Great Destinations: Crystal River Florida
02-02-2016
Author: in RV Tips & Education
Have you ever wanted to swim with a manatee? Would you like to hang out in a laid back area, do a little fishing, swim or snorkel, and have plenty of great places to park your RV? Crystal River, Florida just might be the answer. Situated about a quarter of the way down the Florida Panhandle, on the Gulf of Mexico side, about an hour and a half from both Tampa and Orlando, this tiny town has plenty of family fun to offer.
Crystal River is laid out over 6.8 square miles, right on the coastline, and has a population of 3,062 and a median resident age of 58 years young. The estimated median household income is $40,296 which is a little shy of the state and national average, but not really enough to significantly impact the area; it is a charming little town with some real treasures to share.
There are quite a few RV campgrounds dotting the area, several with glowing reviews. The one complaint that they all share is the high population of no see ums, or biting midge fly. However, with this handy guide to getting rid of no see ums should help you avoid them.
Crystal River is the self-proclaimed “Home of the Manatee” and they live up to it quite well. There are several places dotting the Crystal River coastline that offer manatee tours. Bird’s Underwater Dive Center has diving instructions, kayak rentals, and manatee tours that allow you to swim with the manatees. Bird’s has two nightly rental houses, but there are plenty of RV campgrounds in the area, including The Crystal River itself connects Kings Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. As the winding waterway meanders through the town and into the Gulf, it creates a welcoming environment for just about every water activity you can imaging, including fishing, swimming, boating, diving, water skiing, tubing, or just relaxing and taking in the incredible beauty of the “Gem of the Nature Coast.”
There are also several parks in Crystal River. The city itself has six parks and two boat ramps, and there are several parks in the surrounding area. Most of them have pavilions and restrooms. Pets are not allowed in the city parks but are allowed in plenty of other areas.
Hunter Springs Park has a small fresh water swim area and a kayak launch, while Kings Bay Park has a fishing dock, daytime docking, barbeque grills and a handicap kayak launch. LeGrone Park is more sports oriented with a tennis court, basketball court, handball court, baseball field, and an open field for football. Copeland Park features a fishing pond, volleyball court, and lighted basketball court along with a picnic area and barbeque grills.
The really cool park, though (well, if you are a kid, or a kid at heart) is Little Springs Park’s Creative Playground. It has two gazebos, barbeque grills, picnic tables, and restrooms – all the usual stuff. However, it also has a huge castle shaped activity center. Kids can climb and swing and pretend in this mini wonderland. Grown-ups will enjoy the sheer beauty of the area that is dotted with benches where you can sit and relax, enjoying the nature around you.
Crystal River, Florida is a great place to stay whether you are planning to sweep in for a night, hang out for a week, weather a season, or stay indefinitely. The people are friendly, the area is beautiful, cost of living index falls several points below the national average and an average temperature that hovers in the 60s in the winter and spring and the upper 70s in the summer and fall. If you are looking to head south for a spell, this charming little town might be just what the doctor ordered.
Crystal River is laid out over 6.8 square miles, right on the coastline, and has a population of 3,062 and a median resident age of 58 years young. The estimated median household income is $40,296 which is a little shy of the state and national average, but not really enough to significantly impact the area; it is a charming little town with some real treasures to share.
There are quite a few RV campgrounds dotting the area, several with glowing reviews. The one complaint that they all share is the high population of no see ums, or biting midge fly. However, with this handy guide to getting rid of no see ums should help you avoid them.
Crystal River is the self-proclaimed “Home of the Manatee” and they live up to it quite well. There are several places dotting the Crystal River coastline that offer manatee tours. Bird’s Underwater Dive Center has diving instructions, kayak rentals, and manatee tours that allow you to swim with the manatees. Bird’s has two nightly rental houses, but there are plenty of RV campgrounds in the area, including The Crystal River itself connects Kings Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. As the winding waterway meanders through the town and into the Gulf, it creates a welcoming environment for just about every water activity you can imaging, including fishing, swimming, boating, diving, water skiing, tubing, or just relaxing and taking in the incredible beauty of the “Gem of the Nature Coast.”
There are also several parks in Crystal River. The city itself has six parks and two boat ramps, and there are several parks in the surrounding area. Most of them have pavilions and restrooms. Pets are not allowed in the city parks but are allowed in plenty of other areas.
Hunter Springs Park has a small fresh water swim area and a kayak launch, while Kings Bay Park has a fishing dock, daytime docking, barbeque grills and a handicap kayak launch. LeGrone Park is more sports oriented with a tennis court, basketball court, handball court, baseball field, and an open field for football. Copeland Park features a fishing pond, volleyball court, and lighted basketball court along with a picnic area and barbeque grills.
The really cool park, though (well, if you are a kid, or a kid at heart) is Little Springs Park’s Creative Playground. It has two gazebos, barbeque grills, picnic tables, and restrooms – all the usual stuff. However, it also has a huge castle shaped activity center. Kids can climb and swing and pretend in this mini wonderland. Grown-ups will enjoy the sheer beauty of the area that is dotted with benches where you can sit and relax, enjoying the nature around you.
Crystal River, Florida is a great place to stay whether you are planning to sweep in for a night, hang out for a week, weather a season, or stay indefinitely. The people are friendly, the area is beautiful, cost of living index falls several points below the national average and an average temperature that hovers in the 60s in the winter and spring and the upper 70s in the summer and fall. If you are looking to head south for a spell, this charming little town might be just what the doctor ordered.
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Author: Stephanie A. Mayberry
