Crystal River - Take A Trip to Manatee Central!

Take A Trip to Manatee Central!

When you want a truly unique Florida experience, head for Crystal River. It might not be the most obvious place to visit from Orlando, but we can promise you a genuinely memorable day out.

Just to start with, the 90 minute journey north-west from the villa areas is an easy and enjoyable drive if you decide to do it yourself, and is even easier if you book one of the many tours that visit this Gulf Coast hideaway.

Along the way, you’ll get a good look at some of the more rural parts of Florida before arriving in one of the most wonderfully scenic areas the Sunshine State has to offer.

But the big attraction in every sense is manatees. Lots of manatees. Because Crystal River is absolutely Manatee Central as far as Florida is concerned, and you are destined for an astounding wildlife adventure.

How To Get There

If you’re travelling from the main villa areas in the ChampionsGate/Four Corners/Davenport region, this couldn’t be much simpler in terms of directions.

Just head straight up Highway 27 until you reach the (toll) Florida Turnpike, which takes you directly north-west to motorway I-75. As soon as you reach the motorway, take the first exit for Highway 44 west, and follow it 33 miles to the town of Crystal River.

Once you reach your destination, head for either the main Visitor Center on N. Suncoast Boulevard (Highway 98), where you can pick up some handy info for the Citrus County area as a whole – which includes the charming towns of Homosassa, Inverness and Floral City – or make a beeline for one of the tour centres that offer various ways to enjoy the prime attraction:

swimming with the manatees.

Manatee Snorkelling

There is only one place in the USA where it is legal to swim with manatees, and it is right here in Citrus County, hence Crystal River’s stock in trade is a variety of tours that take visitors into Kings Bay for a face-to-snout meeting with these wonderful creatures.

Kings Bay is purely and simply a miracle of nature. Fed by more than 70 natural springs that bubble up throughout Citrus County, it is home to both Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge and the Kings Bay Manatee Refuge. As many as eight HUNDRED manatees shelter in its warm waters each winter.

Even in summer, there are scores of manatees in attendance, and there are a more than a dozen companies that specialise in guiding visitors through and around this feast of watery magnificence.

Whether you go by boat, kayak or canoe, you are guaranteed a close-up with these docile leathery locals that graze on the plentiful seagrass, which is in itself a great Florida conservation story.

One word of caution, though. It is illegal to touch, harass or chase manatees when you’re in the water. You have to keep your distance, especially from mothers with calves. However, manatees are generally curious animals, so if you float and remain still, they may just swim up to you!

What Else Can You Do in Crystal River?

While manatees are the prime attraction hereabouts, there are plenty of other options, both on the water and ashore, to enjoy the unique style of this part of Citrus County.

Scalloping, from July to September, is another popular choice as there are various tours out into the shallow waters of the Gulf Coast that take you diving for the myriad of scallops that live amongst the sea grass.

With snorkel and net, you can scoop them up (up to a certain quota, which your dive-boat captain keeps track of) and take them back to land for lunch or dinner. You can get them cleaned and prepared back at the boat marina, while several local restaurants will happily cook them for you.

You also can’t leave Crystal River without seeing the remarkable location that is Three Sisters Spring, a pristine warm-water spring refuge of the manatee that is jaw-droppingly picturesque.

Want more wildlife encounters? Head for nearby Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park (eight miles to the south), where there are more manatees, but also alligators, the endangered Florida panther, a profusion of bird species and the observatory of the Fish Bowl, which offers an incredible underwater spectacle.

Hiking and biking are also on offer, both in the Withlacoochee State Forest and along the 46-mile Withlacoochee State Trail, which passes through the towns of both Inverness and Floral City.

There’s Great Dining, Too

It stands to reason that if there is plenty of fishing and scalloping to be enjoyed here, there will be plenty of fresh seafood on the menus of most restaurants.

There are more than 100 dining venues in the area, and you won’t find many of the big chains here. It is very much local specialities in almost every case, and you can’t go wrong for great barbecue, fish and crab.

Highlights include The Plantation on Crystal River, an elegant hotel that also features the West 82° Bar & Grill for authentic Florida cuisine; BubbaQue’s for superb pit-cooked barbecue; the Crab Plant for some of the freshest seafood you can find; and the scenic outdoor dining of The Waterfront Social, a rustic locals’ favourite.

Crystal River Tour Companies

If you’d like the easy way to enjoy Crystal River, and a swim with the manatees, Orlando has three companies that specialise in coach outings to this remarkable destination.

Choose from Gray Line Orlando, one of the largest excursion operators in Florida; Real Florida Adventures, a British-owned company who have more than 20 years’ experience; and City Sightseeing Orlando, who offer their signature Florida Adventure Tour.

For more info, look up CrystalRiver.com, including more attractions and dining choices.

Have you been snorkelling, scalloping or kayaking in Crystal River? Let us know on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.