Treasure Island

One of three islands in Biscayne Bay that connect North Miami Beach to the mainland, Treasure Island is guaranteed to give you “vacation vibes all day long,” says Realtor Michael Rivera with JPAR Coast to Coast. Homebuyers come here for the ocean breezes and waterfront views. Living on an island minutes from the beach pulls them in, Rivera says.

Treasure Island homes are a mix of single-family and condominiums with a wide range of price points. It’s common to see ranch-style houses built in the 1950s with Spanish-style roofs and paved drives for under $1 million, midcentury-modern houses with private pools for a half million more, and stunning waterfront contemporary homes, newly constructed, with pools, patios and boat docks that face the bay for as much as $9 million — a big difference. “Older homes are being bought by investors who are building the new contemporary houses,” Rivera says. And the results are spectacular. The same is true of condominiums. One-bedroom garden view units in a low-rise building, for example, can run as low as $195,000 — but the higher the building, the higher the sale price. A one-bedroom corner penthouse with a large terrace and incredible views will run you over $400,000. And the newly built Shoma Bay condominiums, which combine classic art deco with sleek, modern design, are priced between $750,000 and $1.36 million.

The schools that serve the Treasure Island community are all above average according to Niche. Treasure Island Elementary offers clubs and activities to help students explore and deepen their interests in math and science, podcast or broadcast journalism, chorus and ballet. Nautilus Middle is a designated IB/STEAM school, meaning students can participate in the accelerated International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program and choose special learning opportunities that are part of the science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics curriculum. Miami Beach Senior High offers a variety of career-focused academies, such as the Academy of Marine and Environmental Science, which works with local businesses to provide student internships, job shadowing opportunities, field trips and research experiences.

For exercise and recreation, residents can take advantage of the decades of bodybuilding and body conditioning experiences at Treasure Drive Fitness, a local gym that guarantees results. Members work with gym professionals on training, nutrition and overall health. One-on-one and shared coaching options make this center distinctive. The Philip Schonberger Memorial Playground sits along Galleon Street and features a galleon-themed playground complete with sails, portholes and a hatch that children can climb on to get inside. Just across the John F. Kennedy Causeway going west, you’ll find the Normandy Isle Park and Pool. This state-of-the-art aquatic facility features two separate pools — a lap pool and an interactive play pool with a zero to 15-inch depth and many ways to get showered and sprayed with water. Water aerobics and swimming lessons are both taught here. The park also contains a lighted soccer field and well-maintained basketball courts.

Treasure Island residents don’t have to venture far for everyday needs. Near the causeway, you’ll find a Presidente Supermarket, a Latin market that offers meats, dairy, produce and other grocery items in addition to over-the-counter prepared foods. Several businesses and eateries line this thoroughfare that runs east/west through the neighborhood, including Benihana on the waterfront, which features 20 teppanyaki tables, a sushi lounge and an indoor/outdoor bar that extends out to an open-air patio overlooking Biscayne Bay. Another place to check out is Shuckers Waterfront Grill, a local institution that has been welcoming guests by land and by sea for 30 years. With picturesque waterfront views, beloved grilled wings, fresh seafood and a fully stocked bar, Shuckers was recently voted “Best Outdoor Dining” by the Miami New Times.

If a blue horizon, the lapping of water and the smell of good salt air excite your senses, take a closer look at Treasure Island, a neighborhood with a range of home options minutes from the beach and Greater Miami.

Written By

Christopher Kopczynski

Photography Contributed By

Eduardo Ford

Video By

Kellan Beaver