Shell Island is a seven-mile undeveloped barrier island lying between St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. There are no buildings, no roads, no power, and no facilities — just dunes, scrub palmetto, and miles of empty sand. The water on the Gulf side is the colour of jade glass on a calm day.
The shuttle from St. Andrews State Park is the easiest way over and gives you a four-hour window on the island. The bay side is good for shelling — bay scallops in late summer, a steady supply of cockle shells and the occasional sand dollar year round. Bottlenose dolphins are common in the channel between the island and the park. Bring water, sunscreen, and shade; in summer the unprotected sand is fierce. The last shuttle back is non-negotiable — get on it.