Homosassa Springs Fl

[Karel]

Can anyone tell me anything about Homosassa Springs? I'm tagging along on my husband's business trip at the end of January. The Wildlife Park looks like fun.

TIA

 

[famofsix]

The manatees are so neat and you can see them up close. You won't be disappointed...the park is clean and it is a nice walk around. I think there's a hippo too.

 

[SamIAm21]

Oh yeah, the Manatees are wonderful and the Hippo needs a dentist! I love Homasssa Springs State Park. It's so relaxing!

 

[Pig Pen]

Another vote for the manatee park! We loved it.

 

[Karel]

Is there anything else near by? I'm staying at Bella Oasis, connected to the front of the park.

 

[Chris2597]

We went to the state park a few yrs ago and it was one of the highlights of our trip. It is well worth the entrance fee, which was super reasonable....$8 pp and less for the kids. We spent an entire afternoon there. The manatee's are so interesting and you really get and up close view of them...then the little zoo with the alligators, hippo, and snakes. the kids loved it and dh and I enjoyed it also

 

[SamIAm21]

Is there anything else near by? I'm staying at Bella Oasis, connected to the front of the park.

Well down Rte 19 near the corner of 19 & 50 (Cortez Blvd) is Weeki Watchi Springs (in Spring Hill). Now, I haven't been there in years, so I'm not sure what it consists of anymore. Of course, it was the mermaid show and a small waterpark, but I'm not sure anymore. Heck, it may even be closed, but I do remember it's about a 20 minute drive from Homosassa Springs.

 

[ZebraStripes]

My parents rent in Homosassa so I've been there many times. Its not a real bustling area, but you can find other things to do. I agree with everyone else that the wildlife park is a must see. The fish bowl is very cool. Thousands of fish swimming in a circle around the sunken observation deck. There are airboat tours of the Homosassa River that are interesting. You see manetees along the way and you go by the wildlife park. Also you go by the island that has the monkeys. I went to Weeki Watchy a few years ago. they do a "mermaid" show. A nice place to walk around. It won't take all that long though. There is also snorkling with manatees. Haven't done that but it looks cool. It is definitely a "quiet" area though. I bring a suitcase of books and spend the week reading by the pool. The weather can be hit or miss though. Sometimes it can be down right chilly.

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Well down Rte 19 near the corner of 19 & 50 (Cortez Blvd) is Weeki Watchi Springs (in Spring Hill). Now, I haven't been there in years, so I'm not sure what it consists of anymore. Of course, it was the mermaid show and a small waterpark, but I'm not sure anymore. Heck, it may even be closed, but I do remember it's about a 20 minute drive from Homosassa Springs.

Last time I was there (about 5 years ago) it was open but most of it was gone. The mermaid show was still there and so was the boat ride. I don't remember anything else being open. Maybe just the petting zoo. I know one ticket got you into the regular park and the water park for one price. My grandparents lived close by so they used to take my family there often but it just isn't the same anymore.

Now Homosassa Springs brought back memories! I haven't been there in a long time but I rememeber it being a nice park. I know the manatees would fascinate me for hours. Just over the holidays my family relived the memory of my brother, the accident prone boy. Just as we parked in the parking lot of Homosassa Springs, he gets out of the car and falls down, scraping his knee. My brother always finds a way to make days interesting.

 

[LucyStorm]

I live very close to Homosassa Springs. There is also a nice beach if you have a vehicle. Head up 19 N to Fort Island Trail. Turn L on Fort Island Trail, and go about 9 miles until it dead ends into the beach.

Weeki Wachi is still open, but I am not sure what's there.

I haven't been to the Wildlife park in a few years, but the last time I did it was awesome!

If you like shopping at some historic shops, head N on 19 past 44 and turn right on Citrus Avenue in Crystal River. There are some really neat shops there. Antiques, books, garden, clothes shops come to mind. And there is a nice restaurant in that area called Cafe on the Avenue. It is in the back of one of the gift shops. If you continue further north on 19 (2 miles or so) there is a small mall.

In Crystal River, some good places to eat are Charlie's Fishhouse, Cody's Roadhouse, and Cravings on the water. There are also the standard Applebee's and Chili's too. Not much in Homosassa Springs that I would recommend. Except the restaurant that has the monkey island. You can sit by the window and watch the monkeys, and the food is not bad. That is in Old Homosassa, and I imagine they could tell you at the hotel how to get there.

 

[Karel]

Thank you for the directions. It sounds great. We are only going to have one full day and two half days to spend there. I don't know how much time I will have on my own but I hope to drag my husband shopping and to the beach.

I'll probably explore the wildlife park on the full day. The monkeys sound neat.

 

[SamRoc]

My Dad used to live there in Spring hill. We went to the wildlife park as well as weeki watchi when we used to go and visit. I thought the neatest thing though was taking a boat ride through what i think was the crystal river. The water is so beautiful.

 

[ZebraStripes]

I live very close to Homosassa Springs. There is also a nice beach if you have a vehicle. Head up 19 N to Fort Island Trail. Turn L on Fort Island Trail, and go about 9 miles until it dead ends into the beach.

Weeki Wachi is still open, but I am not sure what's there.

I haven't been to the Wildlife park in a few years, but the last time I did it was awesome!

If you like shopping at some historic shops, head N on 19 past 44 and turn right on Citrus Avenue in Crystal River. There are some really neat shops there. Antiques, books, garden, clothes shops come to mind. And there is a nice restaurant in that area called Cafe on the Avenue. It is in the back of one of the gift shops. If you continue further north on 19 (2 miles or so) there is a small mall.

In Crystal River, some good places to eat are Charlie's Fishhouse, Cody's Roadhouse, and Cravings on the water. There are also the standard Applebee's and Chili's too. Not much in Homosassa Springs that I would recommend. Except the restaurant that has the monkey island. You can sit by the window and watch the monkeys, and the food is not bad. That is in Old Homosassa, and I imagine they could tell you at the hotel how to get there.

I'll be down there in February and I'm definitely going to check into these. Thanks for the tips!

P.S. I think one of the restaurants where you can see the monkeys from is Crumps (???)