Best Activities and Things to do in Treasure Island Florida
Florida’s Gulf beaches are known to be some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida. The beaches of Treasure Island, Florida, are no exception with white sand, crystal-clear waters, and breathtaking sunsets.
Treasure Island is often looked over for its well-known Tampa Bay beach neighbors like Clearwater Beach. But there is plenty to do in Treasure Island, which we’ll cover today!
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History of Treasure Island
Before you visit Treasure Island, you might be interested in hearing more about its history.
In an attempt to get people to move to Treasure Island, property owners in the early 1900s wanted to attract more people to the island to boost sales of the properties being developed. They tried attracting people by burying some wooden chests on the beach, then they pretended to “discover” them. People started calling it Treasure Island and the name stuck.
Things to Do in Treasure Island
You don’t have to leave the island to stay busy but you easily can. Treasure Island is nestled in between Madeira Beach and St Pete Beach which gives you plenty of options for activities. This gives you so much freedom and flexibility to create the vacation of your dreams. It will also please everyone in your group, whether they want to lay back and relax or stay busy the whole time.
Beaches
Of course, visiting the beach is what draws most people to Treasure Island. Treasure Island beaches are very wide. This is stunning but this does mean you may be walking a longer distance from your car or resort to the beachfront so keep that in mind if someone in your group has mobility issues.
Sunset Beach is a little more off the beaten path. It used to be a quiet spot to enjoy the beach and while it has gotten much more popular in recent years, it’s not as well known as the other beaches in the area. There is paid parking and and this is also where Caddy’s is, a popular waterfront bar and restaurant.
Sunshine Beach is a quiet spot on the north edge of the island. It’s around 7 blocks long that starts just south of John’s Pass Bridge. This area is good for shelling and watching all the boats heading out. It’s not uncommon to see dolphins chasing the boats, too.
Treasure Island Beach is the most popular beach with three miles of beachfront and plenty of space to spread out. Restrooms and showers are available at Gulf Front Park.
Friday Morning Market
Every Friday from December until April, there is a Friday morning market. It’s an open air market with arts and crafts, produce, plants, flowers, and more. There is also live entertainment. It’s located at the Treasure Island Community Center Park behind the Walgreens on Gulf Blvd.
Atomic Claw
This is one of the most unique things to do in Treasure Island. It’s also a newer spot. It’s a Tokyo style arcade spot.
There are over 40 different kinds of claw machines which are cutting edge and also nostalgic. It’s a lot of fun!
Treasure Island Slide
The slide at Treasure Island is the world’s largest inflatable slide, standing at 4 stories tall. You can’t miss it as you’re driving along Gulf Blvd or walking along the beach.
As long as the weather allows, the slide is open daily. There are various ticket packages to take your turn down the slide, including an unlimited option. There is no height requirement so it’s good for almost any age. The company that owns the slide also owns cabanas in the same area and you can buy packages for both the cabanas and the slide if you’d like.
Treasure Island Drum Circle
There is a drum circle every Sunday evening. If you’re not familiar with a drum circle, it’s basically a gathering for people to come together with drums or other percussion instruments. There is often dancing and the drum circle promotes inclusivity and community. It’s a great way to connect with others, both locals and visitors. The drum circle is so meaningful that it’s common for visitors to attend every time they come back to visit.
Shopping
Sun Coast Surf Shop has bike and stand up paddle board rentals. They also have plenty of items you might need for the beach such as sunglasses, shoes, clothes, and more.
Florida Shell Shop is a unique store with shells (of course, given the store name), books, magazines, and more.
Salty Sisters Gourmet Popcorn is a unique stop as well. As you can tell from the name, they sell gourmet popcorn. There are unique flavors such as beer cheese and salt and vinegar. You can sample their flavors before purchasing as well.
Pirate’s Cove Shell House is a beach shop that carries everything you might need for your Florida beach vacation, plus some extras. You can get anything from clothing to souvenirs here.
