The Best Ways to Spend your Weekend in Tarpon Springs Florida!
Tarpon Springs is on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and makes a great trip from Clearwater and Tampa. Known for being the “sponge capital of the world”, the area is steeped in history, Greek culture, and of course, sponges! With 51 miles of coastline, there are so many amazing places to explore around the area on land and sea. Come spend a weekend with us in Tarpon Springs!
Visit the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks
Tarpon Springs is a city that has a rich history, founded by Greek sponge divers in the early 1900’s. These adventurous divers were drawn to the area by the abundance of natural sea sponges that thrive in the waters of the Anclote River. Over time, the sponge industry in Tarpon Springs has grown and evolved to become an important part of the local economy.
Nowadays, visitors to the city can witness all aspects of the sponge industry at the docks. From the harvesting of the sponges themselves, to the process of cleaning and preparing them, to the sale of these natural wonders, every part of the sponge industry is available to view and experience firsthand.
Greek Culture in Tarpon Springs
Tarpon Springs has a higher percentage of Greek-Americans than any other American city. Driving around you will immediately notice the Greek Orthodox cathedrals, blue and white Greek flags, and Greek shops and restaurants all around town. Walking around the sponge docks you can hear the bazouki being played, a popular musical instrument in Greece similar to the mandolin. Even the main streets are named after places in Greece like Dodecanese and Athens.
Where to eat in Tarpon Springs
You can’t come to Tarpon Springs and not try one of the many local seafood or Greek restaurants. Rusty Bellies offers waterfront dining and serves fresh wild-caught Florida seafood. They also have a waterfront tiki bar with live music.
For authentic Greek food, have lunch or dinner at Hellas Restaurant. The line was out the door and for good reason: The food was amazing! Do yourself a favor and get one of the gourmet baklava desserts to go from the walk-up bakery, you will thank us later!
Located right off Athens street is 5 Branches Brewing. A small brewing company, they offer good beers, a refreshing rosé cider, indoor and outdoor seating, and board games for the kids. It was a much needed break to escape the Florida heat!
Shopping & Sightseeing at the Sponge Docks
Of course, there are also many shops at the docks selling sponges, shells, coral, and other products found in the sea. In the 1930’s, sponges even outranked citrus products as Florida’s main export. Find a quiet shop and have the owner explain the different types of sponges, it truly is fascinating all the different ways these sea creatures can be used. And don’t worry, once harvested the base is left so the sponges can grow back and replenish themselves. 🙂
There are several spots to venture out on a boat for a few hours of waterfront sightseeing right from the sponge docks. Odyssey Cruises offers dolphin cruises, island cruises, and sunset sails. Private Island Charters runs private boating trips by appointment.
Most of the cruises take you to Anclote Key, an island in Anclote Key Reserve State Park. The park is 3 miles off the coast of Tarpon Springs and is only accessible by boat or ferry. With miles of white sand beach and crystal clear water, it is a great spot for snorkeling and shelling. You can also access the park by private boat, which leaves you more time to explore the Anclote lighthouse at the southern end of the island.
See the Beautiful Beaches with a Weekend in Tarpon Springs
Fred Howard Park is about 10 minutes directly west of downtown Tarpon Springs. The park has 9 pavilions, clean restrooms, 2 playgrounds, and a ball field. It looked like a great place to have a family picnic before or after hitting the beach!
From the wooded park follow the mile long causeway straight to the Gulf of Mexico. At the end is Fred Howard Beach, with white sand, clear water, and tons of shade trees. We brought beach chairs and a hammock, but you can also rent these items right on the beach, plus umbrellas and canopies. The causeway itself is a great place to walk, jog, or bike ride, with sparkling views of the ocean on both sides.
The beach area is shallow enough to snorkel and see tons of shimmery fish. We also spotted a large pod of dolphins right off the beach! The day we visited we noticed one side of the beach was much windier than the other, perfect for windsurfing or kitesurfing. There are kayak and paddleboard launch areas up and down the causeway. If you love being in the water, this is definitely a place to visit.
Another local beach to note is Sunset Beach Park, known for- you guessed it!- amazing sunsets. Sunset Beach is just south of Howard Park along the Gulf. And February through November they host monthly live music concerts right on the beach!
Where We Stayed
We camped at Hickory Point RV Park and got a site right on the water. It had a laid-back feel and was very quiet, and all the people we ran in to were super friendly. There was a Walmart close by for any supplies we forgot, and the sponge docks were just a few minutes away.
Our site #208 was right on the water and by all the fun activities the kids loved: tetherball, volleyball, horseshoes, cornhole boards… there was so much to do! There is a community campfire right on the water, where we spent every morning drinking coffee and every evening watching the sunset. They have a fishing area, boat slips, and a kayak/ boat launch where we took our paddleboards out for a great afternoon on the water. You can’t get bored if you stay here!
If you don’t have a camper, there are several Airbnb’s, smaller hotels, and Bed and Breakfasts in downtown Tarpon Springs. TripAdvisor has a list of highly rated accommodations in Tarpon Springs.
We loved everything about this weekend. The place we camped was minutes from everywhere we wanted to be. We were surrounded by water everywhere we visited. We saw tons of wildlife like dolphins, osprey, hawks, and turtles. Rest assured, we will be back to visit Tarpon Springs!
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Happy travels!
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