Crystal River, FL | TRAVEL GUIDE | Exploring the Nature Coast | Ep. 4

Join us as we spend another day exploring Florida's Nature Coast. In this video, we'll show you how to make the most of your day in Crystal River, FL. Crystal River is located in Citrus County which is considered to be the Manatee Capital of the World. And every year, over half a million tourists visit Crystal River, many in hopes of spotting, or even swimming with the remarkable creatures. But Crystal River offers so much more than just manatees.
So join us as we explore Crystal River. In addition to showing you when, where, and how you can find manatees, we'll also show you around the rest of Crystal River, including the best areas to shop, hike, eat, drink, and soak up some sun.
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Other Recommended Videos:
*Best of Florida's Nature Coast | Top Things to Do
• Things to do in Florid...
*Pinellas County (St Pete) Beaches Playlist
- • Beaches in Pinellas Co...
*Best Florida Beaches Playlist
- • BEST FLORIDA BEACHES |...
*Top 10 Things to do in St Pete
- • Top Things to do in St...
*Caribbean Beaches Playlist
- • Playlist
For more Florida travel ideas check out our playlist:
- • Vacation in Florida | ...
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#florida #explorcation #crystalriver
Timeline:
00:00 - #1 Intro
00:49 - #2 See Manatees at 3 Sisters
03:01 - #3 Coffee Stop
03:42 - #4 Shopping in Heritage Village
04:26 - #5 Tavern Time
05:13 - #6 Giant Biscuits!
06:26 - #7 Beach & Pier
07:43 - #8 Nature Walk
08:57 - #9 Crosstown Trail
09:46 - #10 - Cajun Dinner
10:42 - #11 - Tiki Bar Time
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Websites from Video:
Discover Crystal River - www.discovercrystalriverfl.com
Hunter's Springs Park - www.discovercrystalriverfl.co...
Fort Island Beach - www.discovercrystalriverfl.co...
Gary Maidhof Walk to Nature Park - prodenv.dep.state.fl.us/DslPa...
Cattle Dog Coffee Roasters - www.cattledogcoffeeroasters.com/
Biscuit Barn - biscuitbarn.net/
Seafood Seller & Cafe - www.seafoodsellerandcafe.net/
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Music Credits:
KZread Audio Library
- How We Like It by Dan Lebowitz
- South Street Strut by the Great North Sound Society
- Perrywinkle by the Mini Vandals
- Who's Using Who by the Mini Vandals
Explorcation consists of Jamie and Skylar, a couple who typically shares their experiences traveling and staying active via blogs and travel videos.
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Explorcation can be contacted at explorcationblog@gmail.com

Пікірлер: 82

  • @Explorcation
    @Explorcation3 жыл бұрын

    Hey guys thanks so much for watching our day in Crystal River. This area has quite a bit to offer in addition to visiting the springs. Do you think you would want to visit Crystal River? If you are interested in exploring more of the Nature Coast we would recommend watching our Nature Coast series from the beginning here:Best of Florida's Nature Coast | Top Things to Do: kzread.info/head/PLOT_jgQ5dAKwdm2hWC4OfvLxTDsJMPADv

  • @jarvisjourneys
    @jarvisjourneys Жыл бұрын

    We swam with the manatee last week.., so cool!!!

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    Жыл бұрын

    That's awesome, Jarvis. Were there many of them around? It's definitely a one of a kind experience, and one I know that we'll never forget!

  • @jaysonovo4778
    @jaysonovo47786 ай бұрын

    Thanks for the video. Never been here, and my dad and I love exploring different towns and cities every time we visit Florida... this is definitely on the list!

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    6 ай бұрын

    Our pleasure, Jay. We're glad to hear that you and your dad will be adding it to your list!

  • @gladysgriffin7347
    @gladysgriffin73476 ай бұрын

    The Nature Coast is pretty good. Thanks for showing it.

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    6 ай бұрын

    It really is a completely different side of Florida, but equally beautiful!

  • @NoBSEateries
    @NoBSEateries3 жыл бұрын

    Crystal River definitely looks a lot different than from when I was a kid! Looks like a fun place and the biscuit barn seems like a must stop! -S

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, I'm sure it's grown a lot over the years! Just in the two years between our visits we saw quite a bit of growth. We agree that the biscuit barn is a must stop if you ever make it back to Crystal River!