Captain Dave’s Trading Company is a nice little shop. It’s another good place to get souvenirs.
Treasure Bay Golf & Tennis
This spot is great for sports enthusiasts with golf, basketball, shuffleboard, sand volleyball courts, tennis, and pickleball facilities. There is also a golf course with water views.
See Bucky the Pirate
Bucky the Pirate isn’t necessarily worth going out of your way to see, but he is pretty cool. Peg legged Bucky is the mascot of Treasure Island. It used to be on the top of a motel in the 1950s. The motel was torn down in 2005. Bucky was donated to the City of Treasure Island and now he is located in Treasure Island Park for everyone to enjoy.
Sanding Ovations
Sanding Ovations is held every year at the end of November. It’s one of the best things to do in Treasure Island if you happen to be there when the event is going on.
Some of the best sand sculpting artists in the world come to build sand sculptures every year. There is a different theme every year and the sand sculptures are always very impressive.
The event happens in November, typically the weekend before Thanksgiving with an encore weekend the weekend after Thanksgiving. But if you visit the week before, you can usually see the displays in the process of being built. You can also visit during the week between the events to see the sand sculptures, there just won’t be an official event.
The event itself has booths with local shops, food, and drinks. There are also live concerts and fireworks. The event is right on the beach by the Treasure Island slide so you can enjoy a beach day or check out the slide, too.
Take the Suncoast Beach Trolley
While there are plenty of things to do in Treasure Island, depending how much time you’re spending in the are you may want to check out some nearby beach towns. I love exploring all of the different beach towns because they each have their own unique feel.
If you don’t have a car, the Suncoast Beach Trolley makes it easy. It runs up and down Gulf Blvd to several beach towns, such as Clearwater Beach, Madeira Beach (where you can spend the day at John’s Pass Village), and St Pete Beach.
The trolley is very reasonable at $2.25. Children 5 and under are free as long as they are accompanied by an adult. There are also options to purchase multi-day unlimited rides. The trolleys will pick you up approximately every 20-30 minutes.
As an added bonus, you can even take the Sun Runner, a bus that goes back and forth between the beaches and downtown St Petersburg. You can catch the Sun Runner at 3 different beach locations:
- 4700 Gulf Blvd
- 5402 Gulf Blvd
- 5505 Gulf Blvd
The Sun Runner also arrives every 15 minutes (approximately). You can check the status of your bus easily with the Transit App.
Treasure Island Beach Trail
One of my favorite things to do in Treasure Island is to walk the trail. It’s a paved wakling/biking trail that runs along the gulf of Mexico. It’s not particularly long (one mile) but it is really nice and offers stunning views. There are also a handful of beach bars along the trail if you want to stop for a cocktail on your walk.
Treasure Island Restaurants
Here are some of the best restaurants in Treasure Island:
Foxy’s is a laid back diner serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Their servings are large and prices are reasonable.
Caddy’s is located right on Sunset Beach. It’s a great spot for a tropical drink. They have a bar downstairs close to the beach and also one upstairs with good views. They serve food as well.
Sloppy Joe’s is located in the Bilmar Beach Resort. The views are incredible with sweeping Gulf Coast views. There is both indoor and outdoor seating. It’s a sister location of the Key West Sloppy Joe’s, though if you’ve been to the Key West location, you’ll notice this one is much different.
BRGR Kitchen and Bar is located in the Treasure Island Beach Resort. It is a more upscale feel on a casual restaurant. It is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. BRGR serves elevated classic American fare.
Sea Dog Brewing Co. is a restaurant and brewery. Their blueberry wheat beer is my absolute favorite. Their restaurant is large and popular with an awesome atmosphere. They serve a variety of food from seafood to sandwiches. Some spots in the restaurant have bay views. You can dock your boat here.
Ricky T’s is across the street from the beach. It’s a relaxed, laid back restaurant (feel free to go in your beach attire!) that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They often have live music.
