This Florida River Lets You Float Face-to-Face With Manatees in Crystal Clear Springs

Crystal River, Florida

In Crystal River, Florida, the main attraction isn’t a beach or a theme park.

This small Gulf Coast town is home to the largest concentration of wild manatees in the U.S., plus some of the clearest springs you’ll find anywhere.

Here are some of the best things to do in this beautiful sanctuary.

America’s Only Spot Where It’s Legal to Swim with Manatees

The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was set up in 1983 specifically to protect these marine mammals.

When you’re in the water, you need to practice ‘passive observation’ (it’s the law). This means you watch from a distance without bothering the manatees.

Ancient Native American Mounds Fill Crystal River Archaeological State Park

This 61-acre National Historic Landmark contains six mounds built by pre-Columbian Native Americans over 1,900 years ago.

You’ll find burial mounds, temple mounds, a plaza, and a large midden (ancient trash pile).

For more than 1,600 years (200 BC to 1400 AD), people traveled here to celebrate, trade, and bury their dead.

The visitor center shows a video about the tribes that lived here and displays artifacts like arrowheads, pottery, jewelry, and stone tools.

The park is open every day of the year from 8 am to sunset, with the museum open Thursday through Monday, 9 am to 5 pm.

Three Sisters Springs Dazzles With Crystal-Clear Waters

Located in the Crystal River Wildlife Refuge, Three Sisters Springs is a gorgeous spot for swimming, snorkeling, and paddling.

In winter, manatees flock here for the warm water. If you don’t want to get wet, accessible boardwalks around the springs let you see everything from above.

During the Florida Manatee Festival each January, you get free entry to Three Sisters Springs, where you might see dozens of manatees from the boardwalks. The festival runs a shuttle service right to the springs.

Kings Bay Pumps Life Into Crystal River’s Underwater World

Kings Bay is what makes Crystal River special, with more than seventy springs pumping about 600 million gallons of freshwater into it every day.

This incredible body of water covers 600 acres, spans two miles across, and sits just six miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

It’s packed with fish like jacks, snapper, and snook, making it a fishing paradise.

Even in summer, about 100 manatees stay in Kings Bay year-round, so you’ve got a good chance of seeing them no matter when you visit.

Fort Island Gulf Beach Marks Where River Meets Ocean

Fort Island Gulf Beach is where Crystal River flows into the Gulf of Mexico. This 15-acre spot has a lovely white sand beach, clean restrooms, outdoor showers, and plenty of parking.

You can walk along the boardwalk, watch wildlife, or catch fish from the pier.

The park includes a 465-foot fishing pier/boardwalk that’s wheelchair accessible, with a covered picnic area, shaded deck, and benches for enjoying the view of Crystal Bay.

Keep an eye out for dolphins, which are often seen swimming in the gulf waters. The beach is open daily from 6 AM to 9:30 PM and doesn’t charge an entry fee.

Hunter Springs Park Provides Easy Access To Pristine Waters

Hunter Springs Park is the most accessible spring on Kings Bay, featuring a natural beach and shoreline with great facilities.

A special boardwalk lets you watch manatees without getting in the water, perfect for wildlife viewing from dry land.

You’ll find outdoor showers, picnic areas, and clear swimming spots. Kayak launches make it simple to get on the water right from the park.

Bird watchers can spot wading birds, osprey, and sometimes even bald eagles in the area.

Coastal Heritage Museum Preserves Local History In A Historic Building

The Coastal Heritage Museum occupies the historic 1939 Old City Hall building on Citrus Avenue.

Inside, you’ll find a collection of artifacts from Crystal River’s past, including antique furniture, old photographs, and cultural items that show how the region has changed over time.

You’ll learn about Citrus County’s growth from its days as a phosphate mining boom town in the 1890s to now. The displays cover the area’s maritime history and how the economy has changed.

They offer tour guidebooks and detailed information about Crystal River’s development if you want to explore more of the area.

Heritage Village Invites Shopping In Historic Downtown Buildings

In Crystal River’s historic downtown, Heritage Village features unique gift shops and specialty stores in beautifully restored historic buildings.

Every second Saturday of the month, Market Day brings the village to life with fresh produce, herbs, flowers, plants, seafood, art, and antiques, all accompanied by outdoor music.

If you get hungry, Conversations Tea Room serves refreshments in a charming historical setting.

After shopping, you can easily walk to nearby waterfront parks or local restaurants. The area is very pedestrian-friendly and offers plenty of great photo opportunities of the historic architecture.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park Introduces Florida’s Native Animals

Just a short drive from Crystal River, this remarkable park showcases Florida’s native wildlife and helps injured or orphaned animals.

You’ll see Florida panthers, red wolves, black bears, bobcats, whooping cranes, and lots of manatees that can’t survive in the wild.

The park opens daily from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with ticket sales ending at 4:45 p.m. Adults pay $13, kids 6-12 pay $5, and children under 5 get in free.

For $5 extra, you can take a 15-minute boat tour from the Visitor Center through Pepper Creek to the West Entrance.

Daily programs include Manatee Program (11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.), Wildlife Encounters (10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m.), and Alligator and Hippopotamus presentations (12:30 p.m.).

Don’t miss Lu the hippopotamus, born in 1960, who celebrated his 65th birthday in January 2025—he’s the oldest hippo in North America.

Crystal River Preserve State Park protects miles of natural coastline

This massive preserve covers 20 miles of Gulf Coast between Yankeetown and Homosassa, protecting important manatee habitats along the estuaries.

The preserve includes salt marshes, hardwood forests, and coastal hammocks, creating homes for countless plants and animals. Family-friendly pontoon boat tours teach you about the local plants and wildlife.

Don’t miss the Gary Maidhof Walk to Nature, an accessible coastal boardwalk leading to a beautiful overlook of the Crystal River estuary.

Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins takes you back to Civil War times

Near Crystal River in Homosassa, the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins showcase Florida’s plantation era before and during the Civil War.

These important historical remains include the boiler, chimney, and mill machinery once used to process sugar cane on a large plantation.

The mill operated during a key period in Florida’s history, showing how the state’s agricultural and economic systems worked during the antebellum and Civil War eras.

Summer scalloping brings underwater treasure hunting

From July through September, Crystal River offers a unique activity: scallop harvesting, which is basically like an underwater Easter egg hunt.

Locals and visitors head to the clear, shallow waters off Crystal River’s coast to find bay scallops hiding in the seagrass.

The official scalloping season runs from July through September, giving you something fun to do when fewer manatees are around.

After your day on the water, many local restaurants offer “cook your catch” services, turning your harvest into a delicious seafood meal.

Remember, you need a Florida saltwater fishing license unless you go with a licensed charter captain.

Daily limits are typically two gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell per person (with a maximum of 10 gallons per boat) according to state rules.

Fresh and saltwater fishing offers year-round opportunities

Crystal River sits where freshwater meets saltwater, creating amazing fishing opportunities all year.

You can choose charter boat fishing in the Gulf, kayak fishing on Kings Bay, or fishing from piers like the one at Fort Island Gulf Beach.

The area’s waters contain both freshwater and saltwater fish, including snook, redfish, trout, bass, and seasonal tarpon.

Local fishing guides offer trips designed for different skill levels and target fish.