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Latest Tarpon Springs hotel reviews
Fred H Howard Park, Bayside Picnicking
atufft Says: The lush tropical picnic grounds of this part are developed so that large groups can reserve their own space. But, this part of the park is also popular for joggers and cyclists pushing through to the causeway and beach areas of the park.
Tarpon Springs Cultural Center
atufft Says: The Tarpon Springs Cultural Center has a variety of actives, but for starters there's the building that houses them. This neoclassical style brick building was once the Tarpon Springs City Hall, designed by Ernest Ivey Cook and dedicated in 1915. The city government has...
St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
atufft Says: Dedicated in 1942, after the sponge boom had largely ended, the Orthodox Church has presented a lasting edifice of Greek influence in this town for past 70 years. The copper domed structure, which was intended to resemble the Byzantine Haga Sophia in Constantinople, was...
Browse the Greek Fishing Village
atufft Says: Many of the older shops and restaurants were buildings used in the sponge industry at one time. Others were originally restaurants and fish markets that catered to the sponge divers. The buildings are painted pleasant pastel colors, and wandering in and out of these along...
atufft Says: Probably the best thing to do is simply to wander along the docks, enjoying the fresh sea air and breezes that frequent Tarpon Springs along the waterfront. Before or after lunch, the embarcadero is pleasant enough, and hopefully, one of the two sponge divers will return and...
Parthenon Greek Restaurant: Grilled Octopus and Gyros
atufft Says: Actually, there are many really great Greek restaurants on the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks, but my host recommended this one. We sat outside and watched the promenade of fishing boats and tourists. As an economical move, we ordered gyros, but then I noticed the grilled...
Mama's Greek Cuisine - Please Close the Light!
Ewingjr98 Says: Mama's is probably the biggest restaurant in Tarpon Springs. Though it is slightly off the main tourist track away from the water, it gets a huge crowd for lunch and dinner. During our first visit to Tarpon Springs, Mama's was very busy, but we decided on a different place...
doug48 Says: snookers is a key west style restaurant and bar located on 19ALT in downtown tarpon springs. they offer local seafood and american fare. the reason i am writting this as a nightlife tip is that snookers is the best bar in tarpon springs. casual.
atufft Says: Forget transit in this part of Florida, that I know of. This is all about finding a parking space, and then paying for it. Right at the entrance to the sponge docks, there are several parking lots, but their prices vary a lot. Check this out carefully to save a dollar or...
Fresh Seafood Market, Tarpon Springs: Buying Fish
atufft Says: At the very end of the sponge docks, there are a couple of fishing boats that do bring in a daily catch. There's also a good fish market there with a variety of locally caught fresh fish, some of which (such as the shrimp) appeared to me brought in from the open fish market....
Various Vendors: Buying Sponges
atufft Says: In the 1920's there was a sponge exchange for the fisherman, but now that is all gone, and most of the sponges sold in Tarpon Springs are imported. Nevertheless, the selection of sponges available at the sponge docks really is pretty amazing. At the first souvenir shop, I...
atufft Says: Reportedly the largest Greek Orthodox festival in the western hemisphere, the Tarpon Springs Epiphany celebration in January has become something of a tourist attraction. The ceremonies begin with a church service at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox church in Tarpon Springs, then...
Tolik Says: Sponge docks is the place which most of the people visit first. It’s only a quarter mile north of the historic district. Here you can eat, shop, take cruises to the Gulf of Mexico, or go deep-sea fishing. Besides numerous shops and restaurants, there are 2 museums here....
Sea shells, bath bars, and sponges
atufft Says: Although there are some notable exceptions, most of the beauty products sold at Tarpon Springs are NOT locally produced. Most of the olive oil moisturizer bath soaps and even the natural sponges are imported. The long luffa body scrubbers are actually a type of gourd,...
atufft Says: There is an eye catching mural memorial to Mother Meres, a early immigrant settler made famous for her gardening and hotel hospitality. See the link below for a very pleasant story about this "garden fairy". The mural is located at Meres Municipal Plaza on Tarpon Avenue,...
atufft Says: The sponge docks are not the only place to shop or eat. Try browse for a better deal downtown. Tarpon Springs has a nice tree lined vintage downtown with plenty of parallel parking and few other tourists.
Kayaking at Fred H Howard Park
atufft Says: Tarpon Spring's Fred H Howard Park has excellent parking and launching facilities for kayakers and canoes. The gulf is normally pretty tranquil as it is, but the bay is even easier to enjoy. There's plenty to navigate around Tarpon Springs, and there are no entrance fees to...
Windsurfing at Fred H Howard Park
atufft Says: There aren't any waves, particularly on the bayside at Fred H Howard Park, but the winds are gentle and constant. Parking and launching for windsurfing is easy and popular here. I don't recall any rental kiosk though.
atufft Says: Natural sponges are the skeletons of invertebrate animals. After they are harvested, the diver must squeeze and clean the sponges using special chemicals. Originally bleach was used, but this was found to damage the sponge, so now more delicate chemicals are used. It's a...
Tolik Says: Tarpons Springs Historic District. The town center is two miles from the coast, where Tarpon Ave (SR 582) meets Pinellas Ave (US 19A). It’s a pleasant place to stroll, full with shops and restaurants. Due to its historic significance, downtown is listed in The National...
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Plan a Tarpon Springs vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Tarpon Springs locals
Tarpons Springs Historic District. The town center is two miles from the coast, where Tarpon Ave (SR 582) meets Pinellas Ave (US 19A). It’s a pleasant place to...
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Florida's Greek Fishing Village and Sponge Docks
Tarpon Springs was named by Mary Ormond, who, with her father, was the first non-indigenous person to settle in the area, beginning in 1876. Mary named the area Tarpon Springs because of the abundance...
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Tarpon Springs - A Greek town not on the Med
I've got some interesting experiences in Tarpon Springs. I'd love to share with you the 8 tips I've written, the 46 photos uploaded, and 1 travelogue I've created.
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tarpon springs is a small town located on US 19ALT in north pinellas county florida. tarpon springs began as a settlement of winter visitors in 1876. tarpon springs is not a spring but it was named by...
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A little bit of Greece in Florida
Tarpon Springs is an interesting town. It's located in Pinellas County, just north of Palm Harbor. The town has a very large Greek population and one can see their influence everywhere from the...
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ZenGator's Tarpon Springs Briefing
Tarpon Springs is a unique and interesting town. Years ago, sponge divers from Greece came here to harvest the many sponges in the warm, shallow waters off the Gulf coast. Today, the remaining sponge...
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