Ask the expert on Sanibel Island: Frommer's Choices

When  Arthur Frommer indicated a few years ago that Sanibel Island was in his top ten destinations, people took notice.

Frommer and his guide have helped vacationers pick their spots for many years.

His is the voice of authority in the travel industry.

So we were delighted that in addition to a broad array of suggestions on Sanibel ranging from restaurants to accommodations,   Mr. Frommer provides some delightful insights on the hidden jewels to be found on and near the island in his Sanibel guide.

Some of his recommendations are ones that are broadly acknowledged, but not all.

These are our picks for the off the beaten path destinations and experiences when staying on and exploring our barrier island.

While most people who come to Sanibel Island know of Captiva Island, Pine Island is far less known.  Largely an agricultural mecca, Pine Island has a charm of its own and reasons for exploration. 

Matlacha is one of five communities on Pine Island although technically, it is located on a smaller island in Matlacha Pass, east of Pine Island. It is an "Old Florida" fishing village, home to many brightly colored art galleries, island boutiques, seafood restaurants, and traditional Floridian cottages.

And while that certainly sounds intriguing, it gets even better. In Pineland, farming is alive and well with a slew of nurseries growing organic veggies, palm trees, hibiscus, and mangoes.

From December to February, the area's Black Sapote trees bear a most interesting fruit. Known as the "chocolate pudding fruit," it is round with thin olive-green skin and contains a mass of glossy, chocolate-colored pulp that's soft, sweet, and mild, very much like pudding. It makes a tasty and healthy dessert, a delicious pie filling, or an exotic tropical beverage when mixed with pineapple juice. The Sunburst Tropical Fruit Company, on Pine Island (tel. 239/283-1200), has the fruit for sale, so you needn't pick from the trees.

Not adventurous enough for you?  Then consider this.

Short of Lost, you can't get any more deserted than at Cayo Costa State Park (pronounced Cay-oh Cos-tah), which occupies a 2,132-acre, unspoiled barrier island with miles of white-sand beaches, pine forests, mangrove swamps, oak-palm hammocks, and grasslands. Other than natural wildlife, the only permanent residents here are park rangers.

Day-trippers can bring their own supplies and use a picnic area with pavilions. A free tram carries visitors from the dock on the sound side to the Gulf beach. The state maintains 12 basic cabins and a primitive campground on the northern end of the island near Johnson Shoals, where the shelling is spectacular. Cabins cost $40 a day, and campsites are $22 a day year-round. For camping or cabin reservations, call tel. 800/326-3521 or go to www.reserveamerica.com. There's running water on the island, but no electricity.

The park is open daily from 8am to sundown. There's a $2-per-person honor-system admission fee for day visitors. You can rent single-seat kayaks for $40 a day, two-seaters for $50 a day; for reservations, call Tropic Star Cruises, on Pine Island (tel. 239/283-0015; www.tropicstarcruises.com).

So if you think that Sanibel is the end all and be all of a vacation in Southwest Florida, you are correct.  But you can, indeed, venture out in almost any direction and have a great time!