An Epic Sunset Cruise to Anclote Key Preserve State Park

Anclote Key Preserve State Park lies three miles from Tarpon Springs in the Gulf of Mexico. You need a boat to get there. While I generally have private boats available to me, I had never been to this particular barrier island. When the opportunity to host a photo walk with a local photography group came up, I jumped at the opportunity to experience this unique trip – a sunset cruise to Anclote Key – and share it with others who love the natural beauty of Tarpon Springs.

The World-Famous Sponge Docks are roughly a half mile long on the Anclote River. From the municipal marina at one end to the working docks at the other, the riverfront is a hive of boat traffic, foot traffic, and thriving businesses. The largest Greek community in Florida calls Tarpon Springs home. They are descendents of the Greek immigrants who made sponging a staple of Tarpon Springs history. In the evening, the aroma of Mediterranean spices and seafood dishes wafts from restaurants. Gift shops line Dodecanese Boulevard, selling sponges as well as soaps, tee shirts, hats, and other knick knacks. Hawkers still make a living here, too, their stalls opened to the foot traffic to sell cruise excursions like the one we’re about to take.

About Odyssey Cruises

We booked with Odyssey Cruises in Tarpon Springs for the boat ride to the island. There are several cruise providers and charters along the Sponge Docks, but I chose this one because they have a trained naturalist onboard. Though it’s great to just cruise along and see pretty sites, I’m always a fan of learning. Part of me expected the information from the naturalist to be information a tourist might not know but which is common knowledge to a lifelong Floridian like me. I was wrong. Naturalist Rick was filled with great information, humorous, and happy to answer any questions.

Odyssey Cruises is located in the heart of Dodecanese Boulevard, just down the street from the historic Sponge Exchange. They have a small parking lot though I parked elsewhere. The ticket suggests arriving 45 minutes early. Once checked in, there’s time to explore the area or you can wait beneath a large thatched-roof tiki hut. Arrive early and enjoy a great Tarpon Springs meal at one of the nearby restaurants or explore some of the shops. The staff at Odyssey Cruises is very friendly and told us exactly what time to be back.

A Sunset Cruise to Anclote Key

We listened to the safety speech, boarded the boat, and pushed away from the dock. The last one on board, I snagged a favorable seat at the front of the boat on the chest holding the life vests. Once away from the dock, Naturalist Rick launched into an informational talk about the history of the river. We slid past the working boats, past two-story waterfront homes with docks jutting into the river. Like many rivers, the Anclote widens and narrows as it makes its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Small islands dot the south shore of the river. An occasional marina comes and goes. At the mouth of the river, Anclote River Park provides an historic waterfront oasis for swimmers and beachgoers. Through this entire journey, Naturalist Rick talked about the sponge industry, Deserter’s Hill, the Tocobaga Indians who first lived here, and the importance of the estuary found in these waters.

At the mouth of the Anclote River, Captain Mike ramped up the boat’s speed. With wind in hair and instructions to be on the look out for dolphins, we sped away to Anclote Key Preserve State Park.

About Anclote Key Preserve State Park

Anclote Key Preserve State Park is an uninhabited island three miles from Tarpon Springs and only accessible by boat. A lighthouse was built there in 1887. It still stands and warns boats of the shallow waters around the island. The Preserve is made up of four islands – Anclote Key, North Anclote Bar, South Anclote Bar, and Three Rooker Island. It’s more than 11,000 acres and home to hundreds of animal species, including 43 species of birds.

Visitors to the island come mostly during the day to swim, sunbathe, and collect shells. Primitive camping is always an option, too, for anyone who wants to spend the night. For many, a sunset cruise to Anclote Key provides the perfect amount of time to explore a little, see the island’s exquisite white beaches and turquoise waters, and collect a few shells to show off back home.

On the island, we split off in our own directions. The tourist families immediately headed for the beach and shells. It was low tide and a perfect time to find the best shells. The photographers and birders in the group headed for the interior parts of the island where grasses sway in the breeze and the birds nest. I had hoped to get close up shots of the lighthouse to include with my other photos of lighthouses in Florida. This tour, however, didn’t go to that part of the island.

The tour allows for 30 minutes on the island, though we were given 40 minutes. The entire week leading up to the sunset cruise to Anclote Key had been plagued with vicious afternoon storms. On that day, however, the clouds cleared, and nature gifted us with a beautiful sky. The clouds rolled back in just before sunset though so we didn’t capture any great sunset photos. 

We boarded the boat again at 8 PM for the return trip to Tarpon Springs. By this time, the tide had turned, and at the mouth of the Anclote River we encountered a group of dolphins feeding at the edges of the river channel. Captain Mike maneuvered the vessel around the dolphins for several minutes so that everyone had a chance to see and photograph them. For many, I’m sure, it was the highlight of the trip. Naturalist Rick continued his educational talks, discussing the importance of the horseshoe crabs and some of the local birds.

Closing: Sunset Cruise to Anclote Key

Tarpon Springs offers a number of dolphin-sighting and sunset cruises as well as other tours of the area. Though Tarpon Springs is most often associated the Sponge Docks and annual Epiphany celebration, the largest in the world outside of Greece, this quaint city offers many other things to do. Visit during one of the many festivals, such as Hippie Fest, and add a relaxing sunset cruise to the end of your day. Enjoy the shops on the Sponge Docks or in the historic downtown area. Make your visit a nature-filled one with a clear kayak tour. No matter how you choose to spend your day in Tarpon Springs, be sure to end it with a sunset cruise from Odyssey Cruises.

All opinions contained herein are my own. Odyssey Cruises did not provide any sort of compensation for this review.

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