  • @anthonyvalenti9093
    @anthonyvalenti9093 Жыл бұрын

    Nice! Great tour of Crystal River. Short and sweet.

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks, Anthony. We love Crystal River and can't wait to get back there!

  • @zm6323
    @zm632310 ай бұрын

    Love it! Still watching, thank you!

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    10 ай бұрын

    We love Crystal River, and we're glad you enjoyed the video. Hopefully we'll be able to get back there and make a bigger and better one someday!

  • @TiaandAndy
    @TiaandAndy2 жыл бұрын

    I want to visit 3 sisters soooo bad to see Manatees, must be so cool. You always have us at cold beer, literally nothing better after a long day out in the sun. The nature walk looks really nice, love that there's a boardwalk. Looks like a great day out and about!

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    2 жыл бұрын

    We hope you do get a chance to visit this area of Florida someday, as we're not aware of any other place quite like it. We really liked the nature walk, which was something that was not even on our radar when we planned the trip. The beer of course was in the plans from day 1 of planning!

  • @BeingBedingfield
    @BeingBedingfield3 жыл бұрын

    Crystal River is beautiful! Another cute little town, I just love the style of the buildings. How awesome to see manatees! Great that you did so much in a day! And as always, yaay for the tiki bar 🤗 (I also liked how you pointed out on the map the places you visited)

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the positive feedback, guys. We've been trying to incorporate more maps in our videos, to help people get a general idea of where all these places are in relation to each other. Glad to hear you are enjoying them!

  • @6431harry
    @6431harry9 ай бұрын

    Hi I love the Crystal River videos! We spent a week in Englewood and loved the beaches. It was a little too quiet for our taste. What is you favorite gulf beach area, that is budget friendly?

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    9 ай бұрын

    Thank you! Yeah, Englewood definitely is a bit on the quiet side. If you're looking for a beach with a little more going on that is still pretty budget friendly, we'd suggest maybe Treasure Island or Madeira Beach. Indian Rocks has a decent amount going on as well.

  • @auroranite
    @auroranite2 жыл бұрын

    Another wonderful travel vlog. many Tks

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much!

  • @TheMapPinners
    @TheMapPinners3 жыл бұрын

    Seeing a manatee out in the wild would be so fun! Especially seeing one while out paddleboarding or kayaking like you guys did. Looks like Crystal was a fun town to visit! Those biscuits looked delicious. That cajun food looked amazing too, especially the etouffee!

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Etoufee is Skylar's absolute favorite. It was so nice to find great Cajun food in Florida.

  • @OurTravelPlace
    @OurTravelPlace3 жыл бұрын

    Crystal River is somewhere I have considered visiting in the past when we've been to Florida. I loved the look of the boardwalk and beach area too - great find for when you were stuffed! The food in the second restaurant looked so good

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Skylar still talks about that cajun food on a fairly regular basis. We may have to make another trip up to Crystal River soon just to eat there again!

  • @ScullyPopASMR
    @ScullyPopASMR3 жыл бұрын

    My late friend used to speak highly of this place. You did a great job on the video.

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    It really is a wonderful place for anyone wishing to see the natural side of Florida. Any nature lover would enjoy it. Thanks for watching.

  • @TravelwithCorletts
    @TravelwithCorletts3 жыл бұрын

    We loved snorkelling with manatees, but we didn't get to do any of the other things at Crystal River when we were there years ago, so it was great to see what else the are has on offer!

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, I think a lot of people visit for the Three Sister's manatee experience but really don't know what to do with the rest of their time, so we're glad to here that our video was effective in showing what else the city has to offer. Thanks for the continued support, guys!

  • @LucasWorldTravel
    @LucasWorldTravel3 жыл бұрын

    Manatee are so cool! It must be amazing to swim with them. This place is definitely on our list now that we officially know how to swim 😉 The boardwalk trail also looks really nice!

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, it's a bit chilly in the water but definitely still a great place to swim!

  • @MillieMoments
    @MillieMoments3 жыл бұрын

    Crystal river looks gorgeous! I had never seen or heard of a Manatee before until I saw Adventure Encounters video, think it might of even been here also! Must of been so cool paddle boarding over them! This is a great video with loads of info where to go and what to do! ❤

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    You are not the first person who's told us that they had never heard of a manatee before. I don't think it's very common to see them anywhere other than Florida, and we are so glad that we are introducing them to people.

