5 Cool Issues to Do in Crystal River, Florida (Manatees & Extra!)
I’ve obtained a factor about kitschy, Outdated Florida cities. I like the historical past and the quirky character of them. The throwback-style sights and the pure options that drew individuals to them within the first place. Prior to now, the city of Apalachicola on the Gulf Coast was my favourite.
However I believe I’ve a brand new favourite Outdated Florida city now after visiting the coastal city of Crystal River, Florida.
Situated about an hour and a half north of Tampa, Crystal River is strictly the kind of funky, barely touristy, laid-back Florida city that I like. The small metropolis is a most important attraction on Florida’s “Nature Coast,” and is located round Kings Bay and dozens of pure springs.
There’s nice seafood, close by seashores, and greater than sufficient to do to maintain you busy for a brief go to – together with attending to know Crystal River’s resident manatees.
Many individuals skip this a part of Florida (or just do not learn about it), however listed below are 5 good the explanation why you should not skip Crystal River and the encompassing space.
5 distinctive issues to do in Crystal River, Florida
Listed below are some really distinctive issues that make Crystal River a must-visit in Florida for me!
1. Swim with manatees
Crystal River is understood for being one among only a few locations in Florida that native manatees flock to every 12 months through the cooler months (as a result of sure, Florida does have its personal model of winter!).
The city and its surrounding waters are dotted with pure springs that stay a balmy 72 levels year-round, drawing within the manatees that may’t survive in colder water.
A whole lot of those light giants stuff themselves into springs and rivers round Crystal River every winter (and a handful are “resident” Crystal River manatees who reside within the space year-round), making manatee sightseeing excursions actually in style.
I went swimming with manatees on my go to to Crystal River, and it was nothing in need of unimaginable!
The manatees may be pleasant and playful, and swimming with them is a novel expertise you will not actually discover anyplace else on the planet.
Wish to stand up shut with these light giants within the water, too? Book your own manatee-swimming tour here.
You may also ebook boat and kayaking excursions to stand up shut to those light sea giants if snorkeling with them does not attraction to you. Regardless of the way you see them, this can be a must-do in Crystal River!
Listed below are a few of the prime manatee excursions in Crystal River:
(If you happen to resolve to go searching for manatees with out happening a tour, simply do not forget that these ARE wild animals, and that you must at all times give them their house. Do not strategy a manatee too intently, and respect indicators in the event that they let you know to not swim into a selected space.)
2. Go to Three Sisters Springs
One of the vital well-known locations that the manatees flock to in Crystal River is Three Sisters Springs, a set of (you guessed it) three pure springs that feed the Crystal River.
There are three alternative ways to expertise the Three Sisters Springs:
- Stroll the boardwalk above the springs
- Paddle into the springs with a kayak or paddleboard
- Swim into the springs
These springs are throughout the Crystal River Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, which is a restored wetland habitat that covers 57 acres. You’ll be able to go to the boardwalk and swim within the springs year-round, holding your eyes peeled for all the pieces from birds to reptiles to after all manatees.
Visiting the Three Sisters boardwalk is a must-do – however you’ll be able to’t simply drive your automobile right here because it’s throughout the wildlife refuge. You will want to go to the Three Sisters Springs Middle as an alternative, and hop on a trolley to the boardwalk. (The trolley is included within the value of admission to the springs; find more info here.)
As soon as there, you can wander round and speak to the US Fish & Wildlife Service volunteers who watch over the springs.
It is a gorgeous location effectively value visiting. (And sure, the water actually is that coloration!)
(Notice that coming into the water from the boardwalk is NOT attainable. If you wish to paddle or swim within the springs, maintain studying!)
One other technique to go to the springs is by boat or paddle craft (like a kayak or paddleboard). You’ll be able to put-in at any of the general public boat ramps or kayak launches in Kings Bay (or ebook a tour like this one) after which paddle into the spring. (Although these should not allowed into the springs throughout manatee season, which typically runs from November 15 via March 31.)
Lastly, you’ll be able to swim into the springs. Swimming within the springs (such as you’ll do on a manatee tour) is superb as a result of the water is so clear.
Simply observe, although, that in manatee season there are strict guidelines about the place you’ll be able to and may’t go. There can be buoys/signage denoting the place the official “manatee sanctuaries” are, so please respect them.
3. Kayak “The Chazz”
One in every of my favourite non-manatee issues I did within the Crystal River space was kayaking on the gorgeous Chassahowitzka River. The 5-mile-long river is positioned in southwestern Citrus County, only a 20-minute drive from Crystal River.
Like many rivers on this a part of Florida, “The Chazz” is spring-fed, and is bursting will all types of life.