Middle Grounds is a more upscale atmosphere specializing in seafood. Their seafood is mostly caught by their own fleet but if you’re not a seafood person, there are other amazing options as well.
Best Spots to Grab a Drink in Treasure Island
R Bar is a no frills local spot. I love hole in the wall places like this, but it isn’t going to be everyone’s jam. You can order casual food, beer, and they have live music.
Lana’s Place is a bit of a hidden gem with reasonably priced drinks and a low-key vibe.
Sloppy Joe’s (yes, like the Sloppy Joe’s of Key West!) This spot is great because it’s right on the beach. While the stretch of beach here is very long, Sloppy Joe’s has incredible views. They have a full menu here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Ricky T’s is a really popular spot right across the street from the beach. They usually have live music and it’s a really lively vibe. You can also order from a full menu here.
Ikki Woo Woo’s Tiki Hut is temporarily closed due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton
Sea Dog Brewing Company is a great spot for craft beer. It’s a two story building with some lawn games downstairs and bayside views from upstairs. There is also a boat dock if you want to arrive by boat. And like many other spots, you can order from a full menu.
Island Girl Tiki Bar is a full tiki bar right on the beach. It’s a perfect place for day drinking by the beach or drinks at sunset.
Caddy’s Treasure Island is a beachfront cafe serving seafood, burgers & other casual food. Their main building was destroyed in Hurricane Helene but they haven’t skipped a beat – they are now serving out of a food truck. Get a drink here and relax right on the beach – it doesn’t get more beachfront than this!
KaTiki is a no-frills bar with pool tables. There is often live music and you can get simple food like burgers and fried fish sandwiches.
Where to Stay
One of my favorite things about Treasure Island is that it has more of an “old Florida” feel to it. And Treasure Island resorts are no exception. I love the authentic vibes of the resorts in the area. Each of these hotels is a great place to stay with close proximity to the best Treasure Island attractions.
The Thunderbird Beach Resort (*Currently Closed*)
The Thunderbird Beach Resort is one of the most iconic resorts on Treasure Island. It dates back to 1957. There are two pools, a hot tub, a tiki hut on site, and live music poolside.
Sadly, the Thunderbird was severely affected by Hurricane Helene. Its current building is going to be torn down and it will be rebuilt. The owners plan to keep as much of the resort’s history as they can in the rebuild process.
Bilmar Beach Resort
Bilmar Beach Resort is another iconic resort in Treasure Island. They have 166 rooms and most of them are beachfront. There are also two heated pools, a spa, and a rooftop sundeck.
Click Here to Book the Bilmar Beach Resort
Treasure Island Beach Resort
Treasure Island Beach Resort is a more modern option. This resort was built in 2016. It has a coastal feel, which is appropriate since it is located on the beach. Rooms have kitchenettes and private balconies or terraces. Most rooms have a partial or full view of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Click Here to Book Treasure Island Beach Resort
Transportation on Treasure Island
Treasure Island has public transportation that is practical, easy to use, and can get you to explore some nearby beach towns. You can also catch the Sun Runner to go to downtown St. Petersburg.
If you want to take a day trip a little further away, you might want to rent a car. There are several great day trips from the Tampa Bay area that are just a short drive away. Some of my favorite day trips are Anna Maria Island, Weeki Wachee, Safety Harbor, Dunedin, and Tarpon Springs.
There are also two great services that operate on tips only. They service Madeira Beach, Treasure Island, St Pete Beach, and Pass-A-Grille. Free Beach Ride can be reached at 727-776-7553. Free Island Hopper can be reached at 727-217-6935. Even though the rides are free, please don’t forget to tip our driver.
Treasure Island is one of Florida’s best beaches yet offers so much more. It really is a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. Whether you want to spend your day relaxing at one of Florida’s pristine beaches or find more adventure, you can make your vacation in Treasure Island whatever you want it to be.
