Kings Bay is fed by more than seventy springs that hold it at 72 degrees all year. Every winter, several hundred West Indian manatees move in to escape the cold Gulf — and Crystal River, a city of about 3,400, is the only place in North America where you can legally get in the water with them.
Why visit Crystal River
- 01
Swim with manatees
Licensed operators run guided trips under passive-observation rules: float and let the manatee approach — no chasing, touching or feeding.
- 02
Three Sisters Springs
The most photographed manatee sanctuary in Florida, viewed from a public boardwalk reached by shuttle.
- 03
A national wildlife refuge
The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge protects the bay's sanctuaries.
- 04
Ancient mounds
A 2,500-year-old pre-Columbian mound complex sits near the bay.
How to spend a day
Book an early-morning manatee swim, visit Three Sisters Springs by boardwalk late morning, and spend the afternoon at the mound site.
Before you go
Crystal River is about 70 miles north of Tampa on U.S. 19. Mid-December through February is peak manatee season; the coldest mornings bring the most animals.