Together with Tara from Citrus County tourism and Dennis who runs the campground/RV park the place you’ll be able to hire boats and kayaks, I paddled leisurely alongside the Chazz to its supply – a pure spring everybody simply calls “The Crack.”
The Chazz is one other spot the place you could encounter manatees, although we did not see any. We did see loads of mullet (fish that prefer to leap out of the water and scare you) and much and many birds (it is house to lots of of species of birds, together with bald eagles!)
The Chazz is a part of the bigger Chassahowitzka Nationwide Wildlife Refuge, and ought to be in your record in the event you’re searching for a chilled-out morning or afternoon.
Book a similar tour here (although this one is in clear kayaks, which is ever cooler!).
4. Catch a seashore sundown
Crystal River itself is not straight on the coast, however Fort Island Gulf Seaside is a brief 15-minute drive away (so it is mainly a Crystal River seashore).
This seashore on the Gulf of Mexico is ideal for a day picnic or beachy sundown. Watch from the sand, or from out on the fishing pier.
I obtained fortunate with an excellent pink sundown once I visited.
5. Meet Lu at Homosassa Springs
Lastly, you must make a cease at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, positioned lower than quarter-hour from Crystal River. Initially opened as a form of zoo within the early 1900s, at the moment the park is run by the state of Florida.
When the state took over the park a number of a long time in the past, it slowly began whittling down the animals residing there to solely ones that you will discover in Florida, holding humane captivity in thoughts. Right this moment, there are resident manatees, alligators, bald eagles, and even an orphaned Florida panther.
One odd non-native animal you will nonetheless discover right here is Lu the hippo. Hippos are actually not indigenous to Florida, however when the state took over the park, the locals petitioned for Lu the hippo to have the ability to keep since he’d been a staple on the park for thus lengthy.
The state ended up granting Lu honorary Florida citizenship so he might proceed residing at Homosassa Springs. And maintain residing he has – he is over 60 years outdated now!
On the Wildlife Middle, you’ll be able to view animals within the Fish Bowl Underwater Observatory, stroll the Pepper Creek Birding Path, take a 15-minute boat tour, and attend one of many manatee packages at 11 a.m. or 1 p.m. More info here.
The place to remain in Crystal River
For my keep in Crystal River, I stayed at The Plantation on Crystal River, a beautiful historic resort that was constructed within the Sixties (so no, it was by no means an precise plantation). The rooms are giant and cozy, and the pool is the proper spot to chill out after a day of sightseeing.
The Plantation additionally has an on-site restaurant and provides its personal dive store and manatee excursions, which means you do not have to go far in any respect if you wish to ebook a tour or hire a ship for the day.
Check out TripAdvisor reviews here | Book your own room at The Plantation here!
Another lodges value testing in Crystal River embrace:
If trip leases are extra your pace, there are some nice (and reasonably priced) leases out there in Crystal River. Some to take a look at embrace:
When to go to Crystal River
When is the most effective time to go to Crystal River? I personally suppose the most effective time is between November and March, if you’ll discover cooler temperatures (nice for out of doors actions) and have a greater probability of seeing manatees.
Wish to swim with manatees? Then attempt to go to from late December to late February, typically the coldest months in Florida (which means that is when manatees are more than likely to be in search of out the heat of the springs). You would possibly nonetheless have the ability to see manatees into March, nevertheless it’s by no means assured.
READ NEXT: What it’s Like to Swim with Manatees
get to Crystal River
Crystal River is positioned in Citrus County, on Florida’s northern Gulf Coast.
Listed below are the distances to Crystal River from a number of different in style locations in Florida:
- Tampa to Crystal River: 80 miles, roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes of driving
- Orlando to Crystal River: 87 miles, roughly 1 hour and 40 minutes of driving
- Jacksonville to Crystal River: 135 miles, roughly 2.5 hours by automobile
- Fort Meyers to Crystal River: 209 miles, roughly 3.5 hours by automobile
The easiest way to achieve Crystal River is to fly into both Tampa or Orlando, after which drive to Crystal River. You possibly can completely mix a visit to Crystal River with a Disney journey, or different mid-Florida journey.
Extra important data
- In search of packing recommendations for Crystal River? Head over to my Amazon shop to see all my favourite journey gear!
- Choose up a Florida travel guide earlier than you go.
- You may additionally like these different Florida posts:
Who’s able to ebook a visit to Crystal River?
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Many because of Go to Citrus County and Go to Florida for serving to with my journey! As at all times, all opinions are my very own.
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 international locations on 6 continents from her house base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey via the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares suggestions primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s really traveled!
