Gainesville Day Trip: Kayaking in Crystal River, Florida
Located less than 90 minutes from Gainesville near the Gulf Coast is Crystal River, home to one of the largest populations of manatees in the world.
The most surprising thing about this kayak trip is how thin a veil separates the wilds of the highway from the wilds of nature.
There are many start-off points for a Crystal River kayak expedition. We began our trip at Crystal River Kayak Company, located at 1420 SE US Hwy 19 in Crystal River, Florida. (NOTE: The mapquest and GPS directions for this company are incorrect.....Crystal River Kayak Company is located in a quonset hut, about a mile or so past the intersection w/Hwy 44).
Talk about convenient....the kayak put-in is located on-site, eliminating the need for shuttles.
The best time to see manatees is November through March. Other wildlife common to the area include dolphins, turtles, fish, alligators, and more species of birds than you can shake a stick at.
A mere ten-minute paddle from put-in is Three Sisters Springs, a critical habitat for manatees which is privately owned and threatened with development.
Leaving Three Sisters Springs, a short paddle brings you into Kings Bay, a popular wintering spot for manatees.
Although we did not see any manatees the day of our kayak expedition, we did see tons of fish and turtles, and even a few dolphins. A beautiful place, so close to Gainesville....we will definitely be back!
Coleen DeGroff, MBA
Coldwell Banker M. M. Parrish, Realtors
3870 NW 83rd Street
Gainesville, FL 32606
Office: 352-372-5375; Cell: 352-359-2797
