Aardvarks Florida Kayak

(402 reviews)

1.2 km

Absolutely loved this place! Had an amazing experience with the manatee, and the our guide person…read morewas awesome!!! Highly recommend

Garrett was a blast! We are just coming into the warm season and most manatees are back in the…read moregulf, he still got us to 7 manatees, 2 gators, and we caught a dolphin in kings bay towards the end. He gave us plenty of time to look for things to come up out of the water which was great for my 2 year old. Boat was shaded and was enjoyable even with a small child. Other tours wouldn't let me book because she was under 3- we brought our own lifevest but they did also have some on board that were her size.

Merchandise from their gift shop! It was all super cute and affordable. I personally got a carved manatee, I love him

Ready to go swimming squeezed into this wetsuit.

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After a detailed instructional video, we were passed around a vertebrae to emphasize the kind nature of these sea cows 3

Glass Bottom Boat Tour

(5 reviews)

13.1 km

One of the most beautiful parks I love coming here even just for a walk.Workers there always…read morefriendly

Had a beautiful day! Got to see turtles and alligators and even the monkeys! Worth our time and…read moremoney for sure! My 11 yr old had an awesome time and was happy to have gone! She asked the boat man 100 questions and he politely answered them all .. which was super nice. Also he informed us about the museum that was close but not in the property and it was very informative for our visit and homeschool information! Definitely go there too if your visiting

Oh no I won't EVAH

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Bird drying off wings

Manatee Tour And Dive

4.3

(174 reviews)

1.0 km

Had an amazing time with Mer'man Saw lots of manatees…read more They supplied warm jacket and hot chocolate after our trip.

Very nice tour visiting the manatees. I went with my mom. A great bonus is the warm coats they…read moreprovide when you jump out of the water! They also provide transportation from the shop to the harbor where you get on the boat. When went to two different sites. Although the tour wasn't full, they still took us out (we were just 4 people). It was basically a private tour for the price of a regular one! Overall a nice experience and the manatees are the best!

We got to hold rescued baby opossums!

Looking at a manatee

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Elated after we got out of the water

Swamp Fever Airboat Adventures

4.9

(203 reviews)

44.8 km

Had an awesome time with my family. captain Sam was a great tour guide! Highly recommend!read more

We had a great time! Our airboat driver was really knowledgeable about the area and we learned a…read morelot! Thank you!

Small alligator- about 2 1/2 years old

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Mama and nest of over 50 babies

Go Local Manatee Tours

(29 reviews)

0.6 km

(I'd give 10 stars if I could!)…read more Highlights: *FREE pictures and videos! *Smaller boat & group = more personal and attentive experience *If you're from out of town, these are the knowledgeable locals we all hope to find on our travels *AMAZING experience! Truly delightful *chef's kiss* This experience was the absolute highlight of my trip to Florida! The captains did an amazing job -- they were so knowledgeable, friendly and playful. I learned so much about the wildlife and felt like they genuinely went out of their way to make sure I had an unforgettable time in the water. The smaller boat and smaller group size made the whole experience feel personal, lots of attention to detail. If you're thinking about swimming with the manatees, there's really no choice -- you have to go with Go Local. Thank you all so much for making my birthday trip incredible. I'll definitely be doing this again!

We had the best time today on our manatee swim. Captain Misty is very knowledgeable and tons of…read morefun. Derrick did an excellent job of getting us all up close and personal with the manatees as well as keeping our group all together. We will definitely come back!

Getting ready to swim with manatees!

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Manatees In Paradise

4.4

(29 reviews)

0.7 km

My girlfriend and I came to the port not knowing what to expect, being from Chicago. We met Sandy…read moreon the pier and found her to be both knowledgeable and extremely personable. Once on board, Captain Jake led us to all the popular hang-outs to see Manatees up close and personable. In a nutshell, the three hours we spent with Jake and Sandy was truly an enjoyable experience. If you want a personal tour and not the big business rush job, book these people!!

Awesome time Casey and Jake went above and beyond to ensure we all experienced the manatees…read more They also gave us the history of Kings Bay and explained the conservation efforts taking place Highly recommend

Snorkel tour 5 star review

Sunset over Kings Bay, Crystal River, FL

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Manatee education with a young family.

Crystal River Manatee Tours

4.6

(20 reviews)

0.3 km

Did the tour over Christmas holiday to Florida. Plan ahead early, they fill up fast! Great tour,…read morevery efficient. Captian and dive instructor did a great job. Nice warm jackets provided between dives which is a great help...gets chilly between dives. Took us to three dive spots and we were not disappointed, manatees everywhere! Big sweet docile creatures, very nice. Water is warm coming out of springs, and very clear in the early morning hour we were there. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who love animals and see in their habitat.

