2013 - Mar 20 Crystal River and Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

We hit the road about 11:00 this morning, headed for Crystal River, about twenty miles away. We wandered around town for a while, ending up at the Nation Wildlife Refuge Headquarters. The lady there told us about Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park which was 8 miles south of there. She said, "It's the absolute best state park!" With a recommendation like that, we just had to go there. We were not disappointed.

Before we left the Crystal River area, we stopped at a bridge, also recommended by the lady at the refuge HQ. We saw dolphins and a manatee there.

We got to Homosassa Springs Visitor Center at 1:15. The choices were:
1. Drive to the park entrance, pay the fee and explore the park.
2. Pay the fee and take the twenty minute boat ride to the park, then explore the park.
3. Pay the fee and take the ten minute tram ride to the park, then explore the park.
Same fee in all three choices above. We opted for choice number two, then took the tram back to the visitor center - all included in the fee.

Homosassa is a rehabilitation center for injured and orphaned West Indian manatees, which reside in the fresh water spring while re-acclimating to a natural environment before being released to the wild. Most of the other birds and animals living in the park have been injured or, for some other reason, cannot survive in the wild.

A huge spring, from which millions of gallons of fresh, clear water bubble every hour, is the centerpiece of the park and the headwaters of the Homosassa River. The temperature of the water is a constant 72 degrees.

The park was fabulous. We didn't leave until 5:00. I took 157 pictures today, the vast majority at Homosassa. Enjoy!