You know how life has ups and downs? Well, I've had a lot of downs lately, so some friends invited…read moreme to go on this river tour. I always feel more peaceful on the water and this was really what I needed at this time. So enough personal... Captain Jack was a very knowledgeable; he grew up on the river and knew everything about it. Especially if you have guests that are not from Florida, I would recommend that you bring them on this tour. Not only is the river amazing but Captain Jack's Guide is very informational and educational. The pontoon boat itself is easily accessible, I use a walker. Captain Jack was very helpful and a lot of fun. He says his jokes have been rated as not so good, but I thought he was friendly and pleasant. He even sings for you when there's a big group. Apparently he had a big group booked on our tour, but they canceled on him so it was only the three of us. So he gave us the option of his singing, or a longer run up the river. My friend had taken his tour before and said he was very good, but we opted to see more of the river. I was a little worried because it's August in Florida. I know what that means... Hot. But pontoon was in good shape and had a nice roof so there was shade and a nice breeze. Not gonna lie.... It was sweaty, but not so bad. I can't comment on the price because my friends invited me and refused to let me pay. But I will tell you that it really was a blessing.

We left on time, learned quite a bit about the rivers and surrounding area. Saw alligators, local…read morewaterfowl and turtles. Well worth the money!

We had a glorious trip down Crystal River. Even though the water was murky, Captain Wayne described…read morethe birds and the trees to us. He was very knowledgeable about the whole area and pointed out the different interesting historical sites. We even saw three green herons, which is rare! We've even stopped and picked up lunch at the shrimp shack and ate we were cruising! A nice breeze and scattered clouds kept us cool. Thank you, Captain Wayne. It was surely a blessing to get my dad back out on the water!

Friendly staff. The boat captain was knowledgeable. Loved that he plucked plastic bags out of the…read morewater. It was a beautiful, relaxing trip. Saw many manatees!

We had a great day on the river. Derek and Ron were super helpful launching and loading our kayaks…read more Thanks for an awesome time!!

This place is 10/10 amazing! There are so many options along the river and I'm so glad we chose the…read moreright one. From the second we parked, we were welcomed and ready to go! Derrick took the time to tell our kiddos about "oh shoot" the alligator and explain the directions to the coolest waterfront swing along the path. They also took the time to make sure our littles had the perfect size life vests and loaded us into the comfy shuttle van. At KP hole we were unloaded and given time to pay the park entrance and receive our wristbands, then loaded into our kayak at the bottom of the boat ramp. We paddled upriver to visit the headwater then paddled back down to where we parked at RRCK. A few things I wish I had known: be sure to pack plenty of snack in reusable containers, it seems easy to dock and get concessions at the headwater park or Swampy's, but it is not. Also, be sure to bring a rope to tie off while you explore the streams or deeper areas. Overall, it's a perfect day in old Florida! We loved seeing otters, alligators and turtles...and being welcomed by Derrick who loaded up our kayak and asked about our paddle. Nothing better than all the adventures, with none of the clean up or pack up!

All of it. We had Nat and Emerson lead the way. She answered questions to a young boy and everyone…read more She was fun and informative. Emerson too!!

I don't know where to start…read more This was the absolute best day. We started at the River Ventures Dive Center at 6:30AM, where we were offered coffee, tea, hot cocoa and snacks, and spent the next bit with an educational video and a wetsuit fitting. From there, we took a bus to the dock, in the most gorgeous sunrise light. let by our Guide Nat. Captain Emerson met us at the covered, heated pontoon, and our group set off through the water, for the protected manatee zone. The water was FULL of our sweet sea potatoes... in fact, it was difficult to even get off the boat because our new friends swam right up to the ladder. Nat had given excellent instructions. We immediately leaned into our pool noodles and gently followed her lead through the water. It took just moments before manatees were all around us. We stayed calm and quiet, and they either continued snoozing, or swam up to investigate us. Nat was on point with the camera, and with showing us things like the tarpon and sheepshead fish, and she was also shared little details about the manatees as we floated. Of course, with nature, there are no guarantees, and I really had no idea what to expect, but I was absolutely delighted by the interactions we had. The cold snap absolutely played into our favor, and I am so glad we showed up with our adventurous spirit. When we returned to the boat, there were more snacks, as well as hot cocoa, coffee, tea, and a variety of drinks in the cooler (water, beer, wine, soda, and white claws). We were so grateful for the boat covering and heater as we made our way back to the dock, and we had great chats with Nat, Emerson, and the other group on our tour. Was it cold? Sure. But the water felt great at 72ºF, and our wetsuits did a wonderful job of protecting us and keeping us buoyant. Our experience was incredible, from booking, to engaging with the staff with any questions we had, to the actual tour itself. The photos and videos were absolutely phenomenal, as well, and we were happy to purchase the package, as well as some gifts from the souvenir shop. We will be back for more manatee viewing, or to try one of their other tours. Thank you so much for the best day!

