Just something I thought might be useful.
Link to the post: http://free-gis.com/how-to-convert-kml-to-shapefile/17/
Link to the Garmin DNR application page that is mentioned: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/tools/arcview/extensions/DNRGarmin/DNRGarmin.html

Google Earth is my favorite application
optimizer