Copyright. Barefoot Beachcombers Club.  All rights reserved

The boat cruise offers snacks, margaritas, sangria, and soft drinks. There are “restrooms” on-board (typical boat ‘head’). The BBC was able to negotiate a rate of $30 per person which includes the tip and tax. The cruise departs at 2:30pm. We are pre-paying this tour as well to secure the discount. Please include your check for $30 per person along with your transportation payment.

https://spongeoramacruiselines.com/tarpon-springs-dolphin-cruise/

History: In 1905 Greek spongers arrived in Tarpon Springs to develop the world’s largest sponge industry. During the 1930s there were 200 boats working the Gulf from as far north as Appalachicola to as far south as Key West. They were harvesting $3 million worth of sponges annually. During the mid 40’s a bacteria killed the sponges and ultimately destroyed the industry. Today, Tarpon Springs enjoys a rebirth of the sponge beds, making it the world’s largest sponge producing industry.

Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks: 735 Dodecanese Blvd; where you can purchase sea sponges, view sponge boats and eat Greek fare. spongedocks.net

To print a copy of this invitation, click on the Blue Button. 

If this is your FIRST EVER BBC trip:  The BBC has a Liability Waiver specific to our club.  Please follow the link:  http://www.bbc32162.com/liability-waiver-1.html; click on the Blue Button to print the Liability Waiver and submit it with your reservation form.  If this is not your first trip,  please skip this step.

I/we would like to go to Fred Howard Park & Tarpon Springs with the BBC on Monday, September 16th.  Enclosed is my $30 check (pp). 

Print your name(s):   __________________________________________________

I/we wish to be on the bus with these friends (name up to four)

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

I/we still have a credit with the BBC and I would like to use that credit.  _______

Please provide a phone number that the Club could use in the event we needed to

reach you during the beach outing:   ______________________________

Please provide the name of the Village where you live  _____________________

I plan to rent  _______# of sets of beach equipment (2 chairs/1 umbrella) and have added $35.40 to my trip payment for each set.

I/we want to take the St. Nicholas VII cruise tour and have added $16.96 per person to my trip payment.  # of people ________

OR

I/we want to take the Spongeorama cruise to Anclote Key and have added $30 per person for ______ (# of people) to my trip payment.

Trip payment can be mailed or dropped at Barefoot Beachcombers Club, Safe Ship – Colony Plaza, 333 Colony Drive, Box 110, The Villages, FL 32162

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Shopping on the Coolest Block in Town:

Antonia’s: 501 Dodecanese Blvd; clothing, items from Greece, paintings, great reviews: greektownimports.com

Getaguru: 777 Dodecanese Blvd; handmade soap; getaguru.com

Gloria’s Gifts: 793 Dodecanese Blvd; ladies apparel and unique gift items; https://spongedocks.net/listings/glorias-gifts/

Katherine’s Gifts: 628 Athens St.; featuring soaps, oils, and plants; albanaturalsoaps.com (on-line shop)

Spongeorama Sponge Factory: 510 Dodecanese Blvd. a FREE museum; spongeorama.com

The Lighthouse Shoppes: 813 Dodecanese Blvd; leather shop, music shop, chocolate shop, spice shop, etc. Guests say they always find something unique here. No website available.

The Olive Hive:  No address available on-line only; greek honey and cosmetics; theolivehive.com.  

What is Dodecanese Boulevard and why is it labeled the “Coolest Block in Town?” Nestled between restaurants serving octopus and Greek salads, are shops that specialize in artisan soaps and jewelry, clothing, gifts, plus hand rolled cigars and much much more. It is Dodecanese Blvd where you may purchase a few different sponges. “Wools,” fit for body washing and cleaning cars. Small “yellows” are for applying make-up and the biggest sponges for table decorations.The sponge docks offer a glimpse into the town's fascinating diving history.

The sponge industry built a Greek Community that is famous not only for the world’s finest sponges, but for some of the finest Greek Restaurants, Markets, and Bakeries in the country.

The Fred Howard Park Beach that is located in the city of Tarpon Springs sports a scenic one mile-long causeway that emblazons a white sandy beach. Plenty of swimming areas and an absolutely perfect place to relax, read, sleep, or view the beautiful scenery. Tarpon Springs, known as the “Sponge Capital of the World,” is located just 30 minutes north of Clearwater.

DINNER RESTAURANTS: 

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Costa’s Restaurant: 521 Athens St.; Casual bistro offering Greek favorites.
costasgreekrestaurant.com

Dimitri's on the Water: 690 Dodecanese Blvd; seafood with outdoor dining & sunset views. dimitrisonthewater.com

Hellas: 777 Dodecanese Blvd; Greek cuisine. https://hellasbakery.com The bakery is pretty much a ‘must stop’ in town.

