Hidden Gems in Crystal River

Hidden Gems in Crystal River

Let’s face it, Crystal River, in itself, is a hidden gem. For over 10 years, I have paddled, dined, stayed, shopped, boated, scalloped, and enjoyed all this little town offers. Crystal River is that charming, old Florida town that is kind of off the beaten path, but still has all of the amenities of a big city. I’m breaking down some of the Hidden Gems in Crystal River to enhance your visit.

Swimming With the Manatees

I quickly realized how special this place was during my first visit to Crystal River. It’s the only place in Florida where you can LEGALLY swim with the manatees. It’s often a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most visitors and is a highlight of my life.

During the “manatee season”, from November through April, the manatees seek the relatively warmer waters of the natural spring waters in and around Crystal River. During this time, hundreds of manatees are spotted in the area. This amazing event supports the livelihood of the local communities by offering boat and kayak tours, a Manatee Festival in January, and shopping for any souvenir you can imagine.

I take a long paddle back to 3 Sister Springs every manatee season. I bring my pup, a lunch and enjoy a half day on the water. It’s so magical. If you are visiting the area, I highly recommend the following tours.

Manatee Snorkel Tour with Guide and Photographer
Crystal River Manatee Viewing Cruise
Clear Kayak Tour of Crystal River

Heritage Village

Spending a few hours walking through the quaint shops of the Heritage Village is fun and relaxing. You will surely find something special in one of these shops, from one-of-a-kind art pieces to T-shirts to knick-knacks.

From art galleries, a coffee shop, a BBQ, a general store, a tea house, and a visitor’s center among the shops, this is a great place to relax and unwind.

The visitors center, located in an original home dating back to the early 1800s, offers visitors a friendly welcome and unique gifts to shop for. They offer directions on which way to go, your must-see shops, and other helpful information.

For me, the hidden gem in Crystal River’s Heritage Village is the Coastal Art Gallery. Support local artists by taking home a one-of-a-kind piece of art that will remind you of your visit. This gallery hosts many artists with mediums ranging from glass to wood, pottery, paintings, photography, and more.

Parking is plentiful in the Heritage Village and is visibly marked and crossing Citrus Avenue is easy with the highly visible crosswalks.
I had my pup with me while we walked through, everyone was very welcoming and friendly.

Scallop Season

Another hidden gem of Crystal River is the ability to hunt for scallops in the grass flats during scallop season. Oh my gosh, I am so hooked on hunting for scallops! It is so much fun and we have made lots of great memories doing this family-friendly activity. Citrus County’s scallop season runs from July 1 – September 24.

If you are taking your boat or renting a boat for this activity, be sure you have all the right scallop and snorkeling gear for the best day, possible.

Tour operators will, most likely, have all the necessary gear for your activity. Double-check with your tour operator for anything you may need to bring.

I recommend using Captain Experiences to find the best boat and captain for your scallop adventure. By booking through them, you will have a personal experience tailored to your expectations.

Three Sister Springs

This hidden gem in Crystal River is a must-see and there are a few different ways to experience it.

First, let’s talk about the boardwalk and visitor’s center. It’s slightly inconvenient that there is no public parking at Three Sister Springs. You will park at the Visitor’s Center and take the shuttle into the Springs. While I mention that it’s mildly inconvenient, the shuttle is nice and makes a couple stops along the way.

Once you’ve entered the park, you will meander along a nice boardwalk to observe turtles, birds, insects, lizards, and the beautiful springs. This is, by far, the clearest, freshest water I’ve ever swam in! It’s great on a blazing hot day.

There is no water access from the boardwalk, so another way to experience this natural beauty is by paddling or boating in King’s Bay, back to the springs. Once you’ve reached the springs, you can tie up your craft in the designated spot, and swim in during non-manatee season months, May through September. During the summer months, you can paddle back into the springs, however, tying up to the shore and foliage is prohibited.

Take your own snorkeling gear and explore the underwater beauty of the springs. Occasionally, during the summer months, resident manatees may still be hanging out in the springs and surrounding waterways, it’s always a treat to see them.

Also from my Hidden Gems series:
Hidden Gems in St. Petersburg
Hidden Gems in Safety Harbor

Hunter Springs Park

In recent years, Hunter Springs Park underwent a major renovation with great improvements. I love this little park, it’s where I prefer to launch my paddleboard. One of the renovations was to add a sandy launch area with plenty of room for loading and unloading.

This park also features a nice playground, a boardwalk for wildlife viewing, restrooms, and picnic areas. Parking is a nominal fee and be sure to arrive early on the weekends as there are not a ton of parking spaces.

The park features a large beach and swimming area where a spring vent dumps fresh, clear water, and is also a popular spot for the manatees to congregate.

Crystal River Archaeological State Park

It is believed that this 61-acre site was visited by over 7,500 native Americans every year for over 1,600 years. This site served as a ceremonial and trade center and is now one of the longest continually occupied sites in the state of Florida. Visiting the park is $3, exact change required, and is part of the great birding trail. Here you can observe many bird species, along with the expansive marsh.

Grannie’s Country Cookin’

Before all of this exploring, you should fill up on a great, hearty, home-cooked breakfast. You will find this at Grannie’s. We love stopping here for a bite before we head out on the river. It’s a hidden gem in Crystal River for a diner meal experience! There are other great places for breakfast in Crystal River, this one is at the top of my list.

Plantation Resort on Crystal River

The Plantation Resort offers Southern charm and hospitality, among other great amenities. If you’re looking for the ultimate getaway, the Plantation Resort will surely check all the boxes. Get pampered in the spa, have sundowners in the tiki bar and grill, swim in the pool, set up a tee-time on the links, and take a river tour from the dive shop on site. Really, once you arrive here, you will not need to leave until it’s time to check out.

Check Rates and Availability:
Plantation Resort on Crystal River

Breakin’ It Down: Hidden Gems in Crystal River

Crystal River is a charming fishing village still holding on to the old Florida charm. There are many wonderful things to do in Crystal River, a whole vacation can be spent here, alone. Come enjoy all this great town has to offer.