Capt Greg was very informative about the area and the manatees. Our guide in the water, Leah,…read moreseemed to be the manatee whisperer and she attracted a few to her. It was on my bucket list to swim with these wonderful, gentle creatures and I am more than satisfied with our experience. I think we were a little late in the season because they are moving out of the very clear water toward the warming ocean. If I do it again, I would chose December or January to see hundreds of them in the river. Very positive experience with this company because they truly love and want to protect the manatees.

Manatees just under the water

Bald Eagle

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Nature Preserve

Fun 2 Dive Manatee Tours

(249 reviews)

0.5 km

I think it's important to note that there's a good change you will only see one or potentially none…read moreat all. The crew was extremely nice, but for the money, I would have done something else. We went into the cove area and there was 1 manatee that other boats were waiting to see. After one group left, we swam up, saw it for about 5 min before it swam off. That was basically the extent of it. I swam to see one of the springs. But for $500 for a family of 5; I wish there we could have seen others or at least tried to go and see other ones. It also would have been helpful if we could have had an option to cancel if they had tours that didn't see any or really low exposure that day (or been able to reschedule for a colder day).

As a Florida native, it is absurd that I have never had any sort of manatee interaction! My…read morelongtime friend booked us a semi- private tour for my birthday and we could not have had any better of a time. As luck had it, we were the only ones on the tour! Even though we went during the low season (August) when not as many manatees are present in the water, it also happens to be the time of year where the babies are around. Our Captain used a drone to locate a mother and baby manatee where no other tour groups were located. We were in very shallow water, and the manatees literally swam underneath of our bodies, pushing us up to the surface and rolling us around where we were completely powerless and stuck within the mangroves. It was absolutely amazing and brought tears to my eyes! Our guide Zach and Captain Ryan we're fabulous and I really look forward to doing this again. I cannot recommend this company more and I'm so glad that we booked with them!

Ice dream for sale on the water!

Snorkelers

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Three Sisters Springs

3.6

(81 reviews)

0.1 km

I loved seeing the manatees. The water is gorgeous and boardwalk is well maintained. It was an…read moreunforgettable experience seeing the calf manatee. The parking is near the ticket purchase area and is a bit of a walk to see the manatees. There's a closer lot but its get filled up during the peak season.

Very disappointing experience at Three Sisters Springs. During our Florida vacation we visited…read moreseven parks from Fort De Soto up to this area and had great experiences everywhere else. When we arrived, the parking attendant directed us to park across the street and said we could pay at the gate or the visitor center. When we returned to the gate it was closed and the attendant had stepped away with a sign saying to wait or go to the visitor center, so we assumed we could pay there. When we reached the buildings we were aggressively approached by a volunteer named Cyndi Stone who immediately accused us of breaking federal laws and sneaking in. We tried to explain the misunderstanding but she was not interested in listening. The interaction was embarrassing and unnecessarily confrontational. We were clearly tourists unfamiliar with the setup and would have happily paid the fee if approached respectfully. Instead, the situation ruined the visit and we chose to leave. On the way out a different person at the gate apologized, which we appreciated, but clearer instructions and a more respectful approach would make a big difference for visitors.

Entrance

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Found my blue.

Wild Bill's Airboat Rides Tour

(151 reviews)

36.5 km

Captain Frank was very knowledgeable about the area. Great day on the Withlacoochee River.read more

We have not done an airboat ride on the river so this trip we decided to do this. We had a great…read moretime with our guide. He was very good at spotting the gators and other critters along the river. He had a nice commentary and useful information about the history of the area. The airboat was very loud so it was quite difficult to hear everything he said. Our guide even gae us a nice run on the river with a bit of a splash/spray as he made the turn! Definitely saw lots of gators this trip. After the trip, you are invited to visit the main shop which was also the check in area for an opportunity to hold a real life baby gator! The gator was rather soft on the belly side. Was a fun trip. The day was not too hot so it was very enjoyable.

Michael and son Ryan enjoying the airboat ride.

