Tarpon Springs is the largest natural sponge market in the world. These sponge beds are reported to be the healthiest and most abundant. The sponge is an animal -- the most primitive kind of animal -- with no brain and no nervous system. As larvae, they swim freely and then attach themselves to rocks and shells. For our use, they must be freed from organic matter, cleaned, dried and trimmed and what we use is the skeletal form. A free film is shown daily on the docks that will add to your understanding of and fascination with this ancient trade.

Tarpon Springs is as close as we will get in this country to an authentic Greek village with its colorful people, traces of the Byzantine architecture, traditions, festivities, shops, galleries and exotic foods. Your trip will be well worth it when you favor your palate with gyros (pronounced yee-ros), moussaka, spanakopota, Greek potato and, of course, the sweet baklava or phyllo wrapped kataifi with nuts and honey. Tarpon Springs is rich in history and culture and is a must for the adventurous soul.

Moving further southwest on Highway 19A, you will enter the serenity of Dunedin, known affectionately as Delightful Dunedin. Settled in 1870, it was named by two Scotsmen who chose the name Dunedin, which means castle rock. Today, Dunedin maintains the charm and distinction of small-town America while boasting a population of 37,000 residents and is known as the oldest town on the West Coast of Florida.

This is a town that demands a walk-through to enjoy: the beautiful architecture; accommodations that include bed and breakfasts; shops; galleries; antiques, and a melting pot of restaurant menus that will tempt the most discriminating tastes.

For the RVers, there is the Dunedin Beach Campground, a friendly place to camp with all amenities provided. Of course, the ever-present gorgeous Gulf Coast is always waiting for you with Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island just off shore.

Honeymoon Island, a relatively new barrier island in the Gulf, is approximately 7,000 years old. A status destination for many honeymooners, it offers walking trails of indigenous plant and bird life with beautiful beaches that stretch to meet the green-blue Gulf waters. From there you can take the ferry and discover the intrigue of Caladesi Island's three miles of sandy beaches, shaded picnic areas and three-mile nature trail, rated one of the top 15 beaches in the United States. Call the Caladesi Island Adventure at 727-734-5263.

Delightful Dunedin, with plenty of fishing, boating and golfing, is also the home of the Toronto Blue Jays' spring training. All yours to enjoy.

When you're ready for the tempo of city life on the beach, then Clearly it's Clearwater. Heading west on 19A, take Rt. 60 and you will arrive at the best city beach on the Gulf of Mexico, per Florida International University professor Stephen Leatherman, who has been ranking beaches for the past eight years. Nothing is more inviting to a traveler than a wide-open greeting such as the newly created "Roundabout" gives as you enter Clearwater. It is a beautifully landscaped drive with 9-foot-wide pedestrian walkways, a 19-foot-wide overlook at the marina and culminating in a magnificent fountain at the center that pumps 40,000 to 50,000 gallons of reclaimed water daily. What could be more inviting? Clearwater has it all!

Miles of white sand, as soft as baby powder, stretch to the lapping shores, and sports of all sorts -- golf, tennis, fishing and boating -- await your energy. But glittery nightlife with restaurants, clubs and pubs, resounding with R&B, jazz or some of the oldies, heralds this as a city on the move. Upon arrival, it would be prudent to park your vehicle and enjoy the "Jolly Trolley" that will take you anywhere you want to go in Clearwater. It's fun, it's convenient, and you won't miss a thing but the traffic.

Venture south on Gulf Boulevard to 28 glorious miles of beaches, each with a distinct personality on this unique barrier island. A leisurely drive takes you down the center of the island with the Gulf of Mexico glistening on the west and the busy Intracoastal Waterway on the east. Discover the beach of Sand Key. It greets you with acres of green space that touch the glowing sands stretching to the gentle surf. Dramatic beach homes line the boulevard through Belleair, Belleair Shores and Indian Rocks Beach. A perfect pause awaits you at the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary at Indian Shores, where you will witness some of nature's more dazzling creatures in their habitat. Delightful restaurants and bistros dot both east and west sides of the island at Redington Shores and North Redington Beach. View majestic homes that grace the boulevard at Redington Beach. Madeiria Beach, Treasure Island, St. Pete Beach and Fort DeSoto offer a remarkable blend of "found art" sculpted by Mother Nature and maintained by all who live, visit and play here. Guess what? You may never leave!

Boating, kayaking, fishing, cruising, parasailing, surfing and jet skiing abound with ample parking at your chosen locations.

And then there is food. From the smallest beach pub to the sumptuous dining by candlelight, casual or elegant, the choice is yours.

