Home > Florida > Tarpon Springs

Tarpon Springs, Florida Vacation Villa and Home Rentals.

"Yassou!" Don't be surprised if the gentle, lilting sound you hear cruising the streets of Tarpon Springs is the sound of Greek being spoken--Greek is the unofficial second language of this Gulf Coast gem. Tarpon Springs, Florida vacation villa and home rentals are your ticket to discovering this charming and unique Mediterranean-inspired village.

Boasting beautiful beaches, convenience to a host of major Florida attractions, and a wonderful European-inspired charm, Tarpon Springs, Florida vacation villa and home rentals are your key to enjoying this jewel of the Central Gulf Coast. The flavor of Tarpon Springs was forever changed in the 1930s when a Greek-American businessman brought Greek sponge divers to Tarpon Springs to harvest sponges from the bounteous sponge beds off the coast. Business thrived and Tarpon Springs became known as "America's Sponge Capital" throughout the 1930s and 40s. A deadly bacteria killed off the sponge beds and almost completely signalled the death-knell of the once-prosperous industry.

Today, remnants of this unique episode in Tarpon Springs' history lives on in the historic downtown, in the Greek language spoken by many of the descendants of the original divers, and in the numerous Greek restaurants you can find in Tarpon Springs. Renting Tarpon Springs, Florida vacation villa and home rentals by owner is an ideal way to dive in and explore this unique and fascinating coastal town. Tarpon Springs, Florida vacation villa and home rentals are a great way to see the legacy of these intrepid Greek divers and their families.

The Sponge Docks, a mile north of downtown, are listed in the The National Register of Historic Places. Along with the docks are more than 150 art galleries, antique shops, boutiques and restaurants. Historic downtown Tarpon Springs is a mixture of antique shops, galleries, specialty shops, and restaurants. Many of these restaurants serve the same Greek-inspired cuisine that the original Greek settlers enjoyed. This area is the thriving center of the city and makes for a wonderful place to stroll and take in the scene. More than a few Tarpon Springs, Florida vacation villa and home rentals are located near this lively city center, offering easy access to one of the most unique downtowns in all of Florida, if not all of America.

Not to be missed when going to Tarpon Springs and enjoying Tarpon Springs, Florida vacation villa and home rentals is the Epiphany Day celebration, held January 6 every year. Epiphany Day is the day the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the birth of Christ--and Tarpon Springs is no exception. This Greek Orthodox tradition attracts people from all over the country with its festive rites, food, and celebration. The event is capped off with the competition of young Greek Orthodox boys who compete to retrieve a white cross tossed into the waters of Spring Bayou. The one who retrieves the cross receives a blessing and receives a promise of good fortune for the year. After the ceremony, the Sponge Docks host glendi, a festival featuring Greek food, music, and dancing.

Tarpon Springs is one of the most unique and interesting towns in all of Florida. Walking the old, historic city center of Tarpon Springs is like stepping back in time--to another time and to another country. Tarpon Springs, Florida vacation villa and home rentals are your ticket to exploring this fascinating Gulf Coast jewel.