Tarpon Nudges Out Disney in National Travel Articles

Extolled for its rolling hills, sunny-but-temperate climate and Greek culture, Tarpon Springs is the featured travel destination this week in the Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Los Angeles Times.

"It's easy to see why, in all of Florida, Greek immigrants would have been drawn to this spot at the turn of the century," the article notes, describing Tarpon's tight-knit community and amenities, "from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to the baklava-laden bakeries that line the docks."

The article is a travelogue of the Tarpon Springs locals know so well.

Here's just a sample of the article, written by John Griffin, who clearly was smitten by the city:

    "Today it's impossible to picture Tarpon Springs without its Greek heritage. From St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church to the baklava-laden bakeries that line the docks, this is a true Greek community.
    "But its roots run deeper than the whitewashed facades of the tourist shops that sell Greek caps and icons. The foundation of Tarpon Springs is built on the sponge-diving industry. To this day, it is "the sponge capital of the world," and boats leave regularly to return laden with the porous creatures."

The article not only notes the colorful history of hard-hat sponge diving but also how the city adeptly has turned a lagging industry into a modern tourist attraction.

The article also compares the culturally rich history of Tarpon to the artificial reality of nearby Orlando's Disney. Tarpon comes out the winner!

"Here, there's no entrance fee," said 72-year-old George Billiris, a sponge distributor and former diver who now directs the chamber of commerce. "It's real. It's a way of life."

The article mentions the variety of authentic Greek cuisine served at the restaurants and bakeries along the waterfront. The restaurant Mykonos is singled out for its Octopus, as is the Hellas Bakery for its chocolate-covered baklava.

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