Traveling almost an hour north of Ybor City Tampa, Tarpon Springs is another unique ethnic SW Florida enclave. Tourists flock to the large bilingual Greek community. Tarpon is famous for its working sponge and fishing docks where Greek divers net and sell sea sponges and for the annual January Epiphany dive. Across from the Tarpon port are tourist’s shops, Greek restaurants, and bakeries lying along the Gulf. But there is more to Tarpons Springs than this.
Mansions and Bed and Breakfasts of Tarpons Springs
Travel around Spring Dr, Riverside Dr, and on Bay Shore Blvd along the Anclote River and see the multi-level renovated centuries old Victorian mansions and homes rivaling the best of old Savannah. Visit old Florida mixed with modern day luxury homes. Some mansions have been converted into bed and breakfasts such as the Spring Bayou B & B Inn and the Bavarian Inn.
The streets are covered with old brick too expensive to repair adding to the ambience of old time Florida. Old majestic Oak trees with hanging moss line the streets.
Parks on Rivers, Bayous, and the Ocean in Tarpon Springs
The Howard Park Causeway opens onto the St Joseph Sound. From there, travel west toward Fred Howard Park. The tropical lush 155 acres has trails, nature paths, and a canoe and kayak entrance through the mangroves into the bay. There sand and the blue Gulf of Mexico beckons for free afternoon sunbathing and swimming in an unchanged natural Florida coast without high rises or hotels.
Additional parks to enjoy are Brooker Creek Preserve, Anderson Park, or Lake Tarpon.
Vintage Downtown Tarpon, Florida
The streets are bordered with antique and novelty shops owned by long time residents. The small benches lining the street face in toward the stores and restaurants rather than outward as if for a bus to leave. This is a walking part of town where the changes are only who owns or who revitalized which restaurant. There are no chain restaurants or stores. “Malls” are antique shops in back alleys.
The Pinellas Trail, a car free bike and walking path transverses the town along an old trolley route.
Eat Greek with the Locals
The famous Pappas restaurant fell to hard times and politics. Greek salads were born here. Remaining restaurants are colorful and cozy. What doesn’t change is the great unique food. Spanakopita, a spinach pie shouldn’t be missed.
Mama Lena’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria on E.Tarpon Ave. may sound Italian but its specialty is the Tarpons Springs Pizza, a feta and spinach fine crust pizza that easily competes with the popular Greek Pizza.
Addtionally, Toula's Trail Side Café and Danny K’s Alley Café are local eateries where one can not only eat Greek but hear it spoken.
Greek Winery and Beer
Castle Winery, owned by a friendly couple that make the wine on the premises happily share stories and an outside courtyard. Original wines can be sampled and purchased. The winery sits in an old Tarpon house with some original glass.
There is even a brewing company, St Somewhere Brewing Company, with unfiltered and re-fermented beers brewed locally the centuries old way. The ale is light with layers of odd and different scents and tastes.
Enjoy boat tours daily on the Bayou and frequent arts and crafts show as well as a Greek festivals. This is a friendly unique Florida town where one can not only visit but also live.
Amy Andersen - Amy Andersen, MSN, ARNP, family & pediatrics certified, practices yoga and explores the inter-relationships of mind body fitness and ...
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