Conchy Charters

(6 reviews)

2.6 mi

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!

Let's get out there and enjoy the scenery!

Shrimp trawler at daybreak on Kings Bay in Crystal River

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River Ventures

4.8

(402 reviews)

3.4 mi

Garrett was a blast! We are just coming into the warm season and most manatees are back in the…read moregulf, he still got us to 7 manatees, 2 gators, and we caught a dolphin in kings bay towards the end. He gave us plenty of time to look for things to come up out of the water which was great for my 2 year old. Boat was shaded and was enjoyable even with a small child. Other tours wouldn't let me book because she was under 3- we brought our own lifevest but they did also have some on board that were her size.

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!

Merchandise from their gift shop! It was all super cute and affordable. I personally got a carved manatee, I love him

Ready to go swimming squeezed into this wetsuit.

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After a detailed instructional video, we were passed around a vertebrae to emphasize the kind nature of these sea cows 3

Manatees In Paradise

4.4

(29 reviews)

2.4 mi

My girlfriend and I came to the port not knowing what to expect, being from Chicago. We met Sandy…read moreon the pier and found her to be both knowledgeable and extremely personable. Once on board, Captain Jake led us to all the popular hang-outs to see Manatees up close and personable. In a nutshell, the three hours we spent with Jake and Sandy was truly an enjoyable experience. If you want a personal tour and not the big business rush job, book these people!!

Awesome time Casey and Jake went above and beyond to ensure we all experienced the manatees…read more They also gave us the history of Kings Bay and explained the conservation efforts taking place Highly recommend

Snorkel tour 5 star review

Sunset over Kings Bay, Crystal River, FL

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Manatee education with a young family.

Gulf Coast Expeditions

(16 reviews)

0.0 mi

What a fantastic guided tour to see manatees up close. We went today with the grandkids had a…read moreblast. The Captain and diver were amazing . They brought us right next to it and we got to see it eat and move around underneath us. Loved it would recommend this tour to everyone.

This was a fun day. It really was a small group and we got to know each other and the manatees…read morereally well. Aubrey and Captain Ron were great guides.

Aubrey was happy to take snorkel portraits for us in the crystal clear waters of the springs

A manatee surfacing right in front of me

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Go Local Manatee Tours

(29 reviews)

(I'd give 10 stars if I could!)…read more Highlights: *FREE pictures and videos! *Smaller boat & group = more personal and attentive experience *If you're from out of town, these are the knowledgeable locals we all hope to find on our travels *AMAZING experience! Truly delightful *chef's kiss* This experience was the absolute highlight of my trip to Florida! The captains did an amazing job -- they were so knowledgeable, friendly and playful. I learned so much about the wildlife and felt like they genuinely went out of their way to make sure I had an unforgettable time in the water. The smaller boat and smaller group size made the whole experience feel personal, lots of attention to detail. If you're thinking about swimming with the manatees, there's really no choice -- you have to go with Go Local. Thank you all so much for making my birthday trip incredible. I'll definitely be doing this again!

We had the best time today on our manatee swim. Captain Misty is very knowledgeable and tons of…read morefun. Derrick did an excellent job of getting us all up close and personal with the manatees as well as keeping our group all together. We will definitely come back!

Getting ready to swim with manatees!

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Crystal River Manatee Tours

4.6

(20 reviews)

Did the tour over Christmas holiday to Florida. Plan ahead early, they fill up fast! Great tour,…read morevery efficient. Captian and dive instructor did a great job. Nice warm jackets provided between dives which is a great help...gets chilly between dives. Took us to three dive spots and we were not disappointed, manatees everywhere! Big sweet docile creatures, very nice. Water is warm coming out of springs, and very clear in the early morning hour we were there. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who love animals and see in their habitat.

Capt Greg was very informative about the area and the manatees. Our guide in the water, Leah,…read moreseemed to be the manatee whisperer and she attracted a few to her. It was on my bucket list to swim with these wonderful, gentle creatures and I am more than satisfied with our experience. I think we were a little late in the season because they are moving out of the very clear water toward the warming ocean. If I do it again, I would chose December or January to see hundreds of them in the river. Very positive experience with this company because they truly love and want to protect the manatees.