  • @JC-po6yj
    @JC-po6yj3 жыл бұрын

    Great video guys! We were eating in the seafood seller & Café as well (2 years ago) and the food was amazing!!! 🍤🦞🦑

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    The food there really is fantastic. I still think about that Crawfish Etoufee semi-regularly!

  • @TheMattLeighton
    @TheMattLeighton2 жыл бұрын

    Very helpful! Thank you

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for watching :)

  • @auricgoldfinger8478
    @auricgoldfinger84782 жыл бұрын

    You guys do a great travel log.

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for much for the kind comment! We really appreciate your support.

  • @SorgiStories
    @SorgiStories3 жыл бұрын

    Looks really interesting. Great video! - Anthony

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks. No doubt it's an interesting place.

  • @PrimeTimeTravelers
    @PrimeTimeTravelers3 жыл бұрын

    Wow Crystal River looks like fun!! We are going to have to make a stop there at some point. When the weather cools down this fall and winter we have a lot of vlogging and exploring to do!!!

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    It really is a great little town with so much to offer!

  • @TravelInteresante
    @TravelInteresante3 жыл бұрын

    I have just added the Three sisters on our list for Florida, would love to do some kayaking there! Love how you guys are always making some time for some cold beer, really like the tavern! Tiki bar is such an amazing spot too!

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, an active day outdoors followed by a relaxing night at a teaki bar is pretty much our ideal day, although you probably figured that out already 😆. Great decision to add Three Sisters to your list though, it's a nature lover's dream and a great change of pace from the larger/busier beach towns.

  • @BobCarlson
    @BobCarlson3 жыл бұрын

    For an area that has everything I love about living in FL, I am embarrassed to say I have never been closer than passing by on the highway. I really need to up my West Coast travel checklist.

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    It's so nice to get away to this part of Florida. While it's equal distance from the gulf and only an hour to the north, it sure feels like another world compared to St. Pete! Thanks for the continued support as always, Bob!

  • @AquariusTraveller
    @AquariusTraveller3 жыл бұрын

    Another brilliant share guys....I love love love to be here one day.... in the not so distant future. Crystal river has been on my list forever. Looks like you found some nice boardwalk and walking trails...always nice to add onto a trip. I think you guys have an over abundance of tiki bars...not sure I have seen that many around Australia but you have been to heaps and I love seeing all the different drinks you try ...never the same 😁👍

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, we seem to have a knack for finding Tiki bars even when we aren't looking for them 😅. I'm sure you would absolutely love Crystal River. It definitely seems to be a place you would enjoy, and we hope you are able to visit someday. We would love to make it down to Australia sometime soon too!

  • @AquariusTraveller

    @AquariusTraveller

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Explorcation the freedom to travel is the hopes for us all one day 😁👍

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@AquariusTraveller when you do plan your trip to Crystal River you will have to be sure to let us know :)

  • @AquariusTraveller

    @AquariusTraveller

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Explorcation You bet :)

  • @enlcoach2227
    @enlcoach22277 ай бұрын

    Thank you for your very informative video! Are there alligators if we go into the water now? Because we can’t kayak during this time, right?

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    6 ай бұрын

    There's always a possibility that you'll see an alligator or two. We've never seen one in Crystal River, but we know they are out there.

  • @TheBlacktulips
    @TheBlacktulips3 жыл бұрын

    Hey Jamie and Skylar, we took a long break from KZread and started to reach out to community again. Great to see you channel grow so much since I see it last time before you started to do beach reviews. Even though I am not looking for the information, I found it very relaxing watching this. Maybe this is the new genre? BTW that seafood gumbo looks awesome

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Great to have you back, guys. Yes, we had always planned on building up our local Florida beaches content, but when COVID hit, we had to focus on them a little more quickly than expected. We cannot complain one bit though, as we love exploring Florida beaches and all the other things our area has to offer.

  • @LeBoof
    @LeBoof3 жыл бұрын

    It's so crazy how much your channel has evolved since covid. But I do love seeing so many places here somewhat locally. Any cruises planned now that they are opening back up?

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much for the positive feedback! We had always planned on doing a lot of local content, but never would have thought we'd be doing almost entirely Florida content for over a year! But adapting is the name of the game, and we are fortunate to live in a place where there's so much to do within just an hour or two! We actually did just recently book a cruise. It's just a little 4-nighter our of Tampa in the fall, but we can't wait to get on a ship again. It will be very interesting to see what the post-COVID version of cruising looks like by then. How about you two? Any vacations planned?

