Paddle and Snorkel with Manatees in Florida

IN A NUTSHELL:  Looking to get some sun and replenish the tan?  Cool.  Charlie and I have led trips in many disciplines over the years and would like to combine forces to offer this Presidents Day weekend trip.  Join us for some fun on the balmy Gulf coast of central Florida, an easy 6-hour drive from Atlanta.  We'll facilitate your hooking up with other AOCers to carpool down and back at your convenience.  Along with a variety of exciting optional adventures we'll have lots of time to kick back and relax - also opportunities to get together for some great group dinner parties, etc.  You can return home Sunday afternoon or stick around thru Monday (Presidents Day) if you can spare the time.

Our AOC trip fee includes two nights (Fri & Sat) accommodations at the lovely Port Hotel and Marina on the waterfront in Crystal River, FL - also our group use of two of the Marina's nice motorized pontoon boats for an unforgettable wild manatee encounter on Saturday morning. Check out the resort's website: http://www.PortHotelandMarina.com/  Aboard the boats we'll cruise to several beautiful clear springs where we can anchor and swim safely with the massive but gentle manatees - see above photo and www.SaveTheManatee.org/info.htm  Also included on our "To Do" list of exciting activity options (at our individual expense) are: one or more group paddling excursions, a visit to an incredible wildlife park, road biking, birding and more. 

The resort town of Crystal River, FL (70 miles north of Tampa) is a prime area for observing the endangered West Indian Manatee up close in its native habitat.  Each winter several hundred of these huge lovable mammals return to the clear coastal springs in and around Crystal River as a sanctuary from the colder offshore waters.  Like their friendly dolphin cousins many of the manatees enjoy close encounters with swimmers and boaters.  Charlie knows the area well, having planned and led numerous previous group diving & paddling trips to Crystal River and the nearby Homosassa, Chassahowitzka, and Rainbow River areas where there's such an amazing variety of natural beauty, aquatic recreation and exotic wildlife. 

FRIDAY TRAVEL & ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN OPTIONS:  You and your carpool party can drive down at your convenience at any time on Friday and check in at the Port Hotel resort as early as 3:00 PM or as late as you like Fri night if necessary.  Each hotel room has two double beds and rooms with a king bed may be available upon request.  If you don't already have a roommate your TLs will do their best to pair you up with a compatible AOCer of the same sex. (Your trip leaders may arrive early on Friday and paddle on a nearby river and you're welcome to join us, so if you're interested let us know.)  We'll “officially start” our AOC event at about 5:30 Friday afternoon by gathering for Happy Hour at the hotel Tiki Bar - join us there to relax with a cold one and watch the sun set over Kings Bay!  We suggest that all who have arrived by about 7:00 PM have dinner together in the hotel's highly rated "Crystal River Ale House" restaurant.

SATURDAY AM MANATEE ENCOUNTER:  It's important to get an early start so as to get the jump on other snorkelers and divers who can quickly silt up the clear springs where the wild manatees gather.  After an optional early breakfast we'll gather at the Port Hotel Dive Shop promptly at 8:00 AM where all who need to rent snorkeling gear and/or wetsuits can do so. (Those who arrive Fri at the hotel before the Dive Shop's closing time at 5PM can rent gear in advance at the same price.  Suggested Sat 6:30-7:30 AM Breakfast: "Grannie's Restaurant" - take hotel entrance rd to US-19/98, then right turn & just 1 block south.)
  We'd like to launch our group pontoon boats there in the Port Hotel Marina by the dive shop by 8:20 or so.  We’ll first visit the beautiful "Three Sisters Spring" about a mile by boat from the hotel - then the deeper "King Spring," just 200 yards out from our Hotel.  At both springs we're likely to enjoy up-close encounters not only with manatees but also with other wild aquatic critters including perhaps some huge tarpon and numerous other species of fish. We can use the pontoon boats for up to four hours, which should be plenty of time for cruising, relaxing on the boats, swimming in the springs, and snorkeling with the manatees.  It is legal to swim with these magnificent creatures in this Kings Bay area (provided they approach us) but illegal to harass them.  WE MUST RESPECT THIS PRIVILEGE.

