Tarpon Springs
Story highlights:
- Historic Greek sponge diving
- Strong coffee, aromatic dishes
- Antiques and collectibles shops
Greek sponge divers harvest goods from nearby sponge beds.
Greek, Greek, Greek. That’s the rich history and overall vibe of Tarpon Springs. When natural sponge beds were discovered offshore in the early 1900s, Greek sponge divers flocked to the area. Now much activity is focused around the famous Sponge Docks, set on the Anclote River.
Start your visit near the waterfront. On Dodecanese Boulevard, you’ll find the Tarpon Springs Aquarium (pet the baby sharks and stingrays), the Sponge-O-Rama (a kitschy theater and museum dedicated to the region’s sponging industry) and the Sponge Factory, among the largest of the roughly 12 gazillion souvenir shops selling natural sponges. (The olive oil soap the Greek ladies use, which is also sold at most gift shops, is terrific.)
You’ll find a plethora of Greek restaurants on this strip. Savor the smells – strong coffee, baklava, tzatziki (a yogurt cucumber garlic dip) – emanating from bustling eateries. Downtown, on Tarpon Avenue, check out the antiques stores. At the Court of Two Sisters, more than 30 dealers sell antiques and collectibles.
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