Things to Do in Tarpon Springs

Premier Choice Fitness’ guests roam 15,500 square feet of floor space full of exercise equipment for self-guided workouts, private rooms for group fitness classes, and handpicked personal trainers ready for one-on-one and small-group sessions. Racks of free weights and iron-laden weight machines help to keep muscles as clearly defined as a prenuptial agreement, and exercise bikes and treadmills line the facility's television-bedecked wall, waiting for a fitness-minded visitor to give them a workout. Group classes meet in one of the center's mirror- or window-lined rooms, where students develop camaraderie during yoga, Zumba, or kickboxing sweat sessions. In addition to workout facilities, Premier Choice Fitness also keeps tabs on youngsters with childcare services and provides tanning sessions to leave customers perfectly bronzed and capable of photosynthesizing their own food.

Shots of all caliber soar above a landscape of well-kept fairways lined with palm trees, cypress trees, and australian pine trees at Magnolia Valley Golf Club’s 18-hole, 6,600-yard course. The par 72 layout challenges golfers and evokes an appreciation for nature with sweeping views and flagsticks that recite transcendentalist poems. Before taking to the course, golfers can warm up swing muscles at the driving range, hone putting strokes at the practice green, or fuel up with food and drinks at the bar and grill. In addition to its championship layout, Magnolia Valley features a par 33 executive course for players looking to squeeze in a round before the sun sets and their golf bag turns back into a pumpkin.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,600 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 68.2 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 121 from the farthest tees
• Five tee options

At Super Skate of Pinellas, neon-colored lights surround a disco ball, bouncing their bright hues off its mirrors and onto the rink below. Fenced in by the rink's low barriers, skaters sharpen their skills during open hours or master basics during lessons for beginners on Saturday afternoons. Home to the [Pinellas County Roller Girls](http://gr.pn/HAypiG], as well as a junior roller derby, the rink reigns as the fun center's focal point, but a smattering of tempting attractions encircles it. A 2,000-square-foot indoor playground stretches three stories skyward, its vibrant walkways netted in for safety, and an elevated dance floor hoists visitors high so that they can flaunt moves or gold-leafed sneaker treads. Athletes can also refuel at the snack bar and exercise mental agility while playing arcade games.

Atlantis V Charters donates all of its proceeds to a foundation for youth sailing, which leads free sailing lessons for children. Similarly, the company's captains and crew volunteer their time and refuse payment. Instead, the expert sailors profit from fostering awareness of the ocean's beauty, wildlife, and resources. They welcome passengers aboard a 45-foot classic world-cruising sailing yacht; half- or all-day charters and short sunset tours are available. During these journeys, the captains answer questions and teach passengers about the dolphins that frequently swim alongside the boat. Using a dinghy, the crew also takes passengers around Anclote Island. If weather permits, they walk across sandy beaches, view an 1887 lighthouse, and discover underwater habitats using snorkeling gear.

To reap nature’s bounty, the company also leads fishing trips aboard a 20-foot Proline fishing boat. With all the necessary bait and tackle, a wildlife instructor teaches beginners the basics of baiting and casting, while helping more experienced fishermen reel in their catches and enjoy the water.

Located in the shadow of the Marriott hotel, Clearwater Jet Ski and Parasail outfits beachgoers with the equipment to safely speed across or sail above the waves. Its three-seater jet skis kick up massive wakes as they roar over the sapphire surface of the water, and tandem kayaks trundle along. Staff-operated speedboats tow parasails behind them, passengers getting a seagull’s view of the waves and a firm understanding of how silly the dog paddle looks from a distance.

The images of sharks and turtles swim across a 44-foot-tall mural created by Guy Harvey to welcome patrons into Surf Style's 55,000-square-foot shopping center, which the Tampa Bay Times called to “a baby Grand Central Station.” The artist's designs adorn an entire section of the center's racks of surf clothing, while other areas stock gear such as skateboards and skimboards.

Elsewhere, the sounds of crashing water and cheering bystanders lure shoppers to the FlowRider, a self-contained wave-pool machine that mimics some of Mother Nature's biggest waves. The machine incorporates aspects of surfing, snowboarding, and skateboarding and allows boarders to execute aerial maneuvers straight out of a pogo stick's wildest dreams. Visitors stow their cars in Surf Style’s six-level parking garage as they shop in the store or ride waves at nearby Clearwater Beach.