Tarpon Springs

Exploring Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs is the most Greek of Florida communities. Settlers from the Dodecanese Islands – which include Rhodes and Kos – brought their knowledge of diving.

Using pressurized suits to collect sponges as they did in the Mediterranean, they created Florida’s natural sponge industry in the late 1800s.

The original Greek settlement along the Anclote River feels like a piece of Rhodes dropped in Florida, and just as touristy.

It’s a charming place to stroll the waterfront, visit the Sponge-O-Rama, and indulge in tasty Greek food at a variety of restaurants.

Closer to the springs for which the city is named, the historic downtown district is just as walkable.

It is the northern terminus of the 38.2-mile Pinellas Trail, a paved bicycle trail stretching south to St. Petersburg.

The Tri-County Trail, a northerly bike path connection into Pasco County, connects the Pinellas Trail to the greater Florida Coast to Coast Trail, 250 miles across the state.

Lake Tarpon is an imposing presence in the community, which grew around it. It is fed by Brooker Creek, which rises from marshes to the northeast of the lake.

Along the lake are large parks like A.L. Anderson Park and John Chesnut Sr. Park protecting frontage of cypress-lined shoreline.

Lake Rogers lies east of Lake Tarpon (Chris Stevens)

---

Trails and Parks

Best hiking near Tarpon Springs

Brooker Creek Preserve The largest nature preserve in Pinellas County, Brooker Creek Preserve protects a mosaic of vanishing habitats while interpreting their value along 6.2 miles of trails.

Key Vista Nature Park Discover a new perspective on the Gulf of Mexico from the observation tower at Key Vista Nature Park, a coastal gem with a natural sandy beach and gentle footpaths.

John Chesnut Sr. Park Weaving through floodplain forests and cypress swamps, the boardwalks and trails of John Chesnut Sr. Park add a place to pause for wildlife along a wild shoreline on Lake Tarpon.

Lake Rogers Park A 2.4-mile loop trail circling Lake Rogers weaves through oak hammocks, shrubs, pine flatwoods, and scenic vistas along the water’s edge.

Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park Explore an expansive landscape of pine flatwoods, prairies, scrubby flatwoods, and open scrub along over 16 miles of hiking trails east of New Port Richey.

Wall Springs Park Discover the beauty of a historic spring feeding Boggy Bayou and an amazing panorama from an outstanding observation tower on this largely accessible 1.2 mile coastal circuit.

Best biking near Tarpon Springs

Pinellas Trail A paved ribbon stretching the length of Pinellas County from St. Petersburg to Tarpon Springs, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail provides nearly 38 miles of low-stress cruising.

Florida Coast to Coast Trail With a corridor spanning more than 220 miles across nine Florida counties, the Florida Coast to Coast Trail (C2C) is Central Florida's long distance bike path.

Florida State Parks near Tarpon Springs

Anclote Key Preserve State Park A place to play Robinson Crusoe for a day or overnight, Anclote Key Preserve State Park is an offshore gem in the Gulf of Mexico made up of four islands within sight of Tarpon Springs

Caladesi Island State Park Protecting a windswept shoreline and a variety of habitats on a barrier island, Caladesi Island State Park is one of the gems of the Florida State Parks system.

Honeymoon Island State Park An offshore getaway accessible by car, bike, or paddle, Honeymoon Island State Park offers white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico.

Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park Home to one of Florida's deepest springs, at 320 feet deep, Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park protects crucial coastal estuaries along the Gulf Coast.

Featured Articles

Gifting in Greek Gift World in Tarpon Springs is the one place I know I can find authentic imports from Greece, be it the latest pop CD from Anna Vizzi or a new alphabet primer for the little ones.

Sponge-O-Rama At Sponge-O-Rama, the displays and film give a detailed overview of all aspects of the industry and Greek culture and life in Tarpon Springs.

Videos