Crystal River, Florida, is close enough to the major city of Tampa to be a base of operations, but far enough away to avoid the commotion and congestion of urban life. Guests of Crystal River vacation rentals and cabins should take full advantage of all the offerings of this destination and the surrounding Citrus County. The foremost attraction in Crystal River is the substantial manatee population, and the extensions of humankind’s fascination with this unique marine mammal. The manatees are massive but gentle, and there are several businesses in the Crystal River area that offer manatee safaris, snorkeling tours, and dive tours, which allow visitor to get up close and personal with these friendly giants.
The Kings Bay area also offers guests of Crystal River vacation homes fishing, boating, camping, hiking, and kayaking, while there are nine golf courses in the surrounding areas that are sure to please the avid golf aficionado. Nearby attractions are not limited to this, however. Some other places of interest are the Crystal River State Archeological Site, the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, the Naber Kids Doll Factory, and, further out, the Appleton Museum of Art and Silver Springs.