It’s also about taking those memories home with you. Personally, I’m not turned on by kitschy beach souvenirs. I prefer the wonderful, elegant alternatives you can find at art galleries and boutiques in upscale resort areas like St. Armands Circle.

Harbor Island from Square on the Circle

Actually, the impetus for this blog was a blue and white sheet pattern on a bed in the window at Square on The Circle. I’m a blue and white nut anyway, and this simple, oversized shell pattern was so beautiful, I had to find out more. It’s called Harbor Island, and it’s from Lulu DK Matouk a division of luxury bedding company Matouk opened in conjunction with designer Lulu de Kwiatkowski, the founder of trade source Lulu DK Fabrics and Wallpaper.

Paradiso from Square on the Circle

Circle on the Square has her 500 thread count Egyptian cotton bedding in coordinating patterns. In addition to Harbor Island, there’s another bed inside called Paradiso with tropical birds, fish and flowers. The blue and white baby layette pattern called Minnow is irresistible.

 FantaSea

For classic beach style, don’t miss FantaSea which is brimming with elegant home accents and fashion accessories made from shells. This is the go-to place in Sarasota for beach wedding favors, shell encrusted mirrors, sconces, chandeliers and more. Plus there are cases of shell napkin rings that look like jewelry and everything from mermaid-style wedding tiaras to evening bags and shell jewelry. On a recent visit, I found great gifts from a distressed wood mermaid wall sculpture to an incredible yoke necklace of pearls and shells.

Yoke necklace with shells and mother of pearl at FantaSea.

Sarasota’s Wyland Gallery on St. Armands Circle is devoted to art that captures the beauty of the undersea world and encourages conservation. Founder Robert Wyland also owns three other galleries in Florida, all showcasing his work as well as that of 24 other artists, including David "Big Wave Dave" Wight, who’ll be at the Sarasota gallery November 30 through December 5. Wright does amazing sculpted glass interpretations of the oceans' churning waves, and will be introducing his latest works during his weeklong appearance.

When visiting the gallery, ask about Wyland’s fascinating work in the environmental art movement. He estimates a billion people view his artwork each year — particularly the mammoth Whaling Wall murals he paints to promote the preservation of the oceans and their creatures. He’s done 100 between 1996 and 2008, the last wall completed in Beijing just before the opening of the 2008 Olympics.