32 College Towns That Feel Like a European Vacation Without Leaving the U.S.

27. Tarpon Springs, Florida – A Greek Island Sponge Diving Hub

Transport yourself to the Greek Isles in this unique Florida Gulf Coast city. Historically settled by Greek sponge divers in the early 1900s, Tarpon Springs (near St. Petersburg College) retains an incredibly strong Hellenic identity. Explore the historic Sponge Docks, watch sponge boats come in, dine at authentic Greek restaurants serving fresh seafood and pastries like baklava, visit the ornate St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, and hear Greek spoken in the streets. It's the closest you'll get to a vibrant Greek island fishing village in the U.S.