Limani: 776 Dodecanese Blvd; Greek cuisine. facebook.com

Le Macaron French Pastries: 844 Dodecanese Blvd. a French cafe with handcrafted chocolates; lemacaron-us.com

Mama’s Greek Cuisine: 735 Dodecanese Blvd; live music & belly dancing. mamasgreekcuisine.com

Mr. Souvlaki Greek Restaurant: 802 North Pinellas; traditional and contemporary Greek cuisine. mrsouvlaki.net

Tarpon Tavern: 21 North Safford Ave; an upscale English style pub featuring craft beer and pub food. tarpontavern.com.​

Please join us when we travel to Tarpon Springs. It is a delightful destination with a rich cultural heritage and vibrant atmosphere. It is where locals proudly boast the famous Dodecanese Boulevard, for fabulous Greek eateries and plenty of shopping.  Tarpon Springs, a coastal town, with a small town feel offering something not many other beach towns can: a generous splash of Greece in the heart of Florida.​

2024 Beach Trips

Return to The Villages:

At @ 6pm, we’ll likely board our buses, a little bit sandy, full of treats and bearing a few shopping bags as we head back to The Villages.

Once you feel that you have had enough sun, why not experience a uniquely fascinating boat tour demonstrating the in’s and out’s of sponging or a scenic tour of what is in the water. We have two different tours to offer you…..or of course, you can ride into town and shop…..or you can stay on the beach a little longer.

The St. Nicholas VII is a 1 ½ hour tour of the bay island while discussing the sponge industry. Their boats are not normally running in September, but they have agreed to schedule a tour just for us, so our tour will not be exactly what is described on their website.  The boat departs at 2:30 pm.  The boat will cruise through the historic Sponge Docks on the Anclote River. The tour includes a narrative of the history of sponge diving and an opportunity for one of us to dress up in the diving suit. A great photo opportunity.

The main street in Tarpon Springs also runs along the Anclote River that leads to the gulf. This part of our tour will exhibit sawgrass marshes, sea oats, and mangroves. As you travel across the river numerous trees are adorned by Jasmin and Spanish moss. This work of art gets reflected on the clear waters and along the shores, to create a captivating sight. Tickets $16 plus tax but does NOT include tip. If you want to come along on this tour please include $16.96 per person in addition to your transportation fee on the reservation form.    http://stnicholasboatline.com/#!/

If the St Nicholas VII is not what you desire, then check out The Spongeorama Cruise Line Premier Dolphin Cruise below.

The premier dolphin cruise features 2 hours of narration and drops you for shelling on the pristine Anclote Key Preserve Island about 3 miles off the coast of Tarpon Springs.  You will be viewing dolphins, manatees, birds, the Anclote Lighthouse and other historical sites along the way. We took this tour in July – the boat ride was cooling;  the shelling was not “Sanibel Island” quality, but there was a wide variety of shells and most were intact.  An interesting tidbit about the islands of Anclote Key Preserve (there are 4 islands in this preserve) is that at high tide, during a full moon, the islands are submerged and become part of the Gulf waters.

Summer heat on the beach: 

During our summer beach trips, we've had THREE heat related health incidents.  They have ranged from disorientation and fainting to seizures and unresponsiveness.  Just in case your mirror is being kind and you haven't noticed, we are ALL getting older and heat/dehydration affect us more, as in MUCH more, than it ever did before.  And the heat this summer is more oppressive - more humidity with higher temperatures.  There are heat advisories/warnings nearly every day in The Villages.
We've been extremely fortunate so far.....with EMTs just around the corner and other first responders helping out.  But we are unwilling to continue to rely on our procedures and plain luck to get us through another trip. 

Before you sign up for this trip, you must commit to staying hydrated while on the beach, seeking shade or air conditioning when you begin to feel too warm and realizing that what you could do last summer might be different than what you can do this summer, in this heat.  

There are also restrooms, showers, and nine picnic tables, where you may enjoy a brown bag lunch because unfortunately, there is no concession. This beach is wheelchair accessible.  While you’ll notice a lifeguard station in the photos we recently took, there will be NO LIFEGUARDS on duty in September when we are there. 

Fred Howard Park at Tarpon Springs

on Monday, September  16 ^th

^​8:30am until 8:00pm

To get in on the fun, print the reservation form by clicking on the green button above.  On August 31st, we will conduct our lottery and you will be notified shortly thereafter of your seat confirmation or waitlist status. (This means your reservation & check must be at SafeShip by 5pm on August 30th) Mail or drop the reservation form, along with your check (made out to the BBC) for $30.00 per person to: ​

Amenities: beach gear at $30 a set (2 chairs, 1 umbrella). There are a limited number of sets available on this beach.  The beach rental will be pre-paid. This will ensure that your request will be waiting for you on the beach. It also secures our group discount on the set.  Please indicate on the reservation form how many sets you want and include your payment.  

Scenic White Sand Beach & a Quaint Coastal Town!

Anclote Key Preserve

Barefoot Beachcombers Club (‘BBC’ will also suffice)
333 Colony Blvd. #110 *
The Villages, FL 32162

* Be sure to include the mailbox number #110 because there are two BBC's at this Safe Ship Location.

You could instead hand your addressed envelope to a person at the counter at Safe Ship in Colony Plaza, saving you the stamp and ensure its timely arrival.