Crystal River - We currently have 4 Crystal River vacation homes, condos and villas listed on this page!

Crystal River: Where Tourists Swim with Manatees

Crystal River is a small town located in Citrus County in Florida. With a population under 4,000 permanent inhabitants, it provides a wonderful small town feeling so that tourists staying in Crystal River holiday homes can enjoy peace and serenity.

Home of the Manatee

Known as the "Home of the Manatee," the city is located around King's Bay where these magnificent oceangoing mammals are frequently seen. Winter is the best time to visit if manatee-watching is your goal; an average of 400 come up from the Gulf of Mexico each year. Crystal River is, in fact, the only place in the nation where tourists are legally permitted to interact with manatees in the wild. Several local businesses center around helping tourists enjoy the manatees and provide opportunities for visitors to not just see them up close, but also to swim alongside them.

The Nature Coast of Florida

Crystal River is considered to be an essential part of Florida's "Nature Coast." King's Bay is a large natural aquifer, second in Florida only to the aquifer in the Everglades. This aquifer is fed by springs. Natural parks nearby include Crystal River Preserve State Park and Crystal River Archaeological State Park, both of which help visitors to understand more about the ecology of the area.

Oddly enough, Crystal River is also home to a nuclear power station, making it an interesting blend of nature and man-made elements.