Things To Do In Gulfport

From the moment seasoned nature tour guide Kurt Zuelsdorf first dipped his paddle into Clam Bayou, he knew the mangrove estuary would be the right place to set his kayak tours. But there was a catch—a garbage dump’s worth of rusting shopping carts and waterlogged plastic bags was strewn about the waterway. Undeterred, Kurt hit upon a clever cleanup strategy: people could launch his fleet of kayaks for free, so long as they toted a bag of garbage out of the bayou with them. 

Numerous grants, media attention, and awards later, Kurt’s waterway cleanup program has reached its final stages. Now, kayakers and paddlers can freely navigate the mangrove channels, nabbing sights of manatees, herons, and tugboat captains hopelessly lost in the mangroves. An avid nature enthusiast who has kayaked waterways from Wisconsin to Florida, Kurt prizes Clam Bayou, citing the diversity of wildlife along the one-mile stretch. “It’s not like the zoo,” he says. “Every time you hit the water, it’s a completely different experience.”

We offer a waters edge delivery of kayaks and stand up paddleboards. We also rent Funcycles for use on the trail of beach. Enjoy, we do!

Framing an intercoastal highway, Treasure Bay's nine holes sprawl across a manmade peninsula marked by verdure fairways, palm trees, and strategically placed sand traps. Golfing foursomes with today's deal can play through the par 3 course back to back for a total of 18 holes apiece. Conversely, solo golfers can drive, chip, and putt through four separate rounds to gain an intimate knowledge of the course's greens, bunkers, and hidden passages that are actually just the inside of a stranger's golf bag. The 905-yard course is replete with water hazards in the form of a shimmering bay, dual ponds, and a swamp monster who merrily doctors scorecards.

For owners Jo Massaro and Karen Ierna, Benjamin's Studios is all about creativity. They showcase this passion for creativity with the imaginative hairstyles and glowing skin they impart in the salon and spa, but also in the Treasure Island facility's onsite art gallery, which displays work from local artists. There's even a fashion boutique overflowing with men's and women's clothing and accessories.

Jo and Karen primarily put their 30+ years of hair experience to use in the hair studio. Here, they craft new 'dos using foil highlights, perms, and straightening techniques—techniques the designers of Pisa's famous tower boldly ignored. The spa’s aestheticians, meanwhile, release stress by rendering massages, mani-pedis, and ionic footbath services. They also perform eight skin-type-specific facials, such as teen, men's, and problematic, and they enhance them with aromatherapy and Chakra testing.

The turquoise waters lap gently at the white sand of St. Pete Beach, the serene setting disrupted only by guests dashing wildly into the waters, toting long standup paddleboards and giant smiles. They hurl themselves onto the boards before scooting around on the water’s surface, often to race one other or in attempts at overcoming their innate lack of flippers. Guests who rent boards from Saltwater Kite & Paddle—located mere steps from the water—can get right into the water, with no need for transportation to a beach. In addition to providing boards—which may also be purchased after rentals—the aquatic experts lead group lessons in standup paddleboarding, surfing, and kiteboarding to help enthusiasts get the most out of their beach-going experiences.

Carol Hollenbeck specializes in wellness and orthopedics. Armed with specialized knowledge in fitness, she founded Fit For Life Fitness Center and Physical Therapy. The gym caters to an 18 and older crowd and offers personalized service in a full-service, welcoming environment. With knowledgeable trainers on-site, clients of all sorts can feel safe hitting the plentiful fitness machines or sweating through a group class. The friendly staff and personal trainers are equipped to work with clients to help them reach their optimal fitness goals in a clean and safe environment.