Tarpon Springs
Travel to Greece without leaving Florida. In the early 1900s Greek families settled
in southeastern Florida along the Anclote River which spills into the Gulf of Mexico.
Here they developed a productive sponge diving business and grew a town influenced
by their homeland and culture.
Recently we strolled down Dodecanese Boulevard beneath the bright summer sun. The Sponge Docks and the Anclote River filled the hot, humid air with the salty sea fragrance of sponges drying on the decks of several large boats. We ambled through the many specialty shops, clothing stores, and sponge markets that meandered along the boulevard.
After shopping, we experienced Greek dining at one of the several inviting restaurants.
It was easy to imagine that we were tourists in a Greek seaside village.
In the afternoon, we discovered the history of Tarpon Springs and learned about sponges and how sponges are harvested at the Heritage Museum. From there we saw The Safford House, St. Michael’s Shrine, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and the Old Train Depot Museum. There is much more to see, but that will wait until our next visit.
Take US 19 and turn onto Tarpon Avenue. To get to the Sponge Docks turn right on Pinellas Avenue then left on Dodecanese Boulevard. There are several parking lots. We
paid a minimal amount to park. We arrived midmorning, and there was plenty of parking.
Around noon traffic picked up.
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