Following on from our previous posting about Arthur Frommer’s love for Sanibel, it occurs that we could speculate on what he likes best about visiting “this idyllic haven of white-sand beaches” Check. West Wind Island Resort has one of the most idyllic beacheson the island.

West Wind Island Resortpool to beach

In the distance, the beach. In the foreground, the large heated pool.

He also mentions “weekly rentals”. Check. West Wind Island Resort has weekly rentals. But that’s not all. Unlike some condominium associations, which are fine if you have a week to be here, West Wind Island Resort offers stays as short as overnight if space is available. Makes for a nice weekend escape when you can’t manage to stay a full week.

Frommer also mentions “excellent restaurants”, which we agree with. From beach casual to island elegant, there’s a place to please your palate. That includes the Normandie Seaside pub on premise at West Wind Island Resort. It serves breakfast and lunch all year and dinner during season. You can walk to a good meal. No need to start your car.

Frommer mentions “good shopping”. We nominate Periwinkle Place as one of the most unusual island shopping experiences. 25 locally oriented shops around a park-like center. Of course, there are plenty of other quaint shopping venues and we don’t mean to slight them. But Periwinkle Place seems unique as shopping plazas go.

Finally, Frommer says, “-and most important, the Ding Darling Nature Preserve, visited by thousands of birds of every species, who bask in the sun after diving for fish, and are one of the great natural sights of wildlife in America.”

So it might be helpful to point out that West Wind Island Resort is the closest resort to Ding Darling. You can even rent a bike at the Inn and pedal along Sanibel’s inviting bike paths to get there.

Our thanks go out to Frommer, along with an invitation to visit us when he comes to Sanibel again.