Shopping-Tourst Area: Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks

What I would love is to see a boardwalk where local businesses are doing interesting things - so organic culture - rather than something that feels more like a mall dressed up to look like an organic culture town that used to be the norm 75 years ago all over Florida. Cedar Key has a bit of charm, The keys I heard it's gone.

That said - places like John's Pass are authentic enough to be fun to walk around it. I know it is basically an outdoor mall but there are some local restaurants, you can watch the pelicans go nuts at the offshore fishing boats, and get some ice cream.

Tarpon - every time we go we're hoping for that experience but it never really pans out. They have Greek restaurants - that is something. But it's really just the same sea shell sculptures assembled in Vietnam sold in 10 stores. The road you walk on isn't a boardwalk or anything quaint really. Meh. I want to like it - it has some of what it needs to be maybe even better than John's Pass but it's just disappointing.

And I don't think anyone has actually brought sponges here for anything but a prop in many decades.

So definitely go once but I keep regretting it unfortunately. Please fill us in if there's some really cool spot right around the corner of the main drag or something.