Hotel at a Glance: Island Inn Beach Resort

At Island Inn Beach Resort, you’re mere steps from a stretch of white sand along the Gulf of Mexico. Ocean breezes waft past the hotel’s beachfront pool deck, where you can sip cold drinks from the tiki bar. Pad out to the sand to play volleyball, or rent a kayak to paddle across the waves.

• Enjoy ocean views from the private balcony of your gulf-front stateroom.
• Home away from home: Your room’s kitchenette is equipped with a fridge, stove, and microwave.
• Have a cookout using the hotel’s gas grills, or walk to nearby restaurants.
• Relax in one of the individually-owned units — each with its own unique decorations.

Treasure Island, Florida: Three Miles of White-Sand Beachfront

Treasure Island got its name after a group of enterprising hotel owners buried—and later “discovered”—a couple of fake treasure chests along the beach. In spite of their farce, the name stuck. So all right, you won’t find any buried treasure here, but surely you can console yourself with 3 miles of white sand along the Gulf of Mexico. Head to the middle of the island for extrawide beaches lined with shops, restaurants, and bars. There’s also a walking pier that runs parallel to the shoreline between 104th and 119th Avenues.

A great way to explore Treasure Island and nearby beach communities is by taking the Suncoast Beach Trolley. It runs along the Gulf coast from St. Pete Beach to Clearwater, stopping at many popular beaches along the way. Just across the bridge, St. Petersburg’s charming waterfront downtown is also worth a visit. You’ll find art-deco buildings, broad streets lined with palm trees, and the Dalí Museum, which displays many of the paintings, sculptures, and melted timepieces of surrealist master Salvador Dalí.