There's plenty of space for everyone along the shore in Treasure Island – including beach chairs, umbrellas and shaded cabanas you can rent by the hour.
Treasure Island
With a name like Treasure Island, you know this is a town that doesn’t take itself too seriously – one where old salts and young folks alike will have a blast. The beach here is uncommonly wide in most parts, which means you’ll find plenty of space to spread out. Old-school mom ‘n’ pop hotels lend T.I. (as locals call it) a ton of Old Florida charm, as does Sunset Beach, a quaint neighborhood on its southern tip.
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Beach Time
The main attraction of Treasure Island is its incredibly wide beach, perfect for families with gentle Gulf waters that lap at the shore. It’s a popular destination for kite-flyers (there’s even a kite festival each year). You can rent paddle boards, kayaks and shaded cabanas from local vendors right on the beach. The kiddos will love racing down the giant inflatable water slides just west of the beach parking lot at 104th Avenue.
If your getaway is a friends’ or couples’ trip, Treasure Island is a great place to order adult beverages from a beachfront eatery such as Sloppy Joe’s (or Caddy’s on Sunset Beach) and stroll right out onto the sand for a dreamy sunset.
Sanding Ovations is Back!
Don't miss the amazing Annual Sanding Ovations Master's Cup this November, featuring master sand sculptors from around the world! It's a one-of-a-kind event on the beautiful beach at Treasure Island. See stunning sand sculptures, and enjoy a beer garden, fireworks, live music and much more.
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Top Things to Do in Treasure Island
If you can plan your visit to include a Sunday evening, you won't want to miss the sunset drum circle on the beach behind the Bilmar Beach Resort. It draws locals and visitors alike to experience a surreal sound: the blending of waves and drumming. And speaking of surreal, Sanding Ovations, a yearly sand-sculpting competition, brings professional sand-sculptors to the island in November to create massive, otherworldly masterpieces in the sand.
While most of Treasure Island is residential, you’ll find some good souvenir shopping at Sun Coast Surf Shop, Vine ‘n’ Grind and, of course, the legendary Florida Shell Shop. Get all your beach essentials – sunblock, boogie boards, coolers and the like – at Surf Style.
Where to Eat
For pub fare just steps from the sand, Sloppy Joe’s is a great option – as is Caddy’s on Sunset Beach, where you can grab a table right on the sand. Find good Mexican food at the VIP Lounge or Taco Bus (which has vegan and gluten-free entrees). For date-night options, check out Middle Grounds Grill or BRGR Kitchen + Bar which you’ll find at the chic Treasure Island Beach Resort. For breakfast, get a hearty, diner-style plate at Foxy’s Cafe.
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Families have a blast playing in the sand at Treasure Island; building sand castles is a favorite pastime here.
Be amazed at the huge, intricate sand sculptures you'll see during Sanding Ovations, a multi-day sand sculpture competition and festival that brings the world's bests sand sculptors to Treasure Island every November.
Wide beaches and gentle breezes make Treasure Island the perfect spot for a yearly Kite Festival.
Places to Stay
Find old-school cool at the Thunderbird Beach Resort in the heart of town, which sports a huge neon thunderbird sign at its entrance and a tiny, charming tiki bar facing the beach. It's been a family fav since 1957. Up the beach, The Sands of Treasure Island is a big draw for lovers of all things mid-century (did someone say shuffleboard?). Stay at the Bilmar Beach Resort for a full-service resort experience, or immerse yourself in luxury at Treasure Island Beach Resort. For a budget option that’s right across the street from the beach, grab a room at Treasure Bay Resort & Marina – you can still see the beach from its west-facing rooms.
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How to Get Around Treasure Island
Since Treasure Island is small (just three miles long), it's pretty easy to navigate on foot or bike. You can also hop on the Suncoast Beach Trolley, which travels up and down Gulf Boulevard between Clearwater and St. Pete Beach, passing each stop every half-hour. The trolleys are wheelchair accessible.