Crystal River Florida: Manatees, History, and Access

Crystal River, Florida, a village perched on the state's west coast, has a human population of about 3,400 people. During the winter months, they're joined by more than 400 manatees. Those large, droll-looking mammals, sometimes referred to as sea cows, are attracted by the proliferation of warm spring-fed waters in the area. Tourism based upon watching the manatees loll about in their natural habitat has grown into the area's major business.

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One stop on the itinerary of many people is the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. It contains natural springs which serves as a refuge for manatees that have been injured in boating accidents. After their wounds have been treated, those who have completely healed are released back into the wild.

Several fortunate factors facilitate close-up encounters with these gentle giants. One is their annual meet-up in the waters of the Crystal Springs area where they come to hibernate in winter.

The boardwalk which surrounds the springs is very handicapped accessible, and is dotted by outlooks from which to observe the manatees.

Given the fact that Florida ranks high on the list of population age, it's not surprising that many state and private organizations work to address the needs associated with a range of disabilities. That includes facilities and services available to those interesting in a manatee experience.

As fun and fascinating as the manatees are, some people who are focused upon their manatee moments remain unaware of a number of other attributes that themselves warrant a visit to Crystal River. One is its prehistoric past.

Scientists have discovered the bones of rhinoceros and mastodons that lived there during the Pleistocene era - the geological time span that lasted from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago. They also have uncovered shells of a gigantic armadillo and an unusually large land tortoise.

Much more recently, around 500 BC, those life forms were followed by Native Americans who hung out along the Crystal River. They're recalled at the Crystal River Archaeological State Park, which is one of the longest continuously occupied sites in Florida, having served as an Indian ceremonial center for 1,600 years. People traveled there from far away to conduct trade and bury their dead. Reminders of that time include pre-Columbian burial mounds, temple sites and a plaza area.

Fast forward to the mid-1800s, when immigrant settlers began to set up homesteads. Following the Civil War, an influx of people from states to the north who were attracted by the mild climate began to arrive and plant citrus trees. When the railroad arrived in 1888, so did tourists, many of whom were attracted by the outstanding sport fishing.

Today, in addition to the resident manatees, a variety of other attractions awaits discovery. Along with its Native American lore, the Crystal River Archaeological State Park borders a large area of pinewoods, hardwood forests, salt marshes and mangrove islands. This is one of Florida's most biologically diverse estuaries, where fresh water from spring-fed rivers mixes with the Gulf of Mexico's salt water.

Much of the park remains unchanged, and what I experienced offers a glimpse of what this area of Florida looked like centuries ago. A visit to the Heritage Village complex is like a journey back through time. Each cottage, shop and other building has its own tale to tell, showcasing the lifestyle of different historical periods – predominantly as a fishing village characterized by "cracker" architecture.

That is a which was popular during the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Typical design features included low wood-frame houses, large wraparound porches and shuttered windows to help cool the rooms.

It's believed that the term "cracker" refers to either the sound made by whips used by early settlers to herd cattle or cracked corn which was an ingredient in making moonshine whiskey.

Along with manatee, inhabitants of appropriately named Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park include whooping crane, black bear, bobcat, red wolf and the endangered Florida panther. An amazing variety of fish congregates there, and visitors may view them from an underwater observatory.

It's a troop of monkeys that occupies a tiny island in the Homosassa River, and entertains humans watching from shore or on passing boats. This pint-sized paradise for primates has a small lighthouse and other structures, and is strewn with play toys for its residents.

The lifestyle of an agricultural estate comes alive at the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park. The site once was part of a 5,000-acre sugar plantation owned which was operated with the labor of enslaved people during the 1800s.

The park features remnants of a steam-driven mill that processed sugarcane into syrup, molasses and rum; a 40-foot limestone masonry chimney, iron gears and a cane press. The mill operated from 1851 to 1864, served as a supplier of sugar products for Southern troops during the Civil War, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

This page of history joins many others, along with a long list of natural beauty attractions and appealing activities, to augment reasons to visit Crystal River, Florida. Oh, yes, there also are those amusing aquatic creatures for which the area is most well-known.

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Author Credentials: Victor Block has been a travel journalist for many years, and has written for major newspapers, magazines and travel websites and served as an editor of Fodor's Travel Guides. He is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers and the North American Travel Journalists Association. Victor is a regular contributor of reviews to the Disabled World travel section. Visit Victors's biography for further insights into his background and expertise.