I was asked to find a religious historical festival in Florida and believe me there are quite a few. But my favorite by far is the Ephinany in Tarpon Springs. You start with the incredible Cathedral built as a replica to the First Christian Church…Read More

I was asked to find a religious historical festival in Florida and believe me there are quite a few. But my favorite by far is the Ephinany in Tarpon Springs.

You start with the incredible Cathedral built as a replica to the First Christian Church in Constantino Turkey St Sophia de Higai. Greek marble everywhere (from the 1964 World's Fair in New York) and gold leaf. A standing room only crowd of true Greeks speaking Greek. Then you follow the excited crowd to a wonderful bayou where young Greek men jump into the water (in January) to retrieve a cross that the bishop has thrown there with the hope that the next year will bring them peace and a plentiful sponge harvest. You wonder how you transported yourself across the Atlantic because you are no doubt in Greece!

After the festivities, there is a fabulous Greek festival with food galore for you to partake in the one of the most memorable experiences of your life. Then you realize that you're not in Greece because Greece could never compete with this place.

If you play golf than you probably know that Florida is unofficial golf capital of the US because the state has more golf courses that any other state. You would like to play golf, than the Westin Innisbrook Resort at Tarpon Springs has its…Read More

If you play golf than you probably know that Florida is unofficial golf capital of the US because the state has more golf courses that any other state. You would like to play golf, than the Westin Innisbrook Resort at Tarpon Springs has its Innisbrook Golf Institute here (largest resort-owned and operated golf shool in North America). "Golf Digest, "Golf" magazine, and others pick this resort as one of the country’s best places to play (provided you stay here).It has 90 holes on championship courses. The most famous course, the Copperhead, hosts the JC Penney Classic.Close

The sponge business has been part of the history here as early as the late 1880's when sponge fisherman brought their sponges from Key West to cure on the beaches in the area. In 1889, John Cheney, a Philadelphia banker, started building warehouses to make it…Read More

The sponge business has been part of the history here as early as the late 1880's when sponge fisherman brought their sponges from Key West to cure on the beaches in the area.

In 1889, John Cheney, a Philadelphia banker, started building warehouses to make it a leading market. A couple of divers from Greece discovered the local wealth of thousands of sponges in the local waters.

In 1905, with a group of Greek divers working for Cheney, the first boat with mechanized equipment set sail for deeper waters of the Gulf of Mexico. News of the plentiful sponges brought immigrants from Greece to not only sponge but run shops in the town.

Even today, you can see the many boats (many named after Greek Orthodox saints) manned by hardworking spongers and shops filled with all variety of sponges.

The site of many activities held by the Greek community in Tarpon Springs, most notably the cross diving that is part of the Epiphany celebration of the Greek Orthodox church which takes place January 6th. The bayou is surrounded by many lovely Victorian style homes,…Read More

The site of many activities held by the Greek community in Tarpon Springs, most notably the cross diving that is part of the Epiphany celebration of the Greek Orthodox church which takes place January 6th. The bayou is surrounded by many lovely Victorian style homes, a couple of which are B&B's. A concrete walkway winds around the bayou for a lovely walk. The Bayou is also winter home to the endangered manatee(sea cows). Close