Medical Weight Loss in Tarpon Springs, FL

The Greek Islands are a bucket-list trip, but if a budget-bending vacation isn’t in the cards this year, there’s somewhere a lot closer to home that can serve as the perfect stand-in. Tarpon Springs, Florida, located on the Gulf of Mexico just north of Tampa, could easily pass for Mykonos with just a tiny stretch of the imagination. The town got its start when sponge beds were discovered off its coast in the early 1900s. In 1905, Greek sponge divers were brought to the area, and the rest is history. The Greeks and the sponge industry built Tarpon Springs, and a century later, both have remained central to the town. In fact, Tarpon Springs has the largest percent of Greek Americans of any city in the U.S.

When you’re squeezing fresh lemon over your chargrilled octopus, while listening to the table next to you animatedly converse in Greek, you might forget where you are. And as you stroll along Dodecanese Boulevard watching boats flying Greek flags pull up to the dock, Florida may be the furthest place from your mind. Growing up, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Mamma Mia! were two of my favorite movies, mostly because I couldn’t get enough of the gorgeous Greek villages they took place in. So, when I had the chance to fulfill a few of my Greek vacation dreams right here in the South, I jumped at the opportunity. Here’s how to spend a dreamy weekend in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

The Best Things To Do In Tarpon Springs

Mimic the exhilarating shock of touching down in a foreign land and immersing yourself in a new culture by starting your Tarpon Springs vacation at the Historic Sponge Docks. This was once the center of Tarpon Springs’ booming sponge industry, and thousands of sponges were delivered to the docks by sponge boats each week. Today, sponge boats pulling up after a dive aren’t quite as common, but this is still the center of activity in town. Greek restaurants line the bustling streets, gift and souvenir shops sell sponges pulled fresh from the Gulf, and there’s always a line outside the many bakeries. Spend time browsing in the 30 specialty shops of outdoor shopping village The Sponge Exchange, take a picture with the sponge smiley outside of Sponge Diver Supply, and buy homemade olive oil soap at Lori’s Soap & Sponge.

If you’re curious to learn more about Tarpon Springs’ history and heritage, book a sponge diving boat tour with St. Nicholas Boat Line. You’ll cruise around the Anclote River, while owner and Tarpon Springs native George Billiris shares the history of sponge diving in Tarpon Springs and even sends a live diver (dressed in traditional diving equipment) to the ocean floor to retrieve a sponge. A 5-minute drive from the Sponge Docks, you can learn more about Tarpon Springs at two downtown landmarks, the Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum and Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, both of which are open to the public. After you visit the museum’s exhibits, take a stroll around Spring Bayou at Craig Park, which is located just outside the museum. The deep blue waters are the sight of the town’s annual Greek Orthodox Epiphany Celebration and cross-diving ceremony.

From the park, you can walk a few blocks and find yourself in the center of downtown Tarpon Springs. You won’t see as much Greek influence here, but in its place there’s plenty of charm and lots to explore including coffee shops, boutiques, and antique stores. For modern home goods, gifts, and local art, stop into Sunshine Supply Company, or get a hit of nostalgia at Replay Museum, where there’s a collection of 100 vintage arcade and pinball games that adults can play all day for $14.

If your idea of a Greek vacation involves a place in the sand and an uninterrupted view of the ocean, Tarpon Springs can deliver on that as well. Head to Fred Howard Park, a 155-acre natural area that’s popular for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, and more. Take the mile-long causeway out to the white-sand beach at Howard Park Beach. Set up for the day and enjoy splashing around in the calm waters of the Saint Joseph Sound. If the Atlantic Ocean is calling you deeper offshore, you can take a quick ride to the neighboring town of Dunedin and join a boat tour with Parrotdise Express. The 4-hour excursion will take you to a semi-private island where you can snorkel to see colorful fish, rays, and seahorses. You can also dive for sand dollars, starfish, and shells in every shape, size, and color imaginable.

The Best Places To Eat In Tarpon Springs

The only thing that rivals the views in Greece is the food, and the same is true in Tarpon Springs. Here, you’ll find some of the most authentic Greek cuisine anywhere off the actual islands. For a crash course in all things Greek dining, put yourself in the capable hands of the Salivaras family, who own Mykonos and Dimitri’s on the Water. The brother-sister team of Koula and Dimitri took over the family restaurant business from their parents and are committed to serving fresh, high-quality ingredients and traditional recipes. You may have to wait for a seat at Mykonos, but it’s well worth it for the exceptional chargrilled octopus, dressed simply with a squeeze of lemon, and the flaming saganaki cheese. The portions here are huge, but if you’ve got a crowd, order the Lamb Fricassee, a caveman-sized lamb shank covered in sauteed endive and swimming in an egg-lemon-dill-sauce.

