The beach on Honeymoon Island State Park is filled with rocks all along the gulf side until you reach mid island so it was fun for us to see such a different landscape meeting the water. I was especially thrilled to see creativity at it’s best! Anthony from Oldsmar, Florida designed this beautiful piece of beach art that I have named (because of the first photo) “Rock The Horizon”.
We also found more cool rocks….. fossil AGATIZED CORAL GEODES which are Florida’s state stone (who knew we had a state stone?).
These stones are around 25 million years old and the Tampa Bay, Florida area is rich with them.
Similar to finding shellers on Sanibel, I found a rocker on Honeymoon. Rebecca from Clearwater comes out to the island on the weekends looking for GEODES.
Look at this one she found. I’m starting to understand why these are so fun to collect….
This is the tip of a rock that I found embedded with lots of tiny crystals. Romans thought AGATIZED CORAL to have great healing powers.
Look at all of these gorgeous patterns and colors.
Along with the TURBANS and SHIVA SHELLS I showed you on Road Trip To Honeymoon Island- Part 1, we also found a nice variety of shells along with the rocks. Can you identify most of these shells? (click on the photo to enlarge)
And you know I loved finding my minis…
Stay tuned for the next exciting episode of “Road Trip To Honeymoon Island- Part 3” coming to your computer screen soon. ;) heehee
Oh and BTW, I got a photo from our friends Dick and Mary who were shelling off West Gulf Drive beach access #7 yesterday. This is great news for good shelling this week.
I love Honeymoon Island and have been there numerous times. Have always picked up shells but never thought to look at the beautiful rocks. Thanks for sharing.
I love finding geodes. The ones we find around KY Lake are usually small – 1″ or 2″ in diameter and more rounded. I’ve never seen the ones you’re finding but they are very cool!
I am so glad you covered the geodes. I found one at Honeymoon and did not know what I had found. I am sound glad you are enjoying yourself here.
Hm, interesting, I have to check out this area one day. I have some rocks from St. Augustine like that, but the where it is black mine are caramel colored. they look great though.
Those rocks really rock, love the dark blue. Also, congratulations Kelli G, you’ll love your scoop.
Thank you for highlighting another place I need to try to visit. I always drag rocks home along with my shells, and some of those geodes need to come here!
I know I’ve picked up some if those ricks and tossed them back because I was disappointed it wasn’t a shell. Next time I’ll take a better look. I’ve been missing out!
Very cool to see the geodes. Bet they are heavier to carry than shells! :) I’m sure Super Strong Clark carried them for you.
Looks like y’all had a fun time exploring new territory. I grew upon Honeymoon Island but just recently discovered the agatized coral. So if the shelling is light on Sanibel or the sharks teeth are not so good on Manasota Key – it’s nice to know there is always another option of geode hunting.
I’m on vacation in Wilmington NC trying to talk these hurricane nay-sayers into going to the beach. They didn’t even know they had a state shell…gasp! (scotch bonnet)
What is the dark flat looking shell in the “identify the shells” picture … bottom left ?
Want cool rocks ? Go to Maine … Jasper Beach … AMAZING SIGHT … a beach of very smooth round rocks of all shapes, colors and sizes ! Awesome !! and you can still take some :)
jen, that’s an operculum. It’s the “door” to probably a lightning whelk.
Pam – I’m curious if you went up the gulf side of the sand split to the north end or if you followed the bay side. I went and looked at maps of the island and I couldn’t tell if the gulf side was too difficult to walk the beach to the end. It looks like the paths are on the bay side of the split but I bet there are better ‘finds’ on the gulf side. I’m going to have to add this to my list of places to see when visiting Florida.
Rock On!!! very cool!
Love the little angel wings in the pic of the minis. Is that a rose tellin, too?
The geodes are really neat! I have some from out west, but haven’t found any (or noticed any) when I’ve been shelling. I will be keeping my eyes peeled in the future! Great finds!
I just discovered your lovely blog and have signed up as a follower. I’ve just put the finished touches on my new blog ‘Coastal Style’ It will have lots of inspiration on beach houses, resortwear, summer food, travel and anything ‘beachy’. I had a lot of fun putting it together so maybe you would like to check it out if you have a spare minute.
http://coastal-style.blogspot.com/
x
Melissah
I will have to go there sometime, looks amazing!
Wow, so cool. And happy anniversary! That’s my kind of paradise: shells and agates, because of course– I collect rocks too!
Born a land-locked girl, I love rocking as much as shelling – we’ll have to check out these fabulous geodes on a trip down sometime – so pretty! We have regular geodes around here, which can be such fantastic surprises! So glad to know someone else loves the minis – I’ve been addicted since I was little!
That little pocket of tiny crystals on the agatized coral is known as druzy. A very pretty find! I live in Oregon and hubby and I just got back from a trip to Marco Island. I brought a gazillion shells home. Can’t wait for our next trip to beautiful Florida.
Gorgeous shells!
Has anyone ever found sharks teeth on Honeymoon or Caladesi ??
You should know that it is illegal to remove any rock or mineral from these beaches. Volunteers and rangers patrol Honeymoon, Dunedin causeway and will fine and revoke daily admittance. They will also return any rocks collected from you to the beach. Because it’s the state Stone it is protected by law.
Christi, you have single-handedly killed the thread. Thank you, I will still be on the lookout for geodes but only to look for not to disturb. I worry you might jump out of the bushes.