Citrus

Day Trips

Wake with the chorus of songbirds as you enter Riverbend Park at dawn, breathing in the misty river air. Follow the boardwalk to hidden observation platforms where you can spot herons and ibis in their natural habitat. Capture the golden light filtering through cypress trees before the park comes fully to life.

Set off on a guided kayak excursion down the crystal-clear river, weaving between towering palms and ancient oaks draped in Spanish moss. Pause at secluded sandbars for a riverside picnic of fresh citrus fruits and local pastries. Feel the gentle current carry you downstream as you learn about the park’s rich ecology from an expert naturalist.

Return to the visitor center for an outdoor cooking demo featuring fresh-caught fish and farm-to-table produce. As dusk settles, gather around a bonfire for storytelling and stargazing over the calm river waters. Let the symphony of frogs and crickets lull you into a peaceful night under the canopy.

Arrive before sunrise at a popular manatee refuge to join marine biologists in preparing feeding stations. Slip into the warm spring-fed waters and watch gentle manatees glide gracefully around you. Learn about their conservation and rehabilitation while observing calves play near their mothers.

Enjoy a riverside lunch at a waterfront café serving blackened grouper tacos and citrus-infused salads. Then board a shallow-draft boat for an up-close tour of secluded coves where manatees gather. Listen to the guide’s insights on manatee behavior and local rescue efforts.

Head to a cozy bistro overlooking the river for a sunset cocktail featuring locally distilled grapefruit vodka. Dine on a chef’s tasting menu highlighting seasonal ingredients from Citrus County farms. End the evening with a moonlit walk along a hidden riverbank trail lined with lanterns.

Begin your day with a hearty breakfast of smoked salmon bagels and freshly squeezed orange juice at a waterfront café. Pick up your sit-on-top kayak and paddle out into the glassy waters of Crystal River at first light. Glide silently past mangrove tunnels where kingfishers and egrets hunt for breakfast.

Pull ashore at Kings Bay for a riverside picnic of chicken salad on croissants and homemade key lime tarts. Continue your journey upriver, exploring narrow tributaries shaded by live oaks and wild grapevines. Keep your eyes peeled for otters playing among the lily pads.

Return your kayak and stroll through a quaint downtown art district showcasing local painters and potters. Savor a seafood dinner at a riverfront grill famous for its citrus-infused coconut shrimp. Cap off the night with live acoustic music drifting across the water.

Set out early for Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, where you can feed the resident manatees from a shaded boardwalk. Watch playful otters tumble in the clear spring run and spot alligators sunning themselves on the banks. Join a park ranger for a behind-the-scenes tour of the rehabilitation center.

Enjoy a boxed lunch on the park’s riverfront picnic grounds surrounded by palms and sweetgum trees. Explore the Jungle Trail on foot to encounter black bears, panthers, and colorful native birds in naturalistic habitats. Photograph gentle raccoons and the park’s famous prehistoric fiberglass fish sculpture.

Attend an evening wildlife talk under spacious pavilions as fireflies dance overhead. Sample citrus-glazed pork sliders from a local food truck parked at the park entrance. Leave with a sense of wonder and appreciation for Florida’s unique fauna.

Arrive at Fort Island Gulf Beach at sunrise to claim a prime spot on the soft, white sand. Take a leisurely swim in the warm Gulf waters or try your hand at paddleboarding amid gentle waves. Collect polished shells and sand dollars along the tide line.

Set up an umbrella and beach chairs for a midday picnic of chilled shrimp cocktail and tropical fruit salad. Rent a sailboat or windsurfer for an exhilarating ride on the open water. Relax under a canopy of palmettos while you sip a freshly blended citrus smoothie.

Watch the sky turn pink and orange as the sun sinks below the horizon, painting the Gulf in molten gold. Dine at a beachfront grill where fire pits illuminate the shoreline and live acoustic bands serenade guests. End the night roasting marshmallows over the embers and sharing stories under the stars.

