If you seek shells, you've got to go to Sanibel.

The island near Fort Myers, Florida, calls itself the shelling capital of the world, famous for its Sanibel Stoop  the silhouette of a beachwalker leaning over to pick up a shell.

So it's only fitting that Sanibel's Shell Fair & Show would be one of the premiere events for all things shelly. In fact, it's the largest and longest running shell fair in the country.

The 72nd annual gathering runs March 5 to 7, at the Sanibel Community House. Shellers compete for prizes while browswers shop and enjoy nautical treasures. The fair features shell displays and crafts, food and entertainment.

Tents include arrangements, wall hangings and jewelry, all created from shells.

Plus, for the purists, some undecorated shells are displayed too.

Hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and until 4 p.m. Saturday. Show admission: $3.

After the show, you'll be tempted to hit the shore yourself. Check out this article with a guide to the most common shells on area beaches.

For residents, ferries are routine public transportation.

For visitors they offer unparalled views at low prices.

The Society of American Travel Writers just released its list of the world's top ferry rides. I've only been on a couple, but would say they hit the highlights.

1. Star Ferry in Hong Kong, shown here.

2. Ferries from Sausalito to San Francisco, California    

3. Staten Island Ferry, New York harbor 

4. Washington State Ferries, Puget Sound to the San Juan Islands    

5. British Columbia Ferry System, including Vancouver to Victoria

6.  Ferry from Sydney to Manly, Australia

7.  The Ferry System of the Greek Isles

8.  The "Blue Canoes" of the Alaska State Ferry System

9.  "Norway in a Nutshell" Tour and ferry ride

10. Ferry from Mallaig to Isle of Skye, Scotland

I would add a few more.

The Sea Bus from Vancouver to North Vancouver, British Columbia; the ferries linking Istanbul's two halves cross the Bosphorus Strait and link two continents; and the Port Bolivar ferry from Galveston, Texas.

In fact, I thought I never met a ferry ride I didn't like until I saw this video of an October crossing from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland. Yikes! If you ever take the trip, remember to pack plenty of Dramamine.

Did we overlook your favorite ferry? Let us know in the comments below.

I'm always in search of great beachy fragrances, and at a recent trip to Sephora I found one I really like. Their coconut cream body butter has a wonderful natural scent�not too sweet and not too overpowering. Although the body butter doesn't go on as smooth as I personally prefer, I'm going to use every last dollop, because it smells so good. It lasts all day too, so I can maintain that "I've been lounging on the beach all day" scent well into evening. I think I'll try the body scrub next and hopefully it'll produce the same long-lasting results.

I remember the first time I wandered through Boston's Quincy Market.

It was packed with Christmas crowds and I watched a man dressed in baker's whites work his way through the crowd holding a tray of freshly baked cookies over his head. When he walked down a short flight of steps, I saw a hand reach over and grab a cookie.

It looked like a perfectly choreographed scene from Oliver, and I broke into a smile. Even decades later, I remember it clearly.

I recall this story not to encourage petty theft, but to convey the urban spirit of Boston's market. Also know as Fanueil Hall, Quincy Market's roots go back centuries. But it was revitalized more than 30 years ago as one of the first festival marketplaces � downtown dining, shopping and entertainment areas that developed in the 1970s and 80s.

My favorite thing about these markets is grazing through the food stalls. Even in late winter, the choices seem limitless. The latest offering: a restaurant devoted to macaroni and cheese, called MMMac N' Cheese. The Boston Globe recently raved about its Frisbee-sized cheesey proportions. The only problem: it shares space with a place devoted to organic salads!

But don't worry, I just bet someone nearby will be serving cookies.

What's your favorite urban market? Let us know in the comments section.

It's about this time of year that I always start to yearn for the smell of salt water and the warm weather that spring brings. To stave off late winter's chill I also inevitably begin daydreaming about that coveted week off in March or April affectionately known as spring break -- despite having not actually observed the annual tradition for many years. It's one of those rituals I can't seem to let go of as an adult, and along with it the shopping trip to purchase new supplies: swimsuit, sunscreen, sunglasses, beach towel, etc.

So when our market and beauty editor Lindsey Ellis Beatty sent me a link to Barn Dandys' painted pine beach chair I tucked it into my mental beach bag in preparation for my virtual spring trip to the coast (and hopefully a real one later this summer).

The $98 chair comes in seven different designs including hula girl (shown) and surfer boy. I hope it helps transport you to the beach whether you take an actual trip or only journey there in your mind!

There's more to playing Frisbee than tossing a disc on the beach.

It has become a competitive sport, which reaches its zenith among college players every spring. There are leagues for both men and women.

The game is called Ultimate, a fast-paced team competition that combines the best of soccer and football, with maybe a touch of rugby too. The rules are explained in the video below.

I taught my brother to play years ago and he went on to head his high school and college team and even served on a team that won a world championship in Germany several years ago. I was never that talented.

But Ultimate is a fun game to watch and this month, college teams will be flinging discs around Jekyll Island, Georgia, in the annual High Tide tournament. More than 160 teams from as far away as Colorado are expected.

The tournament begins March 2, and runs through most the month.

    Fat Tuesday is only a few hours away. So if you have a hankering for beads, and revelry, you should be on the road to New Orleans now.

    The wonderful thing about Mardi Gras is its rich traditions. It's not just a big excuse for a wild party, but it's an historic excuse for a wild party.

     Folks in the Crescent City have been parading for more than a century. One of the only-in-New-Orleans traditions is the Zulu parade. It's sponsored by an African American krewe and includes spirited bands and men throwing coconuts as favors.

     It might seem like an odd racially insensitive throwback, but this New York Times piece explains how the century old Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club fits into modern New Orleans. It's a fascinating story from perhaps our most complex city.

Even if you can't make it to a parade on Tuesday, at least kick up your heels a bit. After all as they say in the big easy, Laissez les bon temps roulez!

Photo via Flickr: Howieluvzus

I received an e-mail this morning about the new Google Earth 5.0 application. According to their Web site, it allows you to visit the deepest portions of the ocean, explore with top marine experts, learn about climate change and endangered species, and discover new places to surf, dive, and travel. How sweet is that?

For more visit Google or check out this video.

I recently saw this Dwell bedding at a local store called ob-la-di that I can't stop thinking about, and I had to share it with you guys. Full disclosure: ob-la-di is owned by our former associate homes editor Abigail Millwood. She's my style guru, and her store carries rad stuff.

I've really been wanting to paint my bedroom a bold blue since I saw Carrie Bradshaw's apartment transformation in "Sex and the City: The Movie."

I've chosen a hue called Montpelier in an eco-friendly paint by Benjamin Moore,  and I've been looking for something equally as bold for my bedding. I found a more economical option of a similar pattern Target's Web site. I'm planning a spring painting project, and as soon as I finish I'll post pictures.

The Snuggie, the silly television-advertised wearable blanket, has become the hottest item of the year.

It's on back order, and folks are clamoring for this unique outer garment that some call a blanket with sleeves.

Now it turns out, Snuggies aren't just for TV watchers or sports spectators.

Chicago is sponsoring a Snuggie pub crawl on April 18. New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle are also planning similar events. All these coastal cities can get a bit chilly, so the Snuggie would seem to be the perfect evening wear.

But why limit it to bar hopping? A Snuggie would be great on the beach too. It practically seems designed for a cruise ship deck, or even sleeping in an airport if you've missed the last flight of the night.

Perhaps the Snuggie is really the ultimate travel accessory.

Have you joined the cult of the Snuggie? Let us know in the comments below.