Treasure Island / St. Pete Beach / Downtown St. Pete / Kenwood

Treasure Island / St. Pete Beach / Downtown St. Pete / Kenwood

Treasure Island located on the barrier island just north of Staint Petersburg, got its name early in the 20th century, after several property owners attempted to boost sales of the properties being developed on the island by first burying and then pretending to discover a couple of wooden chests on the beach around 1915. After claiming the chests were filled with treasure, the news of the discovery quickly spread and people began calling the island Treasure Island. With an elevation of only three feet, the Great Gale of 1848 carved out John’s Pass on the island’s north end and split off two smaller islands, called the Isle of Palms and Isle of Capri. Chock full of small hotels and shopping plazas, Treasure Island has a thriving bar and restaurant scene in its downtown.

Located about 20 miles (32 km) south of Clearwater Beach, St Pete Beach occupies the entire space of Long Key, a barrier island at the east central edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Three bridges lead into the city, connecting it to Treasure Island, South Pasadena and the Bayway Isles area of St. Petersburg. St. Pete Beach, nicknamed the Sunshine City is home to the Famous Don Cesar Resort. Sandy white beaches, plenty of hotels, condominium complexes, upscale eateries and tourist attractions nearby lead TripAdvisor to name St. Pete Beach the No. 1 beach in America in 2021 and no. 5 best beach in the world – taking the honor from it’s neighbor to the north, Clearwater Beach.

Downtown St. Petersburg is the Central Business District of St.Pete, containing high rises for office use and many high-end condo complexes such as the Ovation and the Vinoy. With famous theaters like the Mahaffy Theater, fine art museums, the Dali and the Chihuly museum as well. The city hosts many outdoor festivals throughout the year.

St. Petersburg’s downtown has been rated among the best in the South, with many waterfront parks and attractions. The area’s gulf beaches are a 10-mile (16 km) drive. Jutting a half mile into the bay is the St. Pete Pier, a major tourist attraction that offers various activities and green space, the Marketplace, playground, splash pad, and several public art installations, including Janet Echelman’s aerial net sculpture, Bending Art

Many dining and nightlife locations can be found downtown and along the waterfront. The active nightlife scene is a can’t miss! The city is also becoming one of the largest destinations in Florida for kiteboarding with locations such as Fort De Soto Park, Pass-a-Grille, and Ten-Cent.

The Kenwood Historic District (also known as Historic Kenwood) is located immediately west of downtown St. Pete. It contains 2,203 historic buildings and is best known for its pricey historic bungalows. It consists mostly of one-story and two-story single-family homes constructed between 1912 and 1945. St. Petersburg High School (1926), listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is located in the heart of Historic Kenwood.