West Marine

(1 review)

9.2 mi

Lucas Outdoors is where you want to shop for a kayak if you want above and beyond excellent…read morecustomer service as well as great products! My husband and I have been wanting to get a Hammerhead kayak and got in touch with Mr. Burns at Lucas Outdoors. Even though his company is on the western side of Florida and we live on the eastern side of Florida, he met us half way to help us save shipping. THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE!!! Mr. Burns was the most helpful, courteous, person I have met. He helped get our kayaks completely set up and ready to go as well as made sure we had them secured before heading home. I plan to buy from Lucas Outdoors in the future and highly recommend his business for all your kayak needs.

From the owner: Certified Hammerhead kayak dealer The only interchangeable…read moredrive kayak on the market

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Crystal River Kayak Company

4.6

(215 reviews)

0.6 mi

Very friendly and knowledgeable staff, easy entry point for a day on the river. Great time…read morekayaking with the manatees!

MANATEES ARE MAGICAL! We saw well over 30+ manatees on our late January kayaking outing. We rented…read morea 2-seater top kayak (comes w paddles and life vests). And from the staff to the dock hands, to the quality of the vessel and cleanliness of the shop: 10/10. A guide handed us a laminated map (nice touch) and told us where to head for manatee sightings. And even pointed us to a cove that homes a lot of turtles and alligators. We saw it all! They have volunteers overseeing the 3 sisters springs, to help monitor the safety of the manatees (and scold ignorant people lol). Great time! If you're unsure, let me assure you.. just book.

We moved! Welcome to our new store!

At the launch site

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Kayaking through the canal

Tee's 2.0 Bait Mkt

(2 reviews)

0.1 mi

A great place to buy bait and get some good conversation with expert anglers in Crystal River…read moreFlorida

Stopped by here for bait last week. Had a great conversation with the owner and got some great…read morebait for reasonable prices. This is my new go-to bait store.

We open at 6am when the moon still shines on out door

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Low Tide

Aardvarks Florida Kayak

4.9

(9 reviews)

0.7 mi

We rented kayaks instead of doing the guided tours in late August. Everything went smoothly;…read moreoverall, we're very happy with Aardvarks. The kayaks we got for the day were wonderful & not cheap/uncomfortable like the ones most kayak rental places give you. We kept on getting compliments from strangers about our rental kayaks. Matt & Susan of Aardvarks were so nice and helpful. It's always great to deal with businesses that are passionate about what they do. Their shop is fully stocked with everything you need before getting on the river. Aardvarks sell really nice kayaks & stand-up paddle boards. For party of 6 or more, call the store for a group rate.

SPOT ON Kayak Training! I've been doing recreational…read morekayaking in Kentucky for several years. After moving to the area / new environment, I thought it would be a good idea to receive some formal training & I'm so glad I did! I attended two classes: Intro to Kayaking & the Kayak Safety and Rescue classes. Intro to Kayaking: I quickly learned there was a lot more than just simply jumping into your kayak! Important things like; How to get in/out of your kayak without looking like a dummy! How to correctly hold & use your paddle (your arms will thank you!); and different paddling techniques (that will help you in various situations). Kayak Safety and Rescue: This class is a must for anyone who kayaks! Not only do you learn how to help yourself, you learn how to help your fellow kayakers! I HIGHLY recommend both classes. Aardvark's instructor (Matt) is an experienced kayaker & Eco Tour Guide - and a OUTSTANDING (and patient) instructor. I feel more confident with my new kayaking skills and can't wait to explore the area!

Matt & Sue Going Coastal

Shell Island

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Gum Slough

RiverWitch Kayak Rentals & Tours

(2 reviews)

104.8 mi

We had an amazing time on the ecotour with RiverWitch Kayaking. My family and I did the two-hour…read moremorning tour, and Ursula was fantastic. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the local ecosystem and all the plants, birds, fish, mammals, and everything that lives within it. She truly is a master naturalist, and her enthusiasm made the experience even more engaging. The boat launch was easy to find, and the kayaks were in excellent condition--clearly well maintained. They've really thought of everything to make the experience smooth and enjoyable. It was also an easy drive from the Mt. Dora area, and we're already looking forward to going back again!

RiverWitch Kayak Rentals is the best outfitter I've worked with in a long time. We are new to the…read moreSpace Coast, having traveled south for a quick vacation, so we just took a chance on RiverWitch. They got us on the water in a beautiful spot, with instructions on seeing incredible wildlife within minutes. We paddled for hours, eventually floating into a dolphin pod that played around our boat. We saw millions of birds in the mangroves, and enjoyed the serenity of the river adjacent to their shop. Apparently they will deliver, too, so there are many options. I can't say enough great things about the quality of the boats, the natural setting, and the people who work there. Anna from Connecticut

Kayak Fishing Mosquito Lagoon

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Sup Weeki

(6 reviews)

53.5 mi

Got to visit this tour while in Florida this summer. Was a fun experience and would definitely…read morerecommend it. We ended up taking a few different tours on this trip and this was one of the best. The Weeki water is so clear and fresh. Will be back soon!

Great customer service and quality gear. Not only do the owners know their stuff but they love the…read moreriver. The location puts you much closer to the nicer spots of the river than at Rogers Park. Recommended local business

Sup weekie rental board

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Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

4.6

(245 reviews)

6.4 mi

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.

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.

Vertical Gator

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Hunter Springs Park

(31 reviews)

0.4 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)

6.5 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)

50.6 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)

49.8 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!

Things to do in Crystal River

Show rider instruction

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Hyrule D.

2 months ago

Going down hill fast they push there beliefs to others the employees no nothing about there jobs they are very unhelpful overpriced ect

West Marine - boating - Updated July 2026

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Sears Hometown Store

(3 reviews)

Service tech came to my home to repair the dish washer. Dish washer was going to cost $700 to…read morerepair. So, we decided to purchase a new dish washer and have it installed. We asked that old dish washer be put in the garage. When we came home, old dish washer was gone. When I called the store to ask, where my old dish washer was at. The owner responds with "unfortunately, it's already gone". I would not recommend doing any business with this company. This incident will be reported to the Better Business Bureau. Regards, Rhonda Ficco

I'm giving these guys a 5-Star review. This place is right on the price and right on service. If…read moreyou're like me, I was questioning, "Isn't Sears going out of business"? Yes. "Well, isn't that going to present a problem?"- NO. The Kenmore brand or any of the brands they carry, Maytag, GE, Whirlpool,.. they got them all,.. Are not going out of business! Sears May go bust but that had nothing to do with the Hometown store. There is no shortage of parts, or any other issue that made me hesitant. A couple months ago I purchased a range at a Lowe's. That experience was torturous, it literally took 3 hours to buy an electric range that was sitting right there on the floor! It took 3 different ( mostly inexperienced),.. I could write a book about the layers of incompetence,..no time for that now. So when my microwave went out I dropped into Sears Hometown Store and Bam! I was in & out in less than 15 minutes. The next week I thought wonder if I can get a freezer! Bam! Took less than 15 minutes and the home delivery was set up. Have a nice day! Go do something other then herd the clowns around at Big Box.

Crystal River Marine