Manatees just under the water

Bald Eagle

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Nature Preserve

Sunshine River Tours

(2 reviews)

3.3 mi

My 13 year old granddaughter & I visited Florida to see Disney World and Universal Studios in 2014…read more The highlight of our trip was going out on a boat with Sunshine Tours to swim with the manatees. They provided us with wet suits & snorkels for swimming in the slightly cool river. The boat took us to a several different places on Crystal River to provide us whit as many opportunities as possible to see the manatees. The captain of the boat was ever so careful to turn off the engine when we were near any manatees. He was a wealth of knowledge and taught us so much about these wonderful creatures.

It was just my wife and three kids on the boat. It was a big boat and it was very cool they were…read morewilling to take out such a small party. The other boats we saw out there were packed. The manatees came right up to us. It was awesome!!! Such gentle creatures.

Freedom Outdoors

(1 review)

Captain John orchestrated the best day ever. Swimming with the Manatees has been on my bucket list…read moreforever. This trip did NOT disappoint. Captain John knew the best spots to take us for amazing interactions with the manatee. Such a fun day and he shared so much of his knowledge of the animals, fish and wildlife with us. Goes down as one of my best days ever. The added cruise out to Hells Gate and the dolphin sightings only added to our experience. 100% recommend Captain John and Freedom Outdoors for your next adventure.

From the owner: Freedom Outdoors is a Eco Tour company based in Ozello, Fl offering daily adventures aboard our 23'…read moreCarolina Skiff. Prepare to be amazed at what our waterways have to offer along the Nature Coast. Scallop Season runs from July 1st - September 24th. Our snorkeling eco adventures run from May through October. Whatever your looking to do while on vacation we are sure to be able to accommodate all of your adventure needs.

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Crystal River Watersports

4.8

(64 reviews)

2.1 mi

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.

Great experience and knowledgable friendly staff. Gorgeous day and boat was clean and safe.read more

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Manatee time

Tastes and Tales Food Tours

(3 reviews)

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.

Cheers with house sangria or local beer at the this gourmet bistro

This tour features wine selected by local experts

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Let's grab life by the horns

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

4.6

(245 reviews)

7.9 mi

Originally, we road-tripped north almost 2 hours to experience a rare opportunity to swim amongst…read moremanatees in a natural setting. When we arrived we found out that the manatees had migrated away from the springs about 2.5 weeks ago. Disappointed we drove about 6 miles south and happened upon Homosassa Springs State Park, where they have 3 resident manatees that live in the springs year round. This small state park, was devastated by the hurricane several years ago. They have photos showing how high the waters were and many buildings are still closed. We had to wait for the tram to take us across the way to the park, they also have a boat to get there in a unique way. However, the water was too low to enjoy the boat ride. The park has about 3-4 manatees during the off season and you just have to look for them as they live in a natural setting. Eventually we found them a bit down river from the springs. Once in a while you'd see their nose pop up for air. They are such beautiful creatures. There is also a small zoo with a black bear, flamingoes, a white tailed deer, reptile case, an array of birds, and a variety of wild cats. They used to have a hippo but she died about 10 months ago. Definitely worth the $13 entry fee. It's a cute and well maintained park that is about at 75% of its operating capacity due to closed buildings that have not yet been renovated following Hurricane Milton. Although, we were disappointed to miss out on a once in a lifetime experience to *actually* swim amongst manatees, being able to see them in their natural habitat was truly special.

Even though Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is still recovering from the…read moreimpacts of Hurricane Helene, our visit was outstanding and absolutely worth the stop. The staff and volunteers clearly care deeply about the park and its mission, and their dedication really shows. While a few areas are still in the process of being repaired, the park remains beautiful and full of life. The wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent, and the park does a wonderful job showcasing Florida's native species in a natural and respectful setting. Seeing the manatees up close was a highlight, and the underwater observatory provides a truly unique perspective you won't find in many places. What impressed us most was how well the park is being maintained despite the storm damage. Paths are clean, signage is clear, and the staff members we encountered were friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions. It's obvious that a lot of hard work is going into restoring everything while still making sure visitors have a great experience. If anything, visiting during this recovery period gives you an even greater appreciation for the park and the people who take care of it. Their resilience and commitment to conservation are inspiring. If you're traveling through the Homosassa area, this park is absolutely worth your time. It's a special place that celebrates Florida's wildlife and natural beauty, and we're already looking forward to coming back once the final restoration work is complete.