Definitely a MUST-DO! This was an incredible experience…read more Everything we were shown today would've been missed if we decided to stop in and walk around to see what the town had to offer. Not only did we get to know a bit of the towns history, we got to eat incredible food and meet incredible people. I chose for us to do a private tour and it did not disappoint. It was a great day to experience Inverness, Florida! What a beautiful, small town. I highly suggest booking one of these tours, Elizabeth was highly knowledgeable and knew the towns history backwards and forwards. Highly recommend! Great experience that was not expensive. Well worth it!

Our neighborhood group of 16 booked Elizabeth's Tour in Crystal River. The information about…read morefamous people who visited or filmed or built in Crystal River was a surprise for most of us. Elizabeth took us to Lemon Tree Gift shop first where you have an opportunity to see so may unique gifts many produced by local crafters. We also spent time in the Artisans Art Gallery (most of us went back to either of the stops after the tour because we had seen something to purchase). However, the highlight was the four restaurants on the tour where we were treated to such incredible food pairings. Trust me when I say, no one left hungry! We were treated to unique American dishes, BBQ, seafood, and home made doughnuts and ice cream. One example, The Cattle Dog is owned by a five star chef who brought his culinary skills to this quaint town. I highly recommend you book this tour for a fun, fabulous, food tour in the lovely coastal town of Crystal River.

One of the coolest things I have ever done. Something you cannot explain. You get so close to…read morethese animals that they look you directly in the eye! Worth any amount of money that it would cost, however it was affordable. Very knowledgeable guides that care dearly about the area and the animals

One of the best things about the trip was Captain Sean. He was a great guide. He was filled with so…read moremuch information and so many fun facts. He had a great sense of humor. He also knew where to find all the manatees. Also our photographer Serena was great. The photos she took were unbelievable. Well worth the money spent. Which was not a lot considering the amazing pictures we got. It's going to capture our memories at snorkeling with manatees forever. It was on our bucket list of things to do and I totally am amazed by the experience. It wouldn't have been the same without the captain in the photographer. It was just the perfect day.

The absolute BEST boat tour agency in the area! Thank you to Susan, Sandy, Mike, and Captain Jeff…read morefor such a wonderful experience! We were visiting to see the manatees and had out of town family visiting us before we left and wanted to do something relaxing, such as a sightseeing boat tour. We found Crystal River Watersports and called them up to see what their next day availability was. Thankfully, they had our preferred time slot available, AND they are dog friendly so our small dog could join us. We booked their Private River Cruise Boat Tour ($260 for up to 6 guests and lasts approximately 3 hours), and it was AMAZING! Jeff was our captain/guide. He has all the qualities one would hope for and more. He was incredibly knowledgeable, very friendly, and had a great sense of humor. One of the many things we enjoyed him sharing with us was that Crystal River Watersports is one of the first companies that adopted and adheres to the standards of the Guardian Guide program, which emphasizes quality eco-tourism to ensure the manatees' survival, conducting tours on the manatees' terms, and the sustainability of the industry. It was apparent how much Captain Jeff loves and protects these wonderful creatures and the waters they share. We felt in very good and responsible hands with Captain Jeff and the Crystal River Watersports company as a whole. We saw multiple manatees on our tour along with different birds and one alligator, too! Jeff knew all the spots and history of the area, and he made our tour the highlight of our visit to the Crystal River area. We felt extremely gifted to have had such an amazing captain and guide. The manatees, Crystal River, and the surrounding waters are extremely lucky to have such an amazing and dedicated steward on their side. Thank you Crystal River Watersports for providing such a responsible and phenomenal service to the area and its visitors.

This company took very good care of us and made sure we had the best experience. Juan and Ralph are…read moreknowledgeable about the manatee and wildlife in the area It was a very chilly morning but they made sure we were comfortable with blankets and hot chocolate! They take care of the photos which means we were just able to take in and enjoy our time with the manatees.

The grounds and facility were exceptionally clean and well maintained so there wasn't even a need…read moreto question the maintenance of the actual airboats. Our guide was Capt.Kyle, he was knowledge, experienced and highly respectful of the surrounding nature. This is a must-do for anyone wanting to experience the real Florida. Being a native Floridian who was raised with airboats and swamp buggies, I can attest that this brought back great childhood memories and I can't wait for my grandkids to come and experience the adventure as well.

We had family fly into town with small grandkids and we all decided to do the airboat ride on a…read moreMonday morning. Out boat captain, Sam, was knowledgeable and full of information and lore of the lake and habitat. He has very good eye to spot sleeping and sunning alligators throughout the full hour of our trip, also giving us exciting sped and spins in the airboat and through the creeks and springs of the lake and adjoining passages. Holding the alligator was another highlight for most of our group. The three year old gator was three feet long and fairly calm. All around great local thing to do.

