills as possible on the airline credit card. As long as you can pay your balance off each month, you’ll be earning miles for costs you normally have anyway.

Saving on Hotels

Once you have your travel figured out, your beach vacation is coming closer to reality. The next step is to find a budget-friendly place to stay. NerdWallet has a list of ways to find cheaper hotel rooms, including:

– Once you’ve found a good price on a hotel room from a site like KAYAK or Expedia, look for promotions on the hotel’s website. Sometimes, those prices are lower.

– Call the hotel and negotiate. Explain the low price you found online and ask if they can beat it.
– Check any organizations you belong to for any discounts. AAA and AARP members, students, and members of the military can usually get lower room rates.
– You don’t have to get a beachfront hotel. Hotels a little way from the beach are often cheaper, even after factoring costs for an Uber.

But hotels aren’t your only option. Airbnb and HomeAway let you rent a room or apartment directly from owners, which often saves money. And if you have any family or friends near the beach, you should ask if you can stay with them. Sleeping on the couch can make a huge difference in your budget.

Two Great Destinations

As you explore reasonable hotel and travel options, you may be looking at many different destinations for that beach vacation. There are lots of options available, but two that stand out for budget travelers are Panama City, Florida and Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Panama City on the Florida Panhandle is one of those “hidden gems” for most people. Their local airport (Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport) has recently added many direct flights into and out of the city. Panama City has fantastic beaches, plenty of reasonably priced hotels, and easy travel routes. If you’re looking for the perfect place to stay, there are many affordable and comfortable rentals available.

Gulf Shores, AL is another great place for a beach vacation. There are many activities to do here, or you can just sit on the Gulf Coast beach and relax.

And don’t forget to make arrangements for your home and pet before you leave. Knowing that things at home are taken care of will allow to relax and get the most out of your vacation.

Make Your Beach Trip Affordable

Heading to the beach doesn’t have to break the bank. There are ways to find cheaper flights and hotels, and two great but affordable destinations include Panama City and Gulf Shores. It’s indeed possible for you to take that much-needed beach vacation and feel good about how much you spent for it.

Author credit: Catherine Workman
catherine@wellnessvoyager.com | Wellnessvoyager.com