  • @melainecampbell3398
    @melainecampbell3398 Жыл бұрын

    Loved your video! How were the mosquitoes?

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much, Melaine. We don't recall the mosquitos being a problem at all in Crystal River, although we did get bit up (quite badly) by yellow flies on the Weeki Wachee River the following day!

  • @TideKnotTravellers
    @TideKnotTravellers3 жыл бұрын

    It’s crazy how different the meaning of the word ‘biscuit’ is in the US to the UK. Biscuit and gravy had me so confused, to us those are very different to the pic you showed and definitely would never be found on the same plate together! 😂 Life in Florida with a paddle board looks so great, the Waterfront Tiki bar looked a great place to end the day🍻

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    So I had to google what an "English" biscuit was... definitely more of what we'd consider to be a cookie, or maybe like a combination of a cracker and a cookie? Either way, I agree that you would never want to mix it with gravy 😅

  • @dasauto75jh
    @dasauto75jh3 жыл бұрын

    Great video as usual. Audio was a little weird on the overlay. The S’s were hissing a bit much. My wife and I just moved to Florida and using your videos for inspiration on Saturday trips.

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    Welcome to Florida, and congrats on the move. And thank you SO MUCH for the feedback on the audio. We're always trying to improve our videos anywhere possible, and comments like these help us to do that! I do think a higher quality mic will be in our near future.

  • @AlexgamingYT293
    @AlexgamingYT2934 күн бұрын

    How mcuh time did it took you? It will take me 4 hours to go there

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    2 күн бұрын

    From where we live it's around an hour and 45 minute drive Thanks for watching.

  • @AlexgamingYT293

    @AlexgamingYT293

    2 күн бұрын

    Ok

  • @iceandflames
    @iceandflames Жыл бұрын

    I still prefer Hallandale Beach Florida more it’s a beautiful city with a growing communities and businesses and a good nightlife.

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    Жыл бұрын

    We're glad you like it there. One of these days we'll have to check it out. Thanks for watching.

  • @PoliticallyhomelessXX

    @PoliticallyhomelessXX

    9 ай бұрын

    Used to live there…it’s surrounded by rampant crime and degeneracy but hey different strokes for different folks.

  • @iceandflames

    @iceandflames

    8 ай бұрын

    @@PoliticallyhomelessXX it’s different city now and the beach area is amazing.

  • @PoliticallyhomelessXX

    @PoliticallyhomelessXX

    8 ай бұрын

    @@iceandflames well, if that’s the case, that’s great.

  • @gigi1332
    @gigi13322 жыл бұрын

    Would you consider living here?

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    2 жыл бұрын

    If we ever decided to leave St. Pete we would consider the Crystal River area. It is much less busy and has so much to do out in nature. thanks so much for watching!

  • @flacan2020
    @flacan20202 жыл бұрын

    why does it sound like you are talking to kids for the whole video?

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    2 жыл бұрын

    LOL not sure I have a good answer for you on that one Scott. Regardless, thanks for watching!

  • @Bailey5940

    @Bailey5940

    2 жыл бұрын

    Always a naysayer/Debbie downer on someone’s post. It’s usually someone that wouldn’t even know how to put the skill and technological effort into something like you have done! Great production and I wouldn’t change a thing on the narration! Kudos for making a very pleasant and informative travel blog!

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Bailey5940 thank you so much, I really appreciate your comment 🥰

  • @sophisticatednaturelovers9113
    @sophisticatednaturelovers911311 күн бұрын

    I just can't get past you calling them manadees.

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    11 күн бұрын

    LOL I know... we both always knew it's pronounced with a T and yet for some reason we just couldn't stop pronouncing them with a D. Jamie has fully transitioned over to the proper pronunciation now, but I (Skylar) still say it with a "D" once in a while.

  • @How2Beach
    @How2Beach3 жыл бұрын

    Another great tour. Y'all have been doing a lot of explorcationing. That looks like a great paddle. That "tiki" bar should get their tiki license pulled.

  • @Explorcation

    @Explorcation

    3 жыл бұрын

    It was a great little city to explore. And while we did really like the bar, we agree that just being on the water is not enough to qualify as a "tiki" bar.