Crystal River is a coastal city in west central Florida on the Gulf of Mexico.  This sweet southern town is centered around it’s pristine waterway, Kings Bay, and is the self-proclaimed “Home of the Manatee.”   The small town of approximately 6.8 square miles and 3200 residents welcomes hundreds of manatees each winter to it’s many warm springs including the famous Three Sisters Springs.  Together with neighboring Homosassa, Crystal River is the site of the largest gathering of manatees in North America.

Crystal River Preserve State Park is located nearby, and Crystal River Archeological State Park is located in the city’s northwest side. It is a six mile long winding waterway fed by some 30 springs, connecting Kings Bay with the Gulf of Mexico. The bay and the river combine to provide virtually every aquatic activity conceivable—from swimming and diving, to boating,  kayaking, paddle boarding, water skiing, fishing and just drifting along admiring the views. 

When the water temperature drops in the Gulf of Mexico, manatees move to the warmer waters of Crystal River and the springs of Kings Bay, followed closely by both national and international tourists.  Located along Florida’s “Nature Coast,”  the waters of Crystal River have the only legal “swim-with” Manatee program in the Country, meaning visitors can passively observe the mammals in their natural habitat.  The springs flow at a constant 72 degrees, making the water attractive to all sorts of swimmers in the winter as well as the summer months.  Kings Bay, is also home to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, the only refuge created specifically for the protection of the threatened Florida manatee.  

Hugging all of the pristine waterways is Crystal River’s historic Downtown on North Citrus Avenue. Incredible restaurants, bars and cafes abound as well as shopping in the heart of the city. Downtown plays host to many amazing events and festival throughout the year including the Florida Manatee Festival in January.  Crystal River is alive with nature, southern charm, warm people and adventure.