A stop at Historic John's Pass, Madeira Beach, is a must for shopping, browsing, munching or dining. Herein lies the pulse of the island. At the gate of Pass-a-Grill, St. Petersburg Beach, stands the mighty Don CeSar, a landmark resort of distinction built in 1928 that caters to the national and international visitor. With wonderful food, swimming and accommodations, this is a trip into an elegant era of allure and romance. Then move to the tip of this barrier island to the Pass-a-Grill Community, steeped in a history all of its own and reflected in the hometown atmosphere, restaurants, galleries and lush plant life indigenous to Florida.

One cannot leave the beaches without visiting Historic Fort DeSoto, ranked third among best beaches in the United States. An authentic slice of American military history is sure to capture your imagination as you view the important coastal fortifications, towers and post buildings. Active through the Civil War, the Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II, it was sold to Pinellas County in 1948 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Excellent camping, boating and picnicking in Fort DeSoto Park provide a perfect time to stretch your legs, wander through history and touch the magnificence of nature. Inquire at the administration building for detailed maps and information.

St. Petersburg, Fla., named after Russian born Peter Demens, who brought early development to this Pinellas peninsula in 1888 via his Orange Belt Railroad, radiates an internal energy that captivates the visitor and holds him fast. Cultural advantages stimulate the intellect from museums to the marina. Salvador Dali Museum, Florida International Museum, Museum of History, Museum of Fine Art and P. Buckley Moss Gallery -- to name a few -- are perfect for the intellectual side.

Everyone gravitates to The Pier in St. Petersburg, a dynamic inverted pyramid structure that will hold you transfixed with fascination. Giant tubs bubble with wonders of the sea. A second-floor aquarium delights the viewer with native and tropical fish, including sharks.

Children will delight in "The Hands-On Museum" on the third floor. Let them explore, learn, touch, feel, experiment in this "Great Exploration" designed for their imaginations. This is one museum your children will never forget.

Shopping at The Pier is an adventure in itself with 17 different shops and boutiques at your command. But, if you shop 'til you drop, there is a huge food court to enjoy an ice cream cone, or how about a box of fudge made before your very eyes? You may choose the Columbia, an elegant restaurant of Spanish cuisine, or eat inside or outside by the bay at Café Lido with Italian food as your choice.

An absolute must is a trip to the top of The Pier with a panoramic view of the city and the sea. Enjoy a cool drink at ChaCha Coconuts and watch the glorious sunset, as only the Florida sky can deliver. It's breathtaking!

St. Petersburg is a vacation paradise with the Bayfront Center, Mahaffey Theatre, Coliseum Ballroom and Tropicana Field, home to Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Dozens of interesting shops, boutiques, restaurants and galleries fill the city just waiting for your discovery.

The lifeblood of Tampa, Fla. is within the people who live, work and play in this exciting city. It was a quiet Indian fishing village the day Hernando DeSoto sailed into Tampa Bay in 1539. Originally known as Tanpa (sticks of fire) it evolved into Tampa and by 1855 Fort Brooke was established for traders and settlers. In 1885, Don Vicente Martinez Ybor (pronounced EE bor) moved his famous cigar business from Key West and developed Ybor City, east of Tampa. Henry B. Plant brought the railroad to Tampa in 1884 and started a steamship line from Tampa to Havana, Cuba. He also built the Tampa Bay Hotel, whose six, silver onion-shaped minarets atop the building are not only a landmark but the heart of the University of Tampa. In 1886, O.H. Platt purchased 20 acres of land west of the city and developed the first subdivision, Hyde Park. Teddy Roosevelt organized his Rough Riders in 1898 at the Tampa encampment. In 1924, David P. Davis, an entrepreneur, built a booming residential and commercial property on two islands called Davis Island.

This is the spirit that built the city and the spirit that keeps Tampa the second largest employment market in Florida. But the heart and soul of Tampa is found in its vast array of day trips and activities that amuse, educate and thrill the visitor. Busch Gardens Tampa Bay provides fun characters and exotic wildlife. Visit Lowry Park Zoo and meet the ancient and gentle manatees. Spend a whole day at The Florida Aquarium with its four major galleries featuring natural species in their habitats. Do not miss MOSI-Museum of Science & Industry -- exhilarating discoveries in this hi-tech world. A touch of the "old world" will introduce you to Old Hyde Park Village with tree-lined streets and colorful awnings. Shop to your heart's delight in a myriad of boutiques, then stop for lunch or dinner in one of the many wonderful restaurants or just relax on the beautiful village green. There is always some action to intrigue you. Take a tour of Ybor City and enter the world of Cuban food, language and ambience that will cause you to linger on for the gaiety of nightlife -- music, dancing, a night you will never forget. You may even indulge in a good cigar.

All of this and much, much more is yours to taste, feel and smell and you will understand what Tampa is all about.