SAT AFTERNOON WILDLIFE PARK VISIT:  Don't miss this exciting and convenient 3-hour activity option!  After returning our boat to the Hotel Marina we’ll take hot showers, change clothes and have lunch.  We hope you'll then join us (at about 2:00 PM) to caravan in our cars to nearby Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.  It's a gorgeous outdoor zoo and botanical gardens that Charlie and his other Crystal River groups have always enjoyed.  Here we can see more manatees up close - also observe and photograph hundreds of exotic birds, mammals, and other wild animals and learn about the park's world-famous rehab program for injured manatees, etc.  Our specially arranged group-rate entrance fee will be only $9 per person, a 30% discount!  Please bring cash to reimburse Charlie.  For more info: http://www.floridastateparks.org/homosassasprings/

Other possible activity options that might be squeezed in late Sat afternoon include renting a canoe or stand-up paddleboard from the Port Hotel Marina and exploring more of Kings Bay and its springs.  Another option is bicycling, weather permitting.  Consider bringing your bike on the trip if you can do so conveniently - Patrick may bring his.

SATURDAY EVENING: At about 6:00 PM We’ll gather again for happy hour (perhaps in a designated hotel room with our own "libations" & munchies) where we'll decide on a different restaurant for dinner.  "Crackers" (live entertainment and great seafood!) is recommended for Saturday and "Charlie's Fish House" for those of us who remain on Sunday.

SUNDAY OPTIONAL GROUP BREAKFAST & PADDLING:  Some of the group will be checking out of the hotel Sunday morning and loading your vehicles.  We suggest that before driving home you and your party have breakfast with us at a local restaurant and join us for at least 2 or 3 hours (or more if you like) of paddling on the lovely Chassahowitzka River.  The fee for renting kayaks or canoes will likely be no more than about $20 per person per outing.

OPTIONAL EXTRA DAY(S):   Keep in mind that Monday Feb 18 is Presidents Day, so you may wish to extend your stay an extra day at your own expense, as Charlie and I plan to do, and return to Atlanta on Monday.  If so, the Port Hotel resort can easily arrange (at your own expense) for you to remain in your same assigned room that extra night or two if you like - it's OK to delay that decision till after you check in.  They can also arrange to check you in a day or two early if you prefer and for you to keep that same room during our subsequent Fri-Sun (AOC-paid) stay.  Contact Charlie (Cott4Treks@aol.com) for more details about extending your stay on either end of our trip at the Port Hotel.

EXTRA-DAY ACTIVITY OPTIONS:  As mentioned above, those in our group who can arrive in the Crystal River area by Friday morning (as I, Patrick intend to) can consider a midday Fri group paddling option, perhaps into Kings Bay directly from the Port Hotel Marina. The marina has rental kayaks and standup paddleboards available for about $35 per boat. Also for those of us who can extend our stay at the Hotel an extra night and check out Monday (Presidents Day) we can do a nice excursion while en route home - see below.

MONDAY "RAINBOW RIVER" PADDLING OPTION while en route home: The beautiful spring-fed Rainbow River is directly on our route back to Atlanta.  Canoe and kayak rentals on the Rainbow are inexpensive - only about $20 per boat (for a 2-hour float) and can be shared by two.  We can do a very convenient paddle from the outfitter at KP Hole Park (just north of Dunnellon, FL) upstream 1.5 miles to the crystal clear headspring, then enjoy a leisurely float back downstream to the KP Hole dock.  It's fine to postpone your decision about doing this float - the outfitter expects to have plenty of rental boats available.

LOCATION & DIRECTIONS:  Our "home away from home" for the trip will be the Port Hotel and Marina on "Kings Bay" in the town of Crystal River, FL.  It's about 400 miles south of Atlