Every city has a story... so get to know your city's story with your kids!

Yes, my daughter has been asking a lot of questions about sponges lately. This is because we just spent a Mommy, Daddy and Me Day on a boat trip to see a man dive for sponges in Tarpon Springs, Florida, the "Sponge Capital of the World"! (Its all right to include Dad sometimes ya know!)

Did you know that in 1890, a developer discovered sponges growing off the coast of Tarpon Springs? Soon, Greek sponge divers began immigrating to the area. They would dive in suits with huge copper helmets and they would wear weights on their backs to keep them down in the water. Talk about a hot suit! I am sure glad we've developed better diving gear over the years!

We took a little boat ride out and watched the diver jump into the water, just as they did in the old days in one of those incredible heavy suits, and come back up with a sponge! It was a very cool experience and we even got the divers autograph! How much did it cost? $8 for adults and kids were free! That's pretty cheap for an afternoon that your kids will remember forever. Afterwards, we walked around and enjoyed the Greek culture and food in downtown Tarpon Springs.

Every city has a story, whether its Tarpon Springs, Florida or New York City. Believe it or not, you can learn a lot about history and culture even in the smallest towns! Taking your kids to local places that have a story behind them can be a great experience on a Mommy and Me Day, and it doesn't always have to break the bank!