Our Opinion on which Beach Area is most suited to Boomers (more mature travelers).
Where are they located?
The pristine sands of Treasure Island Beach [Sunshine Beach and Sunset Beach] and the vibrant shores of Clearwater Beach are both located along Pinellas County’s spectacular barrier island coastline.
These beautiful beaches sit roughly 16 miles apart from north to south, with several other beach communities nested between them along the Gulf of Mexico. A vacationers paradise!
Treasure Island is a more laid-back – maybe not “old Florida” – but much less travelled than more family-oriented spots in the Tampa/Clearwater/ St. Pete area. Treasure Iland offers less crowded sandy beaches and a more relaxed atmosphere while still being close to a variety of restaurants, bars with live music, parks and other attractions. Both Treasure Island and Clearwater Beach are ranked in the top 3 in Florida for their white sand and beautiful, calm, clear water.
- Vibe: Laid-back, quiet, almost “Old Florida” feel.
- Best For: Couples, families seeking space, and those looking to relax, walk on the beach, and enjoy nature.
- Features: Extremely wide sandy beaches with easy walking, popular with kite-flyers.
- Highlights: Less built-up than Clearwater Beach, providing more room to breathe and less chance of being close to a fellow beach-goer with questionable taste in music.
Clearwater Beach is better for lively, high-energy vacations with walking access to many restaurants, hotels, and nightly entertainment (Pier 60).
Checkout our earlier blog post on our visit to Clearwater Beach.
- Vibe: Very touristy, bustling, and energetic.
- Best For: Families, young adults, those who don’t want to drive to dinner, and fans of evening festivals (sunset celebrations at Pier 60).
- Features: Soft, white sand and turquoise water, but higher traffic, and crowded beach in season.
- Amenities: Extensive restaurant, hotel, and shopping options within walking distance.
- Boomer Alert: Clearwater Beach gets crowded most times of the year. Make dinner reservations if possible or get to your restaurant either early (5pm) or after 7:30. Be prepared to wait. Traffic at times is heavy and parking can be challenging.
We found Treasure Island More Relaxing / Less Crowded
The island offers a more laid-back, “Old Florida” feel compared to busier, resort-heavy towns. Key highlights include:
- Uncrowded Shores: The beaches are remarkably wide and flat, offering plenty of space to relax and spread out without feeling cramped.
- Sunset Beach: Located at the southern tip of the island, this area features quaint cottages, fewer crowds, and a great 5/10-mile boardwalk.
- Accessibility: It’s easy to navigate, with the local Beach Trolley connecting you to nearby St. Pete Beach and restaurants right along the sand.
[Hurricanes Helene and Milton, in 2024, wreaked havoc on Treasure Island but there appears to be a strong recovery program for businesses and residential (some 40,000 homes were damaged or lost). While you will notice some businesses boarded up there are plenty open for business, the beaches are clean and hotels are busy.]
Where to Stay: Hotels on the Beachfront
Using Booking.com we reserved a week at the Ocean Club Treasure Island Hotel and enjoyed a modern spacious clean apartment style accommodation. Right on the beachfront with pool and great view of the sunsets.
Next door to the Ocean Club is an older property South Beach Oceanfront Resort which is worth checking out as the daily rate is much cheaper
We stayed the last few extra days at luxury hotel a few block down the beach, Treasure Island Beach Resort, part of the Opal Collection, which was first-class from booking to check-in, and we highly recommend.
Comfortable spacious suite accommodation (with full kitchen and lounge area) overlooking the pool and beach, with poolside service….brilliant what a find!
Check out the hotel’s Tikki Bar on the beach level
Where to Eat in St Petersburg Treasure Island
Best Cuban in St Petersburg
Bodega on Central Avenue great experience of food and customer service. Great beans and rice!!
Best Brunch we found was at Lisa’s Cafe a few miles down the road past John’s Pass.
Best Pizza nearby (opposite the Ocean Club) is Britts eat inside or out by bar, order delivery.
Best Beach Bar was Sloppy Joe’s for quality of food, service and beachfront vibe with live music, and a few minutes walk down from the Opal Treasure Island Resort.
Places to Visit
DeSoto Park beautiful coastal park with historic Fort, cycle trails, boat slips, camping and beaches galore (including a dog beach), is Impressive!!
Boomer Alert: Pick your days to visit we went on a Wednesday afternoon in May — very quiet but a large empty parking lot would indicate it can be very busy and crowded in season.
Parking on Treasure Island
You can easily identify city-owned lots because they are named after birds and marked with blue-and-white numbers. All parking is enforced 24/7.
Parking Rates and Payment
City-owned lots and spaces:
• Monday – Friday | $5.00/hr
• Saturday & Sunday & Holidays | $5.50/hr
Sunset Beach side street parking:
• Monday – Friday | $6.00/hr
• Saturday & Sunday & Holidays | $6.50/hr
You can pay using a smartphone and TEXT to park or use the ParkMobile app.
With the new license plate reader technology, backing into parking spaces is now prohibited. The license plate must be visible to parking enforcement.
Which Beach area do you enjoy the most?
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