What makes this place so special? This part of Florida is a hidden gem.
The beautiful natural springs, the crystal clear water, the chance to see wild manatees, and did I mention the fresh seafood? There's so much to see and do in this area and just a few hours North of Tampa, it's the perfect Florida getaway.
With each little weekend trip, we learn something new about the area. There's a handful of beautiful state parks, most with canoe and kayak rentals available and boat ramps for getting onto the water to explore the beautiful area by boat. When in season, you can even snorkel in the beautiful waters along the Gulf for scallops! The best part of it all though, is the quality family time we get in the great outdoors!
Here's a few of the must-see spots in the area:
Rainbow Springs State Park -
You can easily spend the entire day here! Swim in the headsprings, jump off the floating dock, rent a canoe or tube and float down the river, but be prepared, the water is chilly! 72 degrees year round, but it feels really nice on a hot Summer day! There's also a small hike with man-made waterfalls and plenty of picnic areas for lunch!
Three Sister's Springs
This unique spot in Crystal River is a manatee sanctuary, with opportunities for swimming and snorkeling during special recreational seasons. Three Sister's Springs also offers trolley rides to the 1/4 mile boardwalk to additional viewing areas and nature trails on the property. It is also connected to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. To read more about Three Sister's Springs & plan your visit, check out more information here.
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
A beautiful refuge specifically created for the protection of threatened Florida manatees. The refuge can be visited when visiting Three Sister's Springs.
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
You'll take a short boat ride to the state park where you can walk some nature trails and see many of Florida's endangered animals, including manatees and a resident Florida panther.
KP Hole Park
A county park, KP Hole is another great spot to float down the spring-fed Rainbow River with the family. Tubing and kayak rentals are available on the property.
Scallop Season
The 2019 Scallop season in Citrus county runs from July 1st through September 24th. Snorkeling in the waters for a scallop hunt isn't something we've tried yet, but it's definitely on our bucket list to do! They say, it's like an Easter egg hunt, Florida style! There are charter tours you can take and additional manatee & snorkel tours, so for more information check out Discovercrystalriverfl.com.
Here's a few of the must-see spots in the area:
Rainbow Springs State Park -
You can easily spend the entire day here! Swim in the headsprings, jump off the floating dock, rent a canoe or tube and float down the river, but be prepared, the water is chilly! 72 degrees year round, but it feels really nice on a hot Summer day! There's also a small hike with man-made waterfalls and plenty of picnic areas for lunch!
This unique spot in Crystal River is a manatee sanctuary, with opportunities for swimming and snorkeling during special recreational seasons. Three Sister's Springs also offers trolley rides to the 1/4 mile boardwalk to additional viewing areas and nature trails on the property. It is also connected to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. To read more about Three Sister's Springs & plan your visit, check out more information here.
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
A beautiful refuge specifically created for the protection of threatened Florida manatees. The refuge can be visited when visiting Three Sister's Springs.
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
You'll take a short boat ride to the state park where you can walk some nature trails and see many of Florida's endangered animals, including manatees and a resident Florida panther.
KP Hole Park
A county park, KP Hole is another great spot to float down the spring-fed Rainbow River with the family. Tubing and kayak rentals are available on the property.
Scallop Season
The 2019 Scallop season in Citrus county runs from July 1st through September 24th. Snorkeling in the waters for a scallop hunt isn't something we've tried yet, but it's definitely on our bucket list to do! They say, it's like an Easter egg hunt, Florida style! There are charter tours you can take and additional manatee & snorkel tours, so for more information check out Discovercrystalriverfl.com.
We usually stay in a vacation rental when visiting the area, but there are campgrounds in the state parks for a more rustic visit, but during our most recent visit we stayed in the cutest Airbnb!
We found this tiny barn on Airbnb. It was full of charm and perfect for our family! We watched the cows and their calves graze the pasture next door and roasted marshmallows at night, it was the perfect way to unplug together as a family! We can't wait to come back to the tiny barn again soon! For more information on this Airbnb, be sure to check out their listing here and tell Erin, JJ & their pup, Grizzly hello for us! :)
I hope enjoy discovering the area like we do & maybe we'll see you along the river sometime! If you have recommendations for Crystal River or Dunnellon, share them with us! We love trying new spots during each visit!
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