Stroll through historic downtown Inverness and admire the quaint 19th-century storefronts as local merchants open their doors. Stop at a family-owned bakery for warm guava pastries and espresso. Join a guided walking tour that reveals tales of early settlers and citrus pioneers.

Browse the Citrus County Museum to view antique farm equipment, vintage cameras, and period photographs. Break for lunch at a farm-to-fork bistro known for its tangy Meyer lemon vinaigrette. Spend the afternoon potting your own mini-citrus tree in a hands-on workshop by a local arborist.

Take a sunset cruise on quaint Lake Henderson aboard an elegant pontoon boat. Toast with a glass of sparkling grapefruit wine as you glide past lily pads and water lilies. Disembark for dinner at an art-deco bistro offering decadent key lime crème brûlée.

Fuel up with hearty avocado toast and local honey at a farm-style café before heading into the woods. Enter the vast Withlacoochee State Forest and follow the tram road trail lined with sabal palms and longleaf pines. Spot deer grazing in sun-dappled clearings and listen for the call of pileated woodpeckers.

Pause at a shaded spring for a riverside lunch of turkey-and-citrus wraps and fresh vegetable crudités. Continue along the trail to reach high sandhill ridges offering panoramic views of the forest canopy. Learn about the importance of controlled burns and native groundcover restoration from your naturalist guide.

Return to town for a casual dinner at a wood-fired pizza joint highlighting local produce and citrus-infused sauces. Unwind with craft beers brewed in-house, including a grapefruit pale ale. Relax on a porch swing at the brewery while fireflies flicker in the twilight.

Visit a lesser-known spring for a guided snorkeling tour of underwater caverns and freshwater pools. Slip into the translucent water and marvel at submerged limestone formations and darting tropical fish. Your guide points out signs of early Timucuan habitation carved into the spring walls.

Enjoy a gourmet picnic by the spring, featuring smoked trout salad, freshly baked sourdough, and a platter of preserved citrus segments. Wade back into the water for a gentle float, letting the current carry you along a hidden swim trail. Dry off on the grassy banks while watching turtles bask in the sun.

Join a riverbank barbecue where local families grill citrus-marinated chicken and freshly caught shrimp over open coals. Sway to the rhythm of a bluegrass band playing beneath the towering pines. End the night with homemade citrus sorbet and bonfire ghost stories.

Head to a bustling weekly farmers market filled with colorful stalls of heirloom produce, artisanal cheeses, and freshly baked breads. Sip on a cold-pressed orange and grapefruit blend as you sample honeys and jams made from local citrus. Chat with growers about sustainable farming and pest-free cultivation methods.

Take a guided tram tour of a historic citrus grove where you’ll learn about grafting techniques and organic pest control. Pluck ripe tangelos and kumquats straight from the boughs to taste the orchard’s bounty. Conclude with a hands-on workshop crafting back-alley marmalades and citrus-infused vinegars.

Dine at a rustic farm-to-table restaurant housed in a refurbished packing shed, with menus rotating daily based on market finds. Delight in a citrus-brined pork chop paired with seasonal vegetables and a zesty yuzu reduction. Wind down with a grove-sunset cocktail under string lights hung between grapefruit trees.

Spend your final morning leisurely exploring a local art gallery filled with coastal landscapes and citrus-themed pottery. Enjoy a light brunch of citrus salt-rubbed avocado toast and poached eggs at a café overlooking the bay. Pick up a handmade souvenir of pressed wildflowers and dried orange peel fragrances.

Relax by the hotel pool with a tropical cocktail infused with local lime and mint. Reflect on the past nine days while soaking in the Florida sun and listening to gentle palm fronds rustling in the breeze. Pack a picnic of key lime pie bars and fresh citrus slices to take aboard your evening cruise.

Embark on a private sunset cruise along the coastal waterways, complete with a Captain’s welcome and chilled grapefruit Champagne. As pelicans glide overhead, toast to the journey with seasonal hors d’oeuvres featuring smoked citrus sea bass. Watch the final rays of sun slip below the horizon, casting the water in hues of coral and gold.