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About this trip
You may have visited Tampa before, but have you ever taken the time to really dive into the history, culture, and adventure just to the west of us in Tarpon Springs? The village of Tarpon Springs has been known well over a century for its Greek culture and the many Greek-American families who for generations have called it home.
On this "Love Our Neighbor" single-day tour, you will enjoy a behind the scenes tour of the Tarpon Springs sponge docks and sponge exchange, a sponge boat ride experience like no other, followed by an authentic Greek lunch, and as if that's not enough, a coffee and pastry tasting!
Benefiting The Salvation Army of Tampa
By taking part in this unforgettable adventure exploring Tarpon Springs, you will be benefiting The Salvation Army Tampa Bay! The Salvation Army in Tampa was founded in 1893 and helps lead the way in serving the marginalized in our community through adult rehabilitative care, disaster relief, after school and summer camp programs, the new Red Shield Center to rise out of homelessness, the Angel Tree Rescue Christmas program, and even recuperative care for recent hospital patients at BayCare and Tampa General. It is Salvation Army's mission to "preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination."
Booking Rules
- We operate rain or shine assuming conditions are safe and we have met our minimum number of guests to operate the tour. Otherwise, we reserve the right to cancel the tour and provide a prompt refund.
- If the sponge boat ride becomes unavailable on this date, we reserve the right to substitute a one hour eco-tourism dolphin nature boat ride with a naturalist.
- All ticket sales are final. Tours cannot be exchanged, rescheduled, or refunded. But life happens! We offer ticket insurance which allows you to cancel or reschedule your tour with at least 24 hours’ notice, and we will reschedule or reimburse you for your full tour ticket price minus insurance fee. (public tours only)
What’s included
- Free Parking
- Tour w a Native GuideTour the Sponge Docks and the Sponge Exchange with a Tarpon Springs Native who grew up working on the sponge boats and is an expert on history and eco-tourism in Tarpon Springs!
- Greek CookiesTo tide over the kids until lunch!
- Sponge Boat RideIncludes a scenic ride down the Anclote River as an actual diver is fitted into the traditional dive suit and takes to the water for a sponge harvesting demonstration.
- Authentic Greek LunchEnjoy a delicious lunch at a Greek Family Restaurant. You'll be able to pick from grilled meats, Greek salads, gyros, seafood, and more. And don't forget the highlight, the famous Greek Flaming Cheese
- Pastry & Coffee TastingDive in to some Greek pastries and enjoy authentic Cuban coffee.
- Shopping OrientationOur guide will introduce you to the main exports that make Tarpon Springs famous, and give you tips on purchasing them. You'll also find out about some hidden secrets and novelty stores not to miss.
What’s not included
- Watter BottleAlthough water is available on the boat, we recommend that you bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day.
- StrollersFeel free to bring your strollers, they are welcome on the boat or you can leave it at the docks.
Available Packages
Available options
Itinerary
Sponge divers from the Mediterranean originally settled in this, "the sponge capital of the world" when they found that the Gulf of Mexico and Straits of Florida were "the place" in America where sponges abound. Today, this area is home to many family-owned Greek restaurants, bakeries, and markets, and the locals are as friendly and welcoming as in the old country!
In fact we will be welcomed by a native guide who will give us an historical and cultural walking tour showing you all the behind the scenes treasures of Tarpon through photos, writings, and a brief film. He will share what it was like to grow up in Tarpon Springs and show you places in Tarpon that most tourists don't get to see!