Silly Escapades

Florida, USA · Aug 16, 2026 Completed

A Sunday at the Sponge Docks

A hot August Sunday in Tarpon Springs: the old sponge docks, a Greek lunch on the water, a slow stroll past the sponge boats and ice cream before heading home.

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Sunday, Aug 16

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

Light drizzle, 93°/78°F, 0.03" rain

Sponges, Shank and Sublime Timing at the Tarpon Springs Docks

On a hot August Sunday we piled into the car, Mom, Dad, the kids and the two of us, and headed for the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. The forecast promised 93 degrees, and we braced for a sweaty day. Instead, partly cloudy skies and a light breeze kept things surprisingly comfortable.

The kids had never seen a real sponge before, and they were hooked. Within minutes the questions started: Where do these come from? Who goes and gets them? How? That curiosity has deep roots here. In 1905 John Cocoris brought Greek-style sponge diving to town and recruited divers from Greece's Dodecanese Islands, which is why the main drag is called Dodecanese Boulevard.

Lunch was at Dimitri's on the Water, right on that boulevard, with sponge boats bobbing beyond the terrace. We started with the spread sampler for the table plus bread and olive oil with herbs, and things got serious from there. Around the table we had a Gyro Sandwich, Grouper Filet for Mom and me, and Mahi Mahi for Dad. Then the kids revealed their dining personalities. Our daughter played it safe with mac and cheese, while our son boldly ordered the braised lamb shank. The best bite of the day? …the lamb shank, which our son refused to share.

Afterward we strolled the docks, ducking into shop after shop to browse sponges (round two for the kids), soaps and all sorts of quirky items. We left with some home and garden pieces from Katherine's Linen & Gifts and a few unique soaps from Lori's Soap Shop, a piece of the day to bring home.

No visit is complete without ice cream at The Sponge Exchange. It was incorporated in 1908 as a place for divers to store and sell their sponges, and today it's a courtyard of shops where the Greek flag flies beside the American one. Mom and Dad kept it classic with vanilla. The kids went wild with weird flavor combinations.

Then came the real luck of the day. The clouds held all afternoon, but the moment we got in the car and started driving home, a light drizzle began tapping on the windshield. Talk about timing.

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Dodecanese Boulevard

  • In 1905 John Cocoris brought Greek-style sponge diving to Tarpon Springs and recruited divers from Greece's Dodecanese Islands, which the docks' main street is named for.
  • More than one in 10 residents claim Greek descent, a higher share than any other American city.

Good to know: Walking the docks is free, with well over 100 shops and about 15 restaurants along the water.

Visitor infoHistoryMap

Dimitri's on the Water Greek lunch on the docks

  • It serves Greek food and fresh seafood right on Dodecanese Boulevard, with a waterfront terrace looking out on the sponge boats.

Good to know: Sit on the terrace if the heat allows: you can watch the boats come and go while you eat.

WebsiteMap

The Sponge Exchange Ice cream stop

  • The Tarpon Springs Sponge Exchange was incorporated in 1908 as a shareholder-owned place to store and sell the divers' sponges.
  • Today the old exchange is a courtyard of shops, with the Greek flag flying next to the American one.

Historical markerMap

  1. Stroll around the docks