In honor of scallop season now in full swing, let’s shine the spotlight on Homosassa, FL. The manatee capital of the world, Homosassa, is a quaint little town, fewer than 2500 permanent residents, on the west coast of Florida. The rivers and waterways that run through it make Homosassa a great place for boaters! You can get to the Gulf of Mexico in your boat from nearly anywhere in the rivers and springs. Homosassa is home to the Homosassa Springs, a natural spring that eventually flows into the Gulf. As a boater there are some can’t-miss thing to do in Homosassa:

Scalloping

July to September each year, thousands of boaters make their annual pilgrimage to Homosassa for the scalloping season. Homosassa is an ideal place for scalloping. There are so many boat rentals available, and it’s a short distance down the river to the Gulf. Come for a day or come for a month, there are lots of “real-Florida” authentic places in Homosassa to stay while you’re here collecting these delicious little blue-eyed shellfish. Nature’s Resort has a boat ramp, boat storage, trailer storage, parking, waterfront cabins with docks and boat rentals (not to mention the restaurant, clubhouse, pool, trail, country store, and gym).

Homosassa Springs

While you’re staying in one of these waterfront cabins with your boat at the dock 10 yards from your door (or in your RV, yes, there are also waterfront RV spots), one place you shouldn’t skip is the Homosassa Springs. Take your boat for the gentle ride up the river to the spring head. There you’ll find crystal clear water, albeit chilly (well, chilly for us Floridians- the water is a steady year-round 72 degrees) and beautiful Florida overhanging trees creating a fantasy-like canopy. Take your snorkeling gear, a picnic lunch, and enjoy a day of chilling (quite literally if you’re a native Floridian) at the Springs.

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Despite its tiny size, this has to be one of the coolest parks in Florida, maybe even in the country! The Homosassa Springs State Park boasts all kinds of Florida native animals, including seasonal manatees, birds, black bears, bobcats, key deer, alligators, grey fox, otters, and pink flamingos. The Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is even home to Lu the Hippo. It’s a 59-year-old hippo who was a star in the movie Tarzan! One of the main attractions at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is the manatees that come into the springs in the winter for food and protected warmer waters. The Homosassa Springs State Park has an underwater observatory, a bubble of sorts that is big enough for at least 10 or so people to walk around and watch the manatees through the clear walls. There’s no better way to get so close to a manatee, watching them eat and play in the springs. This is so cool and is a definite must-see for any age visitor!

Dining and Bar Hopping

Homosassa boasts some top-notch restaurants when it comes to authenticity and great food. Don’t go in expecting a 5-star restaurant or candlelit dinners, but the restaurants in Homosassa have real Florida food, nice people, and laid-back “good-’ol-time” ambiance! A local favorite, The Freezer, is known for its mullet dip, crab legs, shrimp, clam chowder, and cheap drinks. This waterfront restaurant is all open-air seating with picnic tables available right on the docks. It’s always busy, so plan on getting there before 6ish to avoid the line- though, I must say, the line is always well worth it!

Other local favorites include the marina at Nature’s Resort. They have specials such as steak night (rib-eye, baked potato, and corn for $10!), beer for a dollar, burger & wing night, spaghetti night, taco night, pizza night and always, as I mentioned, cheap beer. Are you getting the pattern here? Homosassa has some cheap beer! Great place for bar hopping.

Neon Leon’s is a family restaurant that features a live “band” (usually a one-man-band, though he is very entertaining) on the weekends and food specials that are authentic Floridian and tasty!

And we can’t leave out the Old Mill Tavern. Located next to the original sugar mill, the Old Mill has great bar food- amazing wings!! and again, you guessed it, cheap beer! They are a favorite “late-night” bar with the crowd coming in around 10. Karaoke a few times a week, pool tables and outside seating keep it lively and popular among tourists, locals, bikers, and boaters alike.

Scallop season or not, Homosassa is a “real Florida” relaxing experience for any visitor, especially those of us that love boating!