The orange belt railroad came to Tarpon Springs in 1887. This was also when Tarpon Springs was…read moreincorporated and the lighthouse was built. It was a narrow gauge railroad for transporting goods including turpentine and sponges to the north. Those were some of the products of this part of the state. In fact, this county was so covered with pine trees (the sap is harvested to create turpentine), it was named by the Spanish explorers as "The Point of Pines" aka Pinellas in 1528! This name was later adopted when the county was formed in 1912. This was one of the many interesting facts I learned from Carol, who kindly gave me an excellent guided tour of the museum. The museum is the second version of the train station, built in 1909. Unfortunately the original building burned down but the current one was built and has lasted more than 100 years! Plant purchased the railroad in 1895, rebuilt it to standard from narrow gauge, and connected it to the rest of his railroad. CSX later acquired it and eventually closed down and turned over the track to the local cities in 2005. They donated the station with the stipulation that it be preserved. The railroad tracks were quickly removed and the long trail eventually became the Pinellas (bike and walking) Trail. As for the train station itself, it contains many interesting artifacts and a sad but important historical detail. Artifacts include original mechanical semaphore controls, a huge mechanical cash register that could do calculations and much more. Since the station was built before desegregation, there are two front doors and two ticket windows. Change is good. Life is good with a well-preserved, historic site and museum.

This was our first stop upon arriving in Tarpon Springs and this was because I found it on…read moreTripadvisor. This place was a very impressive and also very spacious with tons of exhibits and information. The ladies working here was super friendly and welcoming. Parking is in the street and free.

Super cool museum. Not too expensive for entry. The staff is more than friendly, it's clean and…read moreexpansive. I highly recommend it, especially if you're in the area.

Imagine Museum was definitely worth checking out. There are two Floors of amazing glass art work…read more The museum is great for all ages. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable and made the visit special. I highly recommend stopping by and checking out the museum. Definitely will be going back.

We visited the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art at St. Petersburg College off Belcher at Klosterman,…read moresouth of Tarpon Springs FL. They have a one-of-a-kind full-size reproduction of Pablo Picasso's (1881-1973) Guernica, which is really cool to see. It was our first time here, so we wanted to see some works by the museum's namesakes, as an introduction. We saw amazing 1920s and 30s watercolors and a 1958 stained-glass mosaic by Abraham Rattner, known as a "colorist" for the vibrance of his works. and we saw a cool 1936 abstract by Allen Leepa, apparently painted while he was in high school! And we liked the small "fine crafts" Elemental collection, especially the kimono, somehow made of paper to look like seashells! Admission is by donation, suggested $10, and sometimes you can find free passes at a local library. Either way, it's worth a visit. The Leepa-Rattner Museum is a striking collection that really punches above its class.

Well, I finally went to this wonderful museum and brought my friends along. They were having an…read moreexhibit from the Florida Craft Art Gallery in St. pete. The building is on the NW corner of the St. Pete college campus in Tarpon Springs. It is a beautiful gallery with many rooms. The visiting exhibit was in the front rooms of the museum. There were varied objects on display from sculptures to large petit point pictures to paintings to blown glass. The displays from the L-R permanant collection occupied rooms to the rear of the space. There was a whole room of art from Mr. Rattner, who was a prolific artist in many disciplines, painting, sculpture, fiber arts,and writing. He lived in France before WWII and was strongly influenced by the holocaust tragedies. The best part of this visit is that entry is free. There are clean rest rooms and a sitting area that is handicapped accessible.

We booked the Uncovering Ca' d'Zan Guided Tour ($40 per person) before flying to Florida. The tour…read morelasts about 60-70 minutes and includes the main rooms on the first floor, a peek into the Tap Room with stories about indulgence and Prohibition during the 1920s, as well as select spaces on the second, third, and fourth floors of the Ringlings' magnificent waterfront mansion. I'm so glad I booked this tour! it was the highlight of our Florida trip. Our tour guide, Susan, was professional, knowledgeable, and full of humor. She made the entire experience both informative and relaxing. Ca' d'Zan is simply breathtaking. This stunning Mediterranean Revival mansion sits on the shores of Sarasota Bay and was built in the mid-1920s as the winter retreat of American circus magnate, entrepreneur, and art collector John Ringling and his wife, Mable Burton Ringling. Although the mansion is over 100 years old, it still radiates the glamour, elegance, and artistic vision of the Ringlings. Every room is filled with exquisite craftsmanship and thoughtful details that reflect their passion for art and architecture. One of my favorite features was the magnificent ceiling paintings by the Hungarian artist Willy Pogany. Each one tells a story from another era, preserving its beauty for generations to admire. Standing on the terrace overlooking Sarasota Bay, I couldn't help but be reminded of the atmosphere from the movie Great Expectations. There was something incredibly romantic, mysterious, and timeless about the view. To me, Ca' d'Zan feels alive. If you slow down and listen carefully, the mansion tells its own story. There is glamour. There is longing. There is sadness. There is hope. And somehow, there is a place for you within it. I absolutely fell in love with this place. Without a doubt, this was the best attraction we visited during our trip to Sarasota. I would highly recommend the Uncovering Ca' d'Zan Guided Tour to anyone visiting the area, and I will definitely return to explore the Museum of Art next time.

This was an amazing and incredibly surprising visit. I am a native of Ohio but have lived in…read moreFlorida over 30 years and this was our 1st visit to The Ringling. It is a little pricy but worth if you love art, the circus and beautiful places. We went to the house first and this is an amazing home. Beautiful use of color, marble and impressive architecture. Loved the window shapes, the floors and the attention to detail throughout the home. The view from the patio was amazing. The circus museum was informative. It was quite incredible the number of people it took to bring the circus to life. So spectacular . ..the shows, the animals and the presentation. The grill restaurant had delicious food with very pleasant staff. The gift shop was also amazing with unique toys and a nice selections of books about the Ringlung family. Lastly the art museum was breath taking with such beautiful Italian art. The courtyard also amazing. Loved this visit! We spent the entire day there with more to see. We plan to return to enjoy the new items under construction. We recommend a visit.