Gator

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Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

4.6

(245 reviews)

11.1 km

Even though Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is still recovering from the…read moreimpacts of Hurricane Helene, our visit was outstanding and absolutely worth the stop. The staff and volunteers clearly care deeply about the park and its mission, and their dedication really shows. While a few areas are still in the process of being repaired, the park remains beautiful and full of life. The wildlife viewing opportunities are excellent, and the park does a wonderful job showcasing Florida's native species in a natural and respectful setting. Seeing the manatees up close was a highlight, and the underwater observatory provides a truly unique perspective you won't find in many places. What impressed us most was how well the park is being maintained despite the storm damage. Paths are clean, signage is clear, and the staff members we encountered were friendly, knowledgeable, and happy to answer questions. It's obvious that a lot of hard work is going into restoring everything while still making sure visitors have a great experience. If anything, visiting during this recovery period gives you an even greater appreciation for the park and the people who take care of it. Their resilience and commitment to conservation are inspiring. If you're traveling through the Homosassa area, this park is absolutely worth your time. It's a special place that celebrates Florida's wildlife and natural beauty, and we're already looking forward to coming back once the final restoration work is complete.

Originally, we road-tripped north almost 2 hours to experience a rare opportunity to swim amongst…read moremanatees in a natural setting. When we arrived we found out that the manatees had migrated away from the springs about 2.5 weeks ago. Disappointed we drove about 6 miles south and happened upon Homosassa Springs State Park, where they have 3 resident manatees that live in the springs year round. This small state park, was devastated by the hurricane several years ago. They have photos showing how high the waters were and many buildings are still closed. We had to wait for the tram to take us across the way to the park, they also have a boat to get there in a unique way. However, the water was too low to enjoy the boat ride. The park has about 3-4 manatees during the off season and you just have to look for them as they live in a natural setting. Eventually we found them a bit down river from the springs. Once in a while you'd see their nose pop up for air. They are such beautiful creatures. There is also a small zoo with a black bear, flamingoes, a white tailed deer, reptile case, an array of birds, and a variety of wild cats. They used to have a hippo but she died about 10 months ago. Definitely worth the $13 entry fee. It's a cute and well maintained park that is about at 75% of its operating capacity due to closed buildings that have not yet been renovated following Hurricane Milton. Although, we were disappointed to miss out on a once in a lifetime experience to *actually* swim amongst manatees, being able to see them in their natural habitat was truly special.

Vertical Gator

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Hunter Springs Park

3.7

(31 reviews)

0.6 km

LOVE THIS PARK! it offers easy drop in access for your paddlecraft and has a beachy swimming area…read moreto enjoy for when you're done. Parking is limited but there are many other places to park nearby.

Florida has some amazing parks. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area…read more The beach here is gorgeous and there are chance encounters with the manatee, but no touchie!

12/25 kayak & canoe launches

Take the scenic route.

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12/25 Crystal river manatees by the spring (72F)

Fort Island Trail Beach

3.4

(44 reviews)

9.5 km

Small beach but a nice place to take a dip! Very pretty area - birding area galore! Worth the trip…read more Again not a big beach but good enough!

Took multi generation family "to the beach" during a visit to Florida in April. Fort Island Trail…read moreBeach seemed like a good start for us and we enjoyed our visit. Arrived around 11 on a weekday and had a choice of parking spaces. Beach was recently smoothed, keeping in mind the area had suffered during a hurricane 6 months earlier, we found facilities were adequate. Row of porta-potties were available. Boat launch and fishing piers were still closed but we wanted beach that day. There are two rock breakwaters at the far edges of beach and several people were climbing and exploring while tide was out. Rocks were covered towards high tide. Line of markers indicated outer edge of swim area. No lifeguards (we knew that in advance) Plenty of room to set up towels, chairs and toys and room to next group. Kids were originally disappointed no crashing waves (they're use to Atlantic Ocean) but quickly decided the Gulf was better as they weren't getting knocked over. We brought our lunch: be aware, lots of birds trying (and some succeeding) to steal food.

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Florida Elks Youth Camp

4.9

(9 reviews)

82.1 km

This place is absolutely unbelievable! I was there for the American Heritage girls conference,…read morewhich by the way is fantastic organization. This is a place that had I been a kid and known about this place, I would've been here every chance I had. The accommodations were unbelievable! All the activities like the climbing wall, and the ropes were super cool. The girls got to do kayaking and archery, and even learned how to change a tire. This is the most beautiful land I've seen in a long time! Highly recommend you have any event here!

Great camp for kids aged 7 to 13! The best part is that any child can attend regardless of their…read moreparents financial situation! All they have to do is apply! After visiting the camp myself I can't wait to send my youngest this year. All Instructors are background checked and have training to inspire young adults. Only the best! They have beautiful up to date pools. The gym is state-of-the-art! And the rolling hill of acres is picturesque! There are so many things to do and see, like archery! I'm ecstatic for my baby to attend because everyone is super friendly and all - children, parents and Elk's are treated with the utmost respect and care! If you're looking for a great place to offer your child the best head start, this is the place for you.

Florida Elks Youth Camp: Our mission is to mold the current generation of youth into adults that we'd be proud to have as American citizens.