Vertical Gator

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Hunter Springs Park

3.7

(31 reviews)

3.0 mi

LOVE THIS PARK! it offers easy drop in access for your paddlecraft and has a beachy swimming area…read moreto enjoy for when you're done. Parking is limited but there are many other places to park nearby.

Florida has some amazing parks. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area…read more The beach here is gorgeous and there are chance encounters with the manatee, but no touchie!

12/25 kayak & canoe launches

Take the scenic route.

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12/25 Crystal river manatees by the spring (72F)

Fort Island Trail Beach

3.4

(44 reviews)

3.1 mi

Small beach but a nice place to take a dip! Very pretty area - birding area galore! Worth the trip…read more Again not a big beach but good enough!

Took multi generation family "to the beach" during a visit to Florida in April. Fort Island Trail…read moreBeach seemed like a good start for us and we enjoyed our visit. Arrived around 11 on a weekday and had a choice of parking spaces. Beach was recently smoothed, keeping in mind the area had suffered during a hurricane 6 months earlier, we found facilities were adequate. Row of porta-potties were available. Boat launch and fishing piers were still closed but we wanted beach that day. There are two rock breakwaters at the far edges of beach and several people were climbing and exploring while tide was out. Rocks were covered towards high tide. Line of markers indicated outer edge of swim area. No lifeguards (we knew that in advance) Plenty of room to set up towels, chairs and toys and room to next group. Kids were originally disappointed no crashing waves (they're use to Atlantic Ocean) but quickly decided the Gulf was better as they weren't getting knocked over. We brought our lunch: be aware, lots of birds trying (and some succeeding) to steal food.

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Florida Elks Youth Camp

4.9

(9 reviews)

53.8 mi

This place is absolutely unbelievable! I was there for the American Heritage girls conference,…read morewhich by the way is fantastic organization. This is a place that had I been a kid and known about this place, I would've been here every chance I had. The accommodations were unbelievable! All the activities like the climbing wall, and the ropes were super cool. The girls got to do kayaking and archery, and even learned how to change a tire. This is the most beautiful land I've seen in a long time! Highly recommend you have any event here!

Great camp for kids aged 7 to 13! The best part is that any child can attend regardless of their…read moreparents financial situation! All they have to do is apply! After visiting the camp myself I can't wait to send my youngest this year. All Instructors are background checked and have training to inspire young adults. Only the best! They have beautiful up to date pools. The gym is state-of-the-art! And the rolling hill of acres is picturesque! There are so many things to do and see, like archery! I'm ecstatic for my baby to attend because everyone is super friendly and all - children, parents and Elk's are treated with the utmost respect and care! If you're looking for a great place to offer your child the best head start, this is the place for you.

Florida Elks Youth Camp: Our mission is to mold the current generation of youth into adults that we'd be proud to have as American citizens.

Huge center for anything you need it for!

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Huge gym

Suncoast Stables and Riding Academy

4.5

(10 reviews)

50.7 mi

Clean-ish environment, well-trained horses, however the staff was mildly rude and unwelcoming.read more

My daughter attended a horse riding camp this summer at Suncoast Stables and had an incredible…read moretime. What did we love about it? -The themes. Each camp had a different theme and kids could sign up for the one they liked. -Covered riding area. Rain or shine, the kids could ride. -Kona Ice day. The truck came out and the kids could purchase a treat halfway thru the week. -End of the week presentation. Parents were invited to a Friday performance that showed off what their kids had learned. So why not five stars? Mainly because of the lack of communication. Leading up to the start of camp, the only information we had was from the sheet we filled out months before to reserve our spot. An introductory email would be incredible. Also, the paper handed out to parents about the presentation had the wrong time on. I was only able to confirm the actual time because we attended with a good friend who had the owner's phone number. Tightening up the communication would take Suncoast's Summer Camps from being amazing to perfect!