Our family loves fun and adventure, but we also love to learn about all of the rich history throughout our home state of Florida. Tarpon Springs, the Sponge Capital of the World, is no exception.
The historic riverfront town of Tarpon Springs, located just north of Clearwater Florida, was settled by Greek sponge divers in the early 1900s. The main attraction of Tarpon Springs became the sponge docks, but there is so much more to this small Greek community. Some say it is like visiting Greece without leaving Florida.
If you are driving into Tarpon Springs, you will need to decide where to park. There are many parking lots along Dodecanese Boulevard, the main street that runs through the historic district of Tarpon Springs. There is both public parking where you can pay by the hour and private lots owned by the shop owners that typically cost $5 for the day. We tend to park at the tip of the historic district and then stroll through the town on foot.
Our first stop always seems to be Spongeorama where we take a fun picture and shop their large collection of sponges and shells.
Spongeorama is a great place to learn about the history of Tarpon Springs as it has both a museum and an educational movie, both of these free. They also have their own cruise line that offers sunset and dolphin cruises. If you opt for a cruise adventure, you can even park your car for free here.
Once we finish at Spongeorama, we continue strolling down the main street of the historic district where you will discover the famous Sponge Docks, as well as plenty of Greek Restaurants, and Souvenir shops. We always have a fun time popping into the stores and seeing all of the sponges and unique Florida souvenirs.
If you are a fan of Greek food, be sure to plan to have a meal in Tarpon Springs. There are plenty of choices! Even with all of the choices, on both trips to Tarpon Springs, we have eaten at Mama’s Greek Cuisine.
Mama’s Greek Cuisine, located on the Sponge Docks, offers authentic Greek cuisine. You will see many of the locals dining here as well. They have both indoor and outdoor seating and live entertainment on the weekends. If you go on a Saturday night you may even get to enjoy belly dancing.
For seafood lovers, Rusty Bellies on the west end of town is a great place to eat. This lovely waterfront grill offers fresh Florida wild-caught fish. Even their menu gives credit to many of their fishermen by naming the dishes after their boats. Just be aware that this place is very popular both with locals and visitors and there is often a wait.
There are always events happening in Tarpon Springs. On our first visit, we encountered Greek dance lessons taking place in the street. It was really fun to watch. They have festivals and events throughout the year. You can find out what is coming up by visiting their citie’s website.
If you want a beautiful Florida sunset picture then be sure to visit Sunset Beach Park. This man-made small public family-friendly sandy beach is an ideal destination to enjoy the beautiful sunset into the Gulf of Mexico. The water is shallow and calm, which makes it perfect for children. There is also a boat ramp, playground, volleyball court, picnic tables, bbq pit, and more. There is even a free monthly concert series where you can listen to live music under the stars.
As you can see Tarpon Springs, the Sponge Capital of the World, has more to offer than just sponges and is definitely a place to stop if you are near Clearwater.
Have you ever visited Tarpon Springs? If so, what was your favorite part? Please share below.