Huge center for anything you need it for!

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Huge gym

Suncoast Stables and Riding Academy

4.5

(10 reviews)

80.8 km

Clean-ish environment, well-trained horses, however the staff was mildly rude and unwelcoming.read more

My daughter attended a horse riding camp this summer at Suncoast Stables and had an incredible…read moretime. What did we love about it? -The themes. Each camp had a different theme and kids could sign up for the one they liked. -Covered riding area. Rain or shine, the kids could ride. -Kona Ice day. The truck came out and the kids could purchase a treat halfway thru the week. -End of the week presentation. Parents were invited to a Friday performance that showed off what their kids had learned. So why not five stars? Mainly because of the lack of communication. Leading up to the start of camp, the only information we had was from the sheet we filled out months before to reserve our spot. An introductory email would be incredible. Also, the paper handed out to parents about the presentation had the wrong time on. I was only able to confirm the actual time because we attended with a good friend who had the owner's phone number. Tightening up the communication would take Suncoast's Summer Camps from being amazing to perfect!

Show rider instruction

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Aardvarks Florida Kayak - rafting - Updated August 2026

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Getaroundboat

(2 reviews)

My wife and I had a great time cruising the Homossassa River on the GoBoat from Getaroundboat…read moreRentals. Paula was really nice about showing us how to operate the boat and gave us some tips on what to look for out on the river. This thing has plenty of power, is very stable and lots of fun. You launch from near the Halls River Bridge, close to the spring and not too far to monkey island. We saw manatees and had a great time. We will do this again on our next trip to the area. Good service and a fair price.

Amazing experience! Paula is excellent and she made the entire process so easy. If you plan to…read moreexplore the Homosassa River this is the best way to do it, you will be able to get everywhere and see so much wildlife along the way. These boats are so much fun

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Parker was great and reservation process easy! We will use them again!!!!............read more

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Great relaxing tour of St. Augustine from the water. Quite informative and even saw some dolphins…read morealong the way. Only downside was that our 1.5 he trip was a but short of the timeframe. Other than that, very enjoyable. Captain and 1st mate were very nice.

We didn't know what to expect from this tour, but it was honestly amazing. We saw dolphins and the…read moresunset was amazing. The people running the tour were so nice and stopped every time they noticed all of us were looking or taking a picture of something. It didn't feel rehearsed it felt genuine and like we had a say in what we stopped to enjoy

Madman Moody's Scuba Adventures

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Hi, I have dove with…read moreJosh and Deena on several trips to the florida keys. they are a great team and offer a very custom diving experience. Our dive party was able to video giant groupers off of Looe key. we were spontanious to the photo opportunity that was a pleasant departure from traditional dive trips.and they Love of the water! They know how to adapt to ever changing conditions! we felt safe and would send any family or friends to them for their next adventure. I want to dive with them in the crystal river basin next, manatee season. He knows of many local spots that you may not find on your own. LC oh yeah, If you get him to cook your fish you will be amazed~ They will be apart of our annual trip to the keys that we have

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4.4

(181 reviews)

Captain Taylor and Ryan were great out on the water. We really enjoyed our manatee tour trip on…read moreCrystal River. Thank you both for all your guidance out on the water. we had a great family trip. Thank you both! Happy New Year 2026

100% would do this again! The manatee sized shout out goes to Austin and Rodney, they were our tour…read moreguides. Rodney was "drivin the boat" with style & class, while also being our handy dandy pool noodle handler. Austin was the man, he told us all about the manatees and marinated wet suits. I guess manatees are actually buff like body builders, ultimate sleeper build. Taking us to the hot spots we were finally in the water with what looked like giant turds; gentle turds. They kinda just live life, eating and sleeping while you stare at their muscles and watch them breathe. The amount of mental discipline you have to have is , you want to scream and squirm but can't. It might startle the manatees, the struggle was real. It was nice to get out with kind, genuine people, we were vibing. So all in all get ur butt over here and make some memories you'll never forget. Just do it!

Potts Preserve

(1 review)

I hike, kayak and fish there there quite often as I only live a few blocks away. Never crowded and…read moresome great hiking trails. I recommend having a GPS as there isn't cell signal and you can get turned around.

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Shauna was very helpful and accommodating. Everyone was nice and helpful. I thought it was very…read moreaffordable for the experience. This is actually our second time there and I want to support family owned businesses and some supplies here. Nice little boutique and just very friendly and helpful. Definitely would recommend it a lot of fun things in the gift shop. Hope hope you'll check it out and if you're lucky, you'll see a lot of manatees, but you can always call ahead!

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