I have been going to Disney parks for as long as I can remember I've been going to Disney parks for…read moreas long as I can remember. It wasn't necessarily a huge thing growing up, but as I got older, got a paying job, and discovered the ability to enjoy a cocktail or two, I definitely started visiting a lot more often. As Florida residents, we do get better deals than out-of-state or international visitors, but even with those discounts, I honestly cannot believe how much the prices have exploded. And I mean that in the absolute worst way possible. It's aggravating and disappointing to see how greedy Disney has become. Why does a bottle of water cost $4? Why am I paying $15 for a small bowl of soup? I understand the whole concept of Disney being magical, where dreams come true and you're paying for an experience, but there no has to be a limit. Once ticket prices started climbing past $150, I pretty much refused to pay those ridiculous prices. The only way you're getting me into these parks anymore is with a free pass! Over the years, I've definitely been fortunate enough to receive my fair share of complimentary Disney passes. This time around, my girlfriend's boss had to leave a day early and could no longer use his pass, so he transferred it to me. Honestly, that was such a thoughtful and generous thing to do, especially considering he didn't even know me! So, my two girlfriends and I spent the day at Disney on and off very rainy day. One of my biggest annoyances, though, is how Disney handles Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Since it's October and the Halloween event requires a separate ticket, anyone who doesn't purchase one has to leave the park at 6 p.m. So, please explain to me why you're charging people full price for a regular park ticket when you're kicking them out early and they're missing some of the biggest events of the night, which is the fireworks! Make it make sense. It honestly feels like a money grab, especially when you consider how much you've already paid just to get through the gates. My girlfriend actually tried to get tickets for the Halloween party, but unfortunately, it was sold out. I absolutely LOVE visiting anything Disney-related during Halloween season because Halloween is my favorite holiday, so missing out on that experience was disappointing. I genuinely don't know how families afford Disney anymore. Sometimes I wonder how many people are putting these trips on credit cards and going into debt just to make those magical memories. A weeklong Disney vacation for a family must cost an absolute fortune once you factor in park tickets, hotel accommodations, food, drinks, and all the extras. Would I visit Disney again? Absolutely, especially if someone else is footing the bill! But paying out of pocket for an entire week with a family? I'd probably be living off ramen noodles for the foreseeable future. Honestly, at this point, I'd seriously consider going to Paris and visiting Disneyland Paris instead. You might get an entirely different experience for your money, and at least you'd get to visit another country while you're at it. Disney will always have a special place in my heart, but the magic is getting harder to justify when your wallet is the one taking the biggest hit.

A SERIOUS TRANSPORTATION & EMERGENCY-EGRESS CONCERN AT MAGIC KINGDOM…read more I absolutely love Magic Kingdom, but I believe Disney needs to seriously reconsider how guests travel between Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). Tens of thousands of guests can leave the park within a relatively short period. If approximately 20,000 guests need to reach the TTC during a concentrated departure period, the existing transportation system can become severely overwhelmed. When the monorails and ferries are operating normally, guests can divide between the two systems. But when the monorail is unavailable, thousands of people become dependent on the ferries. Consider just one hypothetical scenario: * 20,000 guests need to reach the TTC * Three ferries are operating * Each carries approximately 600 guests * A complete ferry cycle takes approximately 12 minutes Even under these optimistic assumptions, it could take approximately 135 minutes to move the entire crowd--and real-world loading, unloading, crowd movement, strollers, wheelchairs, children, and other delays can make the actual situation substantially worse. A guest leaving Magic Kingdom around 9:15 PM could potentially find themselves still trying to reach their vehicle close to midnight. That should not be an acceptable possible outcome. More importantly, I believe Disney should examine this from a life-safety and emergency-egress perspective, not merely a convenience perspective. The current system relies heavily on mechanically and electrically powered transportation. If a major emergency, power failure, mechanical failure, fire, severe weather event, or other incident simultaneously limits these systems, what independent high-capacity means exists for tens of thousands of guests to safely reach the TTC? I am not claiming that this necessarily constitutes a fire-code violation. That determination should be made by qualified fire/life-safety engineers and the appropriate authorities. However, the question deserves a serious formal review: Does the current transportation infrastructure provide sufficient independent emergency egress capacity if the monorails and ferries are simultaneously unavailable? A dedicated pedestrian bridge could address both the transportation bottleneck and this potential life-safety vulnerability. A roughly 15-foot-wide pedestrian bridge could provide hundreds of pedestrians per minute of independent capacity without relying on propulsion systems, electricity, or mechanical transportation. Instead of: Monorail + Ferries Disney could have: Monorail + Ferries + Pedestrian Bridge The bridge would provide: * A completely independent transportation option * Additional capacity during normal evening crowds * A backup when the monorail fails * A backup when ferry operations are disrupted * An emergency evacuation/egress option * Improved accessibility and reduced crowd congestion * Greater resilience for the entire transportation system This isn't about replacing the monorail or ferries. It is about redundancy. Disney invests enormous amounts of money creating attractions that guests remember for years. A pedestrian connection might not be as exciting, but it could benefit millions of guests and potentially provide an important layer of emergency resilience for decades. I strongly encourage Disney to conduct a professional feasibility and life-safety study of a dedicated pedestrian connection between Magic Kingdom and the TTC, including engineering, crowd-flow, accessibility, environmental, fire-code, emergency-egress, and cost considerations. The Happiest Place on Earth should have a transportation system that remains safe, reliable, and functional even when mechanical transportation fails. Please seriously consider building the bridge.