What beaches do you recommend for viewing the tide pools?

Taking the family to florida and along with the usual orlando and sea-world experiences I would like to expose my children to the natural wonders of the ocean. I am from the weat coast so I know where their tide-pools are but I can%26#39;t find any information for Florida%26#39;s Tide-Pools.Please help if you can.

What beaches do you recommend for viewing the tide pools?

Probably because there aren%26#39;t any like you%26#39;d see along the west coast or up around Maine. Sanibel and Captiva are barrier islands - essentially large sand bars. No rocks, except some used along channels to slow errosion.

There are shallows and they are extensive. Many live shells (no collecting allowed) live there. The Miss Paradise takes you out to uninhabited islands to gather various sealife and then uses each specimen in the holding tanks to explain things and release it back. The naturalist guides in the Ding Darling Wildlife refuge are also very educational. They have large areas that are flooded by closing culverts to naturally reduce the mosquitos that breed there on the mud flats. The whole things created a new environment and the bird life is wonderful, especially in the fall and spring. There%26#39;s a touch tank in the Bailys-Matthews Shell Museum along with pleasent docents.

See www.sanibel-captiva.org for tour info. and www.sunnydayguide.com/sanibel_captiva/ for some info.

Snorkeling off Sanibel is pretty sandy, but good off Cayo Costa. Just no natural reefs anywhere along the coast there, but small fish, rays, and lots of shells and sand dollars. ALL are protected and cannot be gathered.

John Pennakamp on Key Largo has an underwater state park. The reefs have taken a beating from the recent hurricanes. You will find them all along the keys. try www.fla-keys.com for good info about the area.

What beaches do you recommend for viewing the tide pools?

Just came back from Bahia Honda State Park in the lower keys and the tide pools were amazing... sea life abounds... sea fans, sea coral, sea sponges, you name it, all over! Enjoy!