City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Tarpon Springs, Florida

Jonathan Timianko

Nov 13, 2021 — 3 min read

Located about 30 miles north of the Tampa bay area, and about an hour south of Homosassa, Tarpon Springs is one of those small Florida towns that doesn’t get mentioned nearly as much as it deserves. Greek sponge divers settled here in the early 1900s and built up the industry into a thriving community infused with Greek culture and cuisine. With its prime location on the Gulf of Mexico – and the meandering fingers of the Anclote River - you can’t beat the beaches and natural attractions. Let’s check out a few places to visit from private boat dock rentals.

Photo: Sandy Allen

Historic Sponge Docks District

Photo: Sandy Allen

If you do nothing else in Tarpon Springs, you must check out the historic sponge docks and attractions along Dodecanese Boulevard (say that three times fast). This area was the beginning of sponge diving and collection on the Gulf Coast. It’s still a booming business (Mike Rowe even did an episode of the Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs from there). Walk past the docks where divers bring in the catches of the day and check out the entertainment, restaurants, bakeries, art galleries, boutiques and shops selling souvenirs, t-shirts and lots and lots of sponges. Don’t miss Hella’s Restaurant and Bakery (think: moussaka, dolmadakia, souvlaki, spanakopita and more Greek desserts than you can imagine). There’s also deep-sea fishing charters and sightseeing cruises.

Tarpon Springs Aquarium and Animal Sanctuary

Photo: Tarpon Springs Aquarium and Animal Sanctuary Facebook

An aquarium makes a fun family day away from a boat dock for rent. It’s the perfect way to see all the creatures that swim around beneath the boat. Family-owned and operated since 1990, the Tarpon Springs Aquarium and Animal Sanctuary features an alligator show, a SCUBA show and a tidal touch tank. You can get up close to snakes, tortoises and lizards (if you so choose) as well as view fish such as a goliath grouper, tarpon, snook and red drum. Learn about nurse, lemon and bamboo cat sharks and cownose, Atlantic and southern stingrays.

Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art

Photo: Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art Facebook

Looking for an afternoon art fix? Head out from a boat slip rental to Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art. Located on the campus of St. Petersburg College, it offers modern and contemporary art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Artist, author and educator Allen Leepa first opened the museum in 2002. You’ll find paintings, sculpture and textile art from names such as Chagall, Moore and Picasso as well as Florida and Gulf Coast regional artists (which includes the Leepa and Rattner family).

Howard Park Beach

A beautiful one-mile-long causeway leads to the Gulf Coast beach at Howard Park Beach. At 155 acres, it’s popular for swimming, kayaking, fishing and sunset watching. There are picnic shelters, restrooms, playgrounds, a ball field and a launch area for canoes and kayaks. Natural habitats include seagrass beds, mangroves, coastal scrub and slash pine flatwoods for a variety of marine and land animals such as butterflies, birds, eagles, gopher tortoises and fox squirrels.

A.L. Anderson Park

Overlooking Salmon Bay and Lake Tarpon, A.L. Anderson Park has picnic areas, a playground, restrooms, fishing piers, a dog park and elevated wooden walking trails leading through shady cypress trees. There’s also a boat ramp if you happen to be trailering your boat from a private boat slip rental.