Lay of the Land: Treasure Island, FL
The aptly named Treasure Island is home to sparkling beaches, one of the best Cuban sandwiches in Florida, and a classic beachfront bar scene you won’t find anywhere else.
Orientation Between the Gulf of Mexico and Blind Pass, eight miles west of St. Petersburg.
Nearby Shell Key Reserve, St. Petersburg, and Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve.
Date incorporated 1955.
Namesake The famous book of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Notable for The stunning Sunset Beach Pavilion, stogies and stories at The Cigar Republic, and eight golf courses within five miles.
Where to stay Treasure Island Beach Resort
Authentic Sunshine State
Treasure Island is prized for the loose, fun environment at places like CJ’s On The Island and Ka’Tiki, where you can belt out karaoke with locals and dance the night away with a frosty drink in hand. For the wildlife enthusiast and more adventurous sorts, Alligator Attraction at nearby Madeira Beach lets you photograph, feed, and even hold iconic Florida gators that range in size from babies to seven-footers.
Walkable Treasure
The entire length of the island can be walked in just over an hour via pedestrian-friendly roads, which offer largely unobstructed views of the ocean along the route. The main strip is lined with shops and restaurants for browsing and dining just a short jaunt from four miles of white sands and sparking blue waters. For an escape from the hustle and bustle, take the Sunset Beach boardwalk through quiet residential neighborhoods, and discover stretches of dunes where waving sea oats are the only crowds you’ll see.
Aquatic Adventures
Salty Dog Charters offers sports fishing day trips to miles of artificial and natural reefs that teem with tarpon, kingfish, and snapper. A five-minute drive to nearby St. Petersburg’s Dolphin Snorkeling Cruise gives you the chance to interact with the playful mammals from the back of a boat.
The Great Outdoors
You’ll be in the car for less than 15 minutes in any direction before you hit a state park, with the famed beaches and offshore kayaking of Caladesi Island State Park to the north and the heavy concentration of native Florida coral reefs in Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve to the southeast.
Classic Florida Dining & Drinking
We are of course partial to BRGR Kitchen & Bar at Treasure Island Beach Resort, where fun, minimalist modern design meets the tuck-in comfort of a great burger and your favorite pint. The St. Petersburg Times has called The Floridian’s Cuban sandwich the best you’ll find in the entire state. For dinner and drinks, enjoy authentic Moroccan cuisine at The Pearl Restaurant, then swing by Caddy’s, one of the last classic beachfront bars in Florida. Our pick? The potent, fruity Tipsy Turtle, which tastes sweet but has a kick you shouldn’t underestimate.
Where to Stay Treasure Island Beach Resort
