FLORIDA PLACES AND DESTINATIONS - CRYSTAL RIVER

Crystal River, Florida

Citrus County, The Water Lover’s Florida, is home to the largest herd of wintering manatees found in the US, and Crystal River is the only place in North America where it is legal to have a supervised swim with the gentle manatees.

Birding is one of the world’s fastest-growing sources of outdoor recreation and birding, and 23 of the Great Florida Birding Trail’s 445 official sites in the state lie within Citrus County around Crystal River.

The long-ago history of Citrus County is on display at Crystal River State Archaeological Site – a Florida state park, six-mound complex that is the largest of the Deptford Period in the southeastern US and is designated a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can take a trail through burial and temple mounds and shell middens.




The opportunity for fishing, boating and kayaking is nearly endless on countless small lakes and ponds. These lakes have boat launches: Big Lake Henderson, Little Lake Henderson, Lake Holathlikaha, Lake Rousseau, Tsala Apopka Lake Chain, and Lake Hernando.

Seven Outstanding Florida Waterways run through the county: Crystal River, Homosassa River, Halls River, Chassahowitzka River, Withlacoochee River, Salt River, and St Martins River.

Citrus County offers diving, snorkeling, bird watching, fishing, canoeing, nature trails, museums, state parks, cycling, and historical sites .

Crystal River with its quaint riverside inns and hotels is located about 67 miles north of Tampa and 60 miles northwest of Orlando.


Photo: Visit Florida