{"id":311981,"date":"2026-06-18T17:12:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T17:12:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/311981\/"},"modified":"2026-06-18T17:12:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T17:12:07","slug":"floridas-low-key-st-petersburg-suburb-is-a-gulf-coast-getaway-with-white-sand-beaches-and-fresh-local-eats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/311981\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida’s Low-Key St. Petersburg Suburb Is A Gulf Coast Getaway With White Sand Beaches And Fresh Local Eats"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Halbergman\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Along the slim barrier islands fringing Florida’s Gulf Coast, beautiful beaches, lively sandbars, and friendly communities welcome many of the 140 million tourists<\/a> who visit the Sunshine State annually. One of these vibrant communities is Treasure Island, a 3-mile barrier island featuring a wide beachfront\u00a0between St. Pete Beach and Madeira Beach, just 8 miles from downtown St. Petersburg. As you drive over the Treasure Island Causeway, you’ll know you’re close when you’re greeted by the larger-than-life-sized Bucky the Pirate<\/a> sign. You’ll know you’ve arrived when, at the intersection leading onto the island, you look up at Thunderbird Beach Resort\u00a0(closed<\/a> after the 2024 hurricanes)\u00a0looming over the beach, looking more like a vintage casino than a legendary Florida hotel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Gulf Boulevard runs parallel to Treasure Island’s white-sand beaches,\u00a0loosely divided\u00a0into Mid-Island Beach, Sunset Beach in the south, and Sunshine Beach to the north. Hotels, shops, independently-owned restaurants and bars, and even a paved shoreline path welcome visitors year-round, and there’s no shortage of opportunities to get out on the water \u2014 or at least relax with a view of it. Access is straightforward from either major airport: Treasure Island is just 14 miles from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and 25 miles from Tampa International Airport. Renting a vehicle or using rideshare services remains the easiest way to get around, though the Suncoast Beach Trolley<\/a> does run from St. Pete Beach through Treasure Island north to Clearwater Beach.<\/p>\n

Local lore<\/a> claims early 20th-century residents buried treasure chests along Treasure Island’s beaches as a marketing tactic to attract future residents. Though there’s no evidence any pirates \u2014 fictional or otherwise \u2014 ever frolicked on this particular barrier island, Treasure Island and the broader Tampa Bay region embrace their buccaneer associations, right down to the replica pirate ship<\/a>\u00a0that offers cruises along the Intracoastal Waterway.<\/p>\n

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The island’s a treasure trove of dining and lodging<\/p>\n


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Rebecca High\/Static Media<\/p>\n

Middle Grounds Grill<\/a> is where you go for a refined dinner out, a contrast to Treasure Island’s many coastal-casual options. Diners can order Gulf-to-table fresh catch, herb-crusted pork tenderloin, or Angus beef steaks paired with wine and cocktails in an intimate setting. Visit between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays for the discounted early dinner menu<\/a>.\u00a0Local institutions like Ricky T’s<\/a> and Caddy’s<\/a> offer live music and classic coastal fare, including plenty of fresh Gulf catch, while Britt’s Pizza<\/a> is a favorite for coal-fired pies and Mediterranean appetizers. Snag a waterfront table at Shrimpy’s Waterfront<\/a> in Blind Pass, where at sunset you can enjoy live music and sometimes spot dolphins swimming right off the back patio.<\/p>\n

Everyone claims to serve the best Cuban sandwiches in Florida, particularly around Tampa<\/a>, and\u00a0The Floridian<\/a> of Treasure Island is certainly a contender. Order a pressed sandwich layered with mustard, meats, and pickles, along with rice and beans, and the local must-try dish, devil crab<\/a>. For a classic\u00a0dive-bar experience, nothing beats R Bar<\/a>, a favorite among locals tucked off Treasure Island’s main drag. It\u00a0also serves a surprisingly extensive menu, from grouper and locally-made fish spread to frog legs and all-you-can-eat crab legs on Mondays.<\/p>\n

Here, you’ll want to stay a while, and Treasure Island offers an array of waterfront lodging geared toward budget-conscious vacationers, families, and luxury travelers alike.\u00a0Treasure Island Beach Resort<\/a> from the Opal Collection features modern, recently renovated rooms, a pool overlooking the Gulf, and\u00a0convenient access to Treasure Island’s main beach (plus, the burger at BRGR<\/a> on the hotel’s second floor is bar none). Boutiques like the Molloy<\/a> offer cozy cottages and modern suites overlooking the Gulf, while\u00a0Sunset Vistas Beachfront Suites<\/a>\u00a0is ideal for families with its\u00a0condo-style rooms and resort amenities.<\/p>\n

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Getting out on the water is a must<\/p>\n


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Rebecca High\/Static Media<\/p>\n

No trip to Treasure Island is complete without a trip to its expansive, white-sand beach. Public access is free, though the small parking lots along Gulf Boulevard charge hourly fees. Along portions of the shoreline runs a paved path open to bikes, skates, and dogs. It connects beach-facing rental homes, businesses, and hotels, including the famed Thunderbird Resort\u00a0and the Bilmar Hotel<\/a>, home to waterfront restaurant\u00a0Sloppy Joe’s on the Beach<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Treasure Island is just north of\u00a0award-winning St. Pete Beach with its vibrant white sand<\/a> and south of Madeira Beach, which are split by a waterway called John’s Pass that connects the Intracoastal Waterway with the Gulf. Along John’s Pass, Treasure Island shares\u00a0a sea-themed boardwalk with Madeira\u00a0Beach<\/a>\u00a0called\u00a0John’s Pass Village<\/a>, a shopping district, pier boardwalk, and marina lined with restaurants, shops, and kiosks where visitors can eat, shop, rent boats or jet skis, and book dolphin cruises<\/a> and parasail adventures<\/a> (for film buffs, the ’80s-era John Candy comedy “Summer Rental” was also filmed here).<\/p>\n

One of the most popular things to do in Treasure Island is to join the locals at\u00a0John’s Pass Sandbar, a series of small islands and sand bars within the Intracoastal Waterway. Spring and summer bring hundreds of vessels out for casual hangouts, fishing, and organized weekend parties, where DJs spin tunes and floating vendors<\/a> sell everything from\u00a0hot dogs\u00a0to\u00a0fresh fruit\u00a0and tacos. From John’s Pass, you can boat to\u00a0Sea Dog Brewing Co.<\/a>, a Treasure Island outpost of the Maine-based brewery\u00a0with free docking for visiting boaters. The two-story spot overlooking Blind Pass also offers an expansive menu, with classics\u00a0from surf n’ turf platters to short rib ragu,\u00a0as well as the chain’s famed blueberry wheat ale.<\/p>\n


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