In the neighborhood Cedar Key is no beach paradise. It has none of the trappings of other seaside towns, but it glows with a quiet beauty and fishing village atmosphere.
It's not that there's nothing to do. The town offers nightclubs and restaurants, but it's a far, far cry from Tampa three hours down the road.
Cedar Key is not the only worthy spot for a vacationing outdoor adventurer. An hour's drive south, on the mainland, is Crystal River, a prime spot for manatees seeking warm water in winter. Here, those visitors stout enough to brave the chilly water can swim with the sea cows. For those too timid to try the waters, Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, further south, offers close-up views of the creatures in an underwater observatory.
Homosassa is a rehabilitation center, and features other wildlife common to the area. One attraction is a crocodile that was rescued after it strayed north from the species' only U.S. habitat, the Everglades, into the waters near Tampa.
Homosassa's clear, fresh water draws anhingas which, like cormorants, are an ancient
species lacking the oily feathers of most water birds. They must spread their wings to dry after a swim.
This region of Florida is known for its crystal clear springs emerging from deep caves. Manatee Springs, on the mainland north of Cedar Key, empties into the Suwannee River -- which extends all the way to Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp. Further inland, the Ichetucknee River offers canoeing and river tubing, as does the Rainbow River downstream from wide, blue Rainbow Springs.
Intro | Spotting the seabirds
The natural beauty of northern Florida
Also:
A Cedar Key Sampling
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