Most haunted house in America. This was a cool stop I came with my friend and her 8yr old daughter…read more We got a tour of the whole house and it was very interesting. Such great history with some ghostly background. All the ladies here were very nice. Honestly wish I would have been here sooner and didnt put it off so long. Thank you guys

First some info- This is a historical place with about 140 years of history. There are 2 tours -…read morethe day tour and the night haunted house tour. The day tour is a walkthrough the architecture and history behind the building as well as the memorabilia that is part of the museum, and is conducted daily between 12pm-3pm costing $5 per adult. The night tour is a haunted house tour where a few volunteers walk you through the haunted history of the house, only conducted on Fridays and Saturdays costing $20. We went for the haunted house tour on a rainy night. Although the tour finished in about 40 minutes even if it was a 2 hour session, we were allowed to roam around the house for the left over time. The experience was certainly enjoyable and thrilling. As I am writing this review, I kind of feel sick in my stomach after experiencing this place. This was my first ghost tour. Many more to go. If I survive, that is. Can try!

Let me tell you about the time my wife casually turned a normal "drop our daughter off at college"…read moretrip into what felt like a deleted scene from a survival movie... destination: Solomon's Castle in the absolute middle of nowhere. And when I say nowhere, I mean NOWHERE. I'm driving waiting for streetlights... nothing. Gas stations? Nope. People? Questionable. Cows? Plenty. Motorcycles flying by like we accidentally entered a post-apocalyptic biker convention? Oh yeah. At this point, I'm looking at my wife like, Babé are we visiting a castle or auditioning for The Walking Dead: Florida Edition?" Then suddenly... BOOM. Out of nowhere... like a mirage built by a very creative pirate appears this shiny, aluminum-covered CASTLE. Now I'm confused. Because one minute I'm dodging cows... and the next minute I'm like: Did we just teleport to medieval times sponsored by Home Depot? But here's the thing this place is AMAZING. Inside? Pure genius. Art everywhere. Sculptures made out of stuff you probably threw away last week. It's like if creativity, humor, and a junkyard had a baby and that baby became a castle. And then there's the restaurant. Yes. A restaurant. Inside a boat. Inside a castle. In the middle of nowhere. At this point, I've stopped asking questions and just accepted that I'm in someone else's dream. If you want the backstory, go ahead and Google it because it's wild. But honestly, just go. Don't overthink it. Would I have ever planned this stop? Absolutely not. Did my wife once again prove she's the CEO of random but incredible detours? 100%. Final verdict: Unexpected Slightly suspicious drive in Completely worth it If you're ever near Ona, Florida--or even if you're not take the detour. Just make sure your gas tank is full... and maybe say a quick prayer once the streetlights disappear

On our drive from St Augustine to Tampa, we made reservations to see Solomon's Castle in the middle…read moreof nowhere on beautiful land here in Florida. This castle was built by Howard Solomon, a high school dropout, with his bare hands and his own designs with whatever scraps of metal he could find or that were donated to him by others. He had friends and neighbors who helped him build. He built vertically because his land was more narrow than wide. So there are stairs to climb. Everything including his unusual artwork inside the Castle was donated or built by Solomon. He also had a 1930s collection of cars and trucks that are displayed at the Castle. His personal story is very interesting which will be told during the tour. Visitors are not allowed to photograph the auto collection nor anything inside the Castle. There is no cell service/wifi there on the property. They do not use computers so everything is paid by cash: the tickets (we paid about $40 in cash for the castle tour and the classic car tour), the food, and souvenirs. They are dog-on-leash friendly, which is nice. The staff is very welcoming and fun to interact with! The tour is very interesting with funny jokes thrown in. Food is served on the boat and reviewers have been favorable about the meals offered. Remember, it is cash only. Parking is free and at the entrance before you get to the Castle. Wear comfortable shoes. I was happy that we got to do the tour. I don't know that I would go back because it is so out of the way but it was worth the trip.

We purchased tickets online for the Victorian Christmas Stroll. Tickets were $20 per person. The…read morearchitecture of the building is stunning; looks like a castle! Upon entry the receptionist checks you in and encourages you to watch the 15 min video prior to exploring. They also have a scavenger hunt to keep you entertained throughout the stroll. The exhibit was very unique and filled with unique history. The museum is very tiny and leaves you wanting more. As large as it appears from the outside, you would think the museum would be congruent. It took us about 30-45 mins to stroll through it, and that included the 15 minute video. Overall it was a good experience.

This was a really great experience. It's on campus and it was a weekday so we were busy navigating…read morethat but it was very interesting to see so much history still persevered in the little wing of the original hotel. Definitely worth checking out if you love history and appreciate vintage furniture and architecture.

We had an excellent visit at this museum in St. Petersburg. We love the history of St. Petersburg…read more(The Vinoy and the Historic Buildings of the 1920's Florida Boom) so this was a perfect genre for us. We also like baseball memorabilia, so the 5036 Guinness Book record setting autographed baseball collection (private) was incredible. We also like aviation and couldn't believe that St. Petersburg was the birthplace of commercial airlines with Benoist's flying boats. Just a really cool place to visit and it is located on the St. Petersburg pier at the beginning.

Stopped in for The Florida Highwayman pieces. I'm blown away. These unknown Black artists are…read moremasters at their craft. Classic Americana. The St Petersburg Museum is quaint overall. Great for its price point. Loved learning more about the area. I'd love to see an exhibit on Paradise Park.