Across the street at Dimitri’s on the Water, you’ll find a more upscale dining experience with a view of the Anclote River and a menu of steakhouse favorites, as well as updated Greek specialties. Order the Whole Fish of the Day Plaki Style, you’ll get dinner and a show when a waiter will debone it for you tableside and drizzle it with creamy lemon sauce. There are dozens of other worthy Greek restaurants to check out at the Sponge Docks, but one that’s worth deviating from the tourist track for is Katerina’s Taverna & Grill. The traditional pork gyro, wrapped up with tomato, onion, tzatziki, and fries, is excellent, as is the Avgolemono (Greek chicken lemon soup).

For traditional Greek sweets, join the all-hours-of-the-day line at Hellas Bakery, where you’ll have the difficult job of choosing from overwhelming display of Greek pastries and desserts that stretch far beyond baklava. We recommend picking an array, but then snagging a box each of Melomakarona (Greek Christmas honey cookies) and Kourabiedes (Greek shortbread-style butter cookies) to take home.

Greek food is the ticket in Tarpon Springs, but you absolutely shouldn’t leave town without making a reservation at Rusty Bellies, a waterfront restaurant that started as a family fishing business and seafood market. Three generations and three decades later, a table at Rusty Bellies is one of the most sought-after in town. Most of the seafood served at the restaurant is brought in fresh everyday by the family’s own fishing and shrimping boats. The portions are gargantuan, and the freshness is unmatched. The menu features everything from seafood tacos and sandwiches to steak and chicken for the seafood averse. Order the E. Sea Rider (grilled shrimp skewers, sea scallops, and your choice of fish) for a taste of it all.

The best breakfast in Tarpon Springs can be found at downtown’s Toula’s Trailside Café. Located along the Pinellas Bike Trail, it’s a popular spot for hungry riders as well as locals looking for a hearty homemade breakfast or lunch. From sweet and savory crepes to Benedicts, stuffed French toast, and a Greek-inspired scrambler called the Bougiourdi (feta, tomatoes, sweet and hot banana peppers, basil, garlic), you’re guaranteed to leave happy.

If you want to celebrate your pseudo-Greek vacation with a tipple, Tarpon Springs has plenty of places to grab a pint (especially for its size). Options include Two Frogs Brewing Company, Brighter Days Brewing Company, Unrefined Brewing, Sponge City Brewing, and 5 Branches Brewing. There’s also Tarpon Springs Distillery, a retirement project of couple Barry and Lisa Butler that took on a life of its own once their spirits started winning awards. The small-batch artisanal spirits range from a hot and dirty gin distilled with green olives, juniper, coriander, and peppers to rye malt whiskey. The tasting room’s bartenders are endlessly creative, which means your cocktail could feature anything from the traditional Greek liquor ouzo (distilled in house) to aquavit.

The Best Places To Stay In Tarpon Springs

Though it’s got a big personality, Tarpon Springs remains a small town, so lodging options are somewhat limited. If you want to live like a local, there are several private rentals on Airbnb and Vrbo that can suit anything from a Big Fat Greek Wedding-style family reunion to a getaway for two. Another great option is The 1910 Inn. Located in a seafoam-painted Victorian home with stacked circular porches, the inn is hard to miss. Inside, the home’s been restored to its original glory and is filled with one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. Innkeeper Annie Samarkos is a Tarpon Springs native and perfect person to introduce you to her little slice of Greek paradise.

The 25-year-old Tarpon Springs native finished in first place in Florida State Park’s photo contest 2023 for her landscape picture of Hillsborough River State Park.

Credit: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Hope Bartlin's photo "It Never Ceases".

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — Hope spent much of her childhood in her backyard in Tarpon Springs, observing pets and critters scurrying around moist grass.

Soon, she felt the urge to capture nature’s happenings.

“From bugs to large mammals, each critter plays their part in the puzzle of mother nature and is worth protecting,” the student at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in Saint Kitts and Nevis wrote in an email.

