See this, Skip that: Travel Zoo and Good Morning America Visit Sanibel

Travel Zoo, a quickly emerging and growing web business, bills itself as "The Deal Experts. Over 26 million Subscribers Worldwide".  So when the deal experts team up with Good Morning America to make suggestions about what to see and do on Sanibel, we sit up and pay attention.

Their "See this, Skip that" travel advice is a great read for those who are planning a first or even a return trip to Sanibel, Captiva and the surrounding area.

And we knew we were off to a good start with the introduction to the Island:  In some ways, the Ft. Myers/Sanibel area is quintessential Florida, from the beaches to the fairways, and thanks to some pretty enviable weather. But this beautiful spot in the southwestern shores of the Sunshine State is also a destination all its own: history, culture and nature collide here, offering a unique travel experience that other Gulf Coast areas simply can't match.

Their very first recommendation takes the visitor into the most intriguing of Island water activities.  The USS Mohawk is a former U.S. Coast Guard cutter that was involved in more than a dozen attacks against Nazi subs during World War II. It was sunk off Sanibel Island in July of 2012 and is now an artificial reef. Located a bit more than 25 miles offshore and 90 feet down, it's paradise to the more experienced diver, for sure. But this summer, it's especially worth the plunge, as it hosts an underwater exhibit of works by Andreas Franke; the Austrian artist superimposed images of models in WWII-era dress onto pictures he took of the Mohawk, encased them in Plexiglas, and then hung them off the side of the submerged vessel. Come October, the images will resurface and go on display at the Alliance for the Arts in Ft. Myers.

And we fully appreciate the knowledge that they pass on about the Island lexicon.  "Pink Gold" is our name for shrimp, both for its color as well as for its value. 

But the good counsel offered does not end with our looking down on our  beautiful , tropical islands.  One of the great suggestions proffered is to visit the  The Planetarium at the Calusa Nature Center,  the only one in Southwest Florida, and the only one west of Miami. There, a high-tech digital projector plays jaw-dropping shows that encompass the entire 44-foot dome, and twice-daily presentations focus on stargazing, tracking the planets and introducing guests to the wonders of the telescope. After your galactic visit, stick around and explore the rest of the 105-acre site, which features a butterfly aviary, several hiking trails, a museum, resident critters – from a fox to a skunk – and a bird display that houses permanently injured eagles, hawks and owls.

What are your suggestions for see this, skip that when it comes to Sanibel?