Graceful, Picturesque, Refreshing, Tarpon Springs Florida is composed of delightful residential areas, beautiful waterways and Saltwater Bayous. Tarpon Springs is a balance of new developments and historic mansions from the old days.

There is plenty to see and do in Tarpon Springs, from the World Famous Sponge Docks to deep sea fishing, from Antique Shops in the historic downtown area to championship golf, from cruising around Spring Bayou to watching an enchanting sunset off the coast.Tarpon Springs is permanently enriched by it’s Mediterranean heritage. Tarpon Springs was founded about a century ago by the Greek Sponge Divers and Their Families. With various restaurants and all sorts of cute little shops, the Sponge Docks offer something of interest to everyone.You could take a leisurely sightseeing cruise or even participate in a live sponge diving exhibition if you’d like. You could also visit the Tarpon Winery, tour the Sponge Museum, or go Deep Sea Fishing. There are many things to do and many sights to see in Tarpon Springs!Tarpon Springs, Florida, located on Florida’s west coast right along the Pinellas / Pasco County line, is one of the northernmost cities in Pinellas County.

This coastal town was named “Tarpon Springs” by some of the town’s original visitors who spotted many tarpon, (large game fish well-known to the waters around Tarpon Springs) leaping high out of the Gulf.

In the 1800′s the Greek population arrived in the area hoping to make a successful living as sponge divers.The town was a prominent sponge harvesting area back then, and sponge diving became even more popular to the area when sponge divers from the Dodecanese Islands were recruited. By the early 1900′s, sponge harvesting earned millions of dollars a year for this small town. Sponge harvesting declined after the mid 1900′s when the area was struck by red tide, causing the majority of the sponge fields in that area to die off. Today, most of the sponges you would find while strolling through the Sponge Docks (the tourist area in the heart of Tarpon Springs) are imports.

Still many residents and visitors come to the Sponge Docks to enjoy shopping, authentic Greek dining, museums and the aquarium that has made this town world famous.