Hope Bartlin, 25, is the first-place winner of the "waterscapes" category in the annual Florida State Parks photo contest “Capture the Real Florida.”

The contest provides an opportunity for people to “explore their favorite parks and win prizes for future adventures,” the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said in a news release.

The agency selected semifinalists and placed them into three photography divisions — professional/hobbyist, student and mobile phone. Each division included 12 photo categories highlighting specific picture features and subjects.

Bartlin’s “It Never Ceases” photo was featured in the “waterscapes” category. It captures scenes from Hillsborough River State Park.

“[It} is my most visited park in FL, it's just beautiful rain or shine,” Bartlin said.

The photo was taken on an overcast day, which Bartlin says was a perfect opportunity to capture the flow of the water.

Bartlin also champions living in the moment and appreciating everything around her — for as long as it lasts.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says if populations were to double in the next 40 years, 1.6 million acres of woodland and wetland habitats could become “more isolated and degraded.”

Bartlin was shocked her photo was chosen as the best among the dozens that participated in the competition.

“I was happy enough simply to reach the top 10,” Bartlin said. “I wouldn't have been able to be the judge, there were too many phenomenal photos.”

TARPON SPRINGS — While other Pinellas cities typically select city managers in the traditional manner — by hiring a consultant to conduct the entire search process with commissioners ultimately voting on their top choice — Tarpon Springs commissioners are leaning toward going rogue: by recruiting, rooting out and selecting top city manager applicants for consideration all on their own.

During a March 25 special session, Mayor Costa Vatikiotis noted the meeting was called to discuss and approve a process for advertising and selection of a new city manager.

“Way back (in the summer of 2023), when we had a search consultant involved in this, we had a couple of the applicants that were interviewed. It didn’t go well,” the mayor recalled.

He noted this time, fellow commissioners are aware that City Manager Mark LeCouris’ contract currently calls for his last day to be Jan. 1, 2025; the plan is for the city commission to have chosen a new manager by then.

Vice Mayor Michael Eisner suggested that the earlier attempt to utilize a headhunter did not go well because candidates qualified under International City/County Management Association standards did not apply knowing that a fellow ICMA city manager was still working for the city.

Commissioner Panagiotis Koulias said he is interested in a multi-faceted approach in which the commission will have some internal advertising. He suggested also advertising with organizations such as the Florida League of Cities and national groups representing city managers.

Commissioner John Koulianos said he liked both approaches, but he favored using the International City Managers Association, because the city should select an applicant who is ICMA-credentialed.

“We have in-grown talent and we should use it as an insurance policy. We elevate or start utilizing staff to assist the manager, so that we have people trained. If in fact we don’t find this person from the outside, we have someone prepared to step in even in January or however long it takes,” Koulianos said.

Koulianos noted the board spent about $40,000 on a previous city manager search.

Commissioner Frank DiDonto said when he was mayor, the city advertised with the three major city manager organizations and received over 100 applications.

Eisner said the city should hire a head-hunting firm. “I don’t feel the money should take precedence over us doing another search,” he said. “I don’t think that we all have the time to do this intricate search … I don’t think it’s our place to do that screening.”

LeCouris said the city has the rights to the brochure created by its last consultant and can start advertising for the position as soon as the commission gives a go-ahead.

If the search is conducted in-house, LeCouris said the city would put together a search committee headed by personnel director Jane Kniffin and procurement director Janina Lewis. The city would then only have to hire a firm to conduct background checks on the finalists.

While no applicant cut-off date was selected, commissioners discussed whittling down applicants sometimes between April 30 and May 15.

Commissioners agreed to take the city manager up on his offer to present the city’s advertisement for a manager to them by the next meeting for approval and subsequent distribution.

North Grosse Avenue between Tarpon Avenue and Spruce Street, including a portion of Spruce, will be temporarily closed through mid-2025.

According to city officials, block sections will be closed one at a time as construction progresses. The roadway is undergoing stormwater, water main, and sewer main improvements. Motorists may utilize Ring or Levis avenues as alternate routes. Detours will be posted.

TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - Approximately 20,000 people are expected to attend the 118th Epiphany celebration in Tarpon Springs on Saturday.

The annual event, which is the largest Epiphany celebration outside of Greece, includes a prayer service, dove release and ceremonial cross dive.

Epiphany event details

The day will begin at 8 a.m. with a morning prayer service at St. Nicholas Cathedral, located at 36 N. Pinellas Ave. in Tarpon Springs. Afterward, there will be a procession to Spring Bayou where the Archbishop of America will bless the waters as people gather along the water’s edge.

After reading the Gospel of the day, a white dove will be released to signify the descent of the Holy Spirit.

Each year, a member of the community, usually a young woman, is selected to carry the dove in the procession. This year, the dove will be carried by 17-year-old Chole Kotis.

RELATED: WTVT’s Lost Archives: 1974 Tarpon Springs Epiphany dive reveals tale of 2 archbishops connected by a cross

After the dove is released, the Archbishop will cast a cross into the water and young men will dive in hoping to retrieve it.

What roads are closed for Epiphany?

Several roads bounded by Spring Boulevard, Pine Street, Levis Avenue and Lemon Street, will be temporarilty closed Jan. 6 from 10:45 a.m. – 3 p.m. for the annual Epiphany event.

Major roads including Alternate US 19 (from Pine Street to Lemon Street) and Tarpon Avenue (from Levis Avenue to Spring Boulevard) will be closed, as well as many smaller roads within the area of the procession.

Map of roads that will be impacted by the Tarpon Springs Epiphany event. Image is courtesy of the city of Tarpon Springs.

Tarpon Springs says motorists should expect heavy traffic and are asked to take note of posted detours.

The city says there will be no overnight parking on Thursday or during the event within the procession area, which is Pinellas Ave. between Orange St. and Tarpon Ave.; Tarpon Ave. between Grosse Ave. and the Bayou; Orange St. between Pinellas Ave. and Ring Ave.

Who can dive for the cross during Tarpon Springs Epiphany celebration?

The annual diving for the cross is a time-honored tradition and whoever retrieves the cross is considered blessed for the entire year.

It’s a rite of passage to dive for the cross and typically about 65 teens participate. Those diving for the cross must be a male between the ages of 16-18, who is in good standing with the church.

George Stamas, 16, of Tarpon Springs, reached the cross first last year. He is the cousin of 2018 winner Christian Chrysakis. His great-grandfather also retrieved the cross in 1938.

Nikitas Loulias, the current Archbishop of Great Britain, retrieved the cross from Tarpon Bayou in 1974.

What is Epiphany and why is it celebrated?

Epiphany, which is also known as Three Kings Day, is Christian feast day that takes place on January 6. It signifies how a star led the Magi, the three kings, or three wise men, to visit the baby Jesus after his birth. In the East, it celebrates the baptism of Christ.

The ceremony also symbolizes the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of the new year.

In the heart of Tarpon Springs, where the river meets the sea, a tradition as old as the town itself is thriving.

On the waters of the Anclote River, Captain George Billiris is the custodian of the last remaining sponge tour boating business. The St. Nicholas Boat Line is 100 years old.

"When people come, you know, that's what they see," explained Captain Billiris of the St. Nicholas Boat Line. "They see that culture of the sponge docks, the sponging industry, and it’s still here."

His grandfather started the family business back in 1924, during the off-season for sponge diving.

"He bought several boats and began operating them in 1924. He was doing sponge diving tours. They were doing fishing tours, a lot of different things at the time," Captain Billiris said.

His family has been traveling these waterways for a century.

"Just about everybody in the first generation is a captain. We had to start off with my grandfather," shared Captain Billiris. "My father, all of my uncles. The cousins, we had probably about eight or ten family members that were captains at one point."

The captain was just a kid when he started.

"I was doing it from the time I was about ten years old. I used to work on the boats here. I grew up through high school, and then when I went to high school, I actually went away to college and kind of disappeared for a while," he stated.

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Now he's back telling tales of yesteryears.

"Now, all these boats you see to my left, are working commercial sponge boats," said Captain Billiris added. "It's more of a historical representation of what we, how we used to work with the diving gear and all. And, it gives you a lot of history about the sponge industry."

Families aren't just on a tour but are part of a legacy.

"A lot of people coming up as older people now, bringing their grandkids to come onto the boat because of, they just remember how it used to be," he said.

Guests get to experience first-hand what it was like to be a sponge driver.

"I hope they leave with a little bit of knowledge of, of about our culture, about our history, how things used to work here in the old days. And just a good, pleasant idea of what Tarpon Springs was all about," Captain Billiris said.

The tour is the second-oldest attraction in Florida and it runs every day.

The tour leaves from 693 Dodecanese Blvd, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689

Call (727) 942-6425 for more information.