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.

Sean was amazing and so intuitive to our needs..i see myself going on a private boat ride once a…read moremonth for mental health needs. the boat ride was relaxing, soothing and i got to listen to my own music. beautiful, wonderful and so much soothing for the soul

We had a great time and saw lots of dolphins. Best boat charter around! Plenty of ice and room in…read morethe cooler for our drinks and snacks. We took the 4 hour tour and loved exploring the islands and sand bars. The captain was great and he knew a lot about the history of the area. Wish we could do this every weekend!

Fantastic family boat trip! The kids loved the slide! The boat was beautiful and immaculate, the…read morecaptain made sure we had everything we needed for a great day on the water and exploring the islands. Can't wait to go back again!

From the owner: Looking for a tropical island adventure? Rock and Reef Charters is a Family Owned and Operated…read morebusiness that offers amazing private trips aboard the Aqua Dragon Slide Boat to Anclote Key and Three Rooker Island! Enjoy boating with family or friends as you cruise along the Anclote River to the sandy island beaches! Our trips are great for all occasions - birthdays, graduations, bachelor & bachelorette parties, anniversaries, showers, work meetings and more! We offer a variety of half day and full day options! We also offer River Cruises for those looking to stay on the boat! During an island trip you will have access to the water slide, beach, swimming and shelling. You are welcome to bring additional gear for your trip such as snorkels to explore more under water! On many of our trips we have encountered dolphin, starfish, and sometimes manatee! We will stop to admire these creatures when appropriate and safe for the sea life. These wildlife sightings are not guaranteed but do happen often. Whether you are looking for a vacation activity or a getaway from everyday life, you are sure to have a good time!

Tarpon Springs is a city on central Florida's Gulf Coast about 30 miles NW of Tampa. The highest…read moreconcentration of Greek-Americans in the US live here. Greek eateries line waterfront Dodecanese Boulevard, a legacy of the Greek sponge divers who settled here in the early 1900s. Along the water, the Historic Sponge Docks remind me of the once booming industry. In the 1940's, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church opened with stained glass and a Grecian marble altar. Tarpon Springs Aquarium & Animal Sanctuary display Gulf animal & marine life here. Tarpon Springs is home to beautiful, small beaches. Fred Howard Park is a popular spot with a sandy beach, picnic areas, and a causeway perfect for walking or biking. Sunset Beach is a local favorite, known for its stunning sunset views and relaxed atmosphere. Both beaches offer opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and enjoying the natural beauty of the Gulf Coast. Tarpon Springs is renowned for its authentic Greek cuisine, thanks to its rich Greek heritage. The Sponge Docks area is home to several excellent Greek restaurants, such as Hellas Restaurant and Dimitri's on the Water. They offer a variety of traditional dishes, including gyros, souvlaki, and baklava. We always enjoy a Greek meal & leave with leftovers & baked goods from at least one of these restaurants; it's our must-do experience when visiting Tarpon Springs.

We've been enjoying Tarpon Springs FL for decades! We used to mainly come to ride the rustic…read moreworking sponge-diving boats and to buy fun souvenirs and even shells, porcupine fish, starfish, and of course natural sponges. These days we mostly visit for the best Greek foods there is, especially amazing gorgeous whole fish, sometimes the best savory gyros, now and then the grilled octopus, tender like you cant get anywhere else. On this visit, (Jan 2026), we walked from National Bakery and Agora Food Market on Athens St, past Hellas Restaurant with the giant Spartan figure on the roof, all the way to the Rusty Bellies restaurant at the west end of Dodecanese, all the while shopping in cute stores and taking selfies near boats and a shark at The Sponge Exchange square and fun murals everywhere, taking in the vibe of this great town. We stopped at Hellas for a cup of luscious unfiltered coffee, which we always order "Greek-style", and we sipped it slowly, savoring the rich flavor, while letting those marvelous fine grains settle to the bottom of the cup. Please note that most of the parking lots are for specific businesses. There's several paid public parking lots east of Athens on Dodecanese. Pro tip: There are public restrooms towards the west end of the docks on Dodecanese, across from the end of Hope St.

I signed up for a tour with RealTOUR because I'm new to the area and wanted to get an in-depth…read moreoverview. I was blown away!!! The tour operator was so intimately knowledgeable about the various neighborhoods but that was so overshadowed by her passion for what she was showing us, with lengthy and detailed stories with every turn! I hated it to end!!!!

What an amazing tour around the city of Tampa! There are so many beautiful landmarks and places to…read moreexplore. So well worth doing. Thank you, Michele!

Captain Mike was great! He was very knowledgeable about the area and shared information about local…read morehistory as well as amusing stories and some special video footage of dolphins! We had the trip he said we would, saw the shells, fish and beach we hoped to experience and were treated to an extended visit with a group of dolphins who seemed to be as interested in us as we were in them. We felt well cared for and very comfortable with Captain Mike and appreciated his considerate manner.

We had a great time out with Captain Mike! We saw quite a lot of dolphins and even got them to play…read morewith us in the wake of the boat! The weather and water were perfect and we had a wonderful day on the water. He knew so much about the area and it's history and even recommended a terrific restaurant to dine at afterwards. We'd definitely look to book with him again the next time we come to Florida!

We recently took the evening river trip....dolphins, shark, Manatee, luminous jellyfish and lots of…read morebirds with some bats mixed in...OH MY! Julie was an exceptional guide for the evening, and a truly knowledgeable naturalist. We saw so much wildlife and learned lots. We recommend this tour!

Our guide was Julie and she is THE best when it comes to local wildlife. She is so passionate about…read morethe ecosystem. We learned a lot about manatees, pelicans, the businesses in the area, the boats, etc. My husband and I had a great kayak adventure and I can't say enough about how much fun we had!

Took a nice ride and saw many dolphins and seabirds. We stopped at a little island for those…read morewanting to collect shells or take a stroll on the beach. We took friends and my Pugs, we all enjoyed the ride. The staff was attentive and friendly as well.

So my family and I were on vacation and we loved going on this adventure! Thanks so much for an…read moreamazing time! Dolphins, sea shells and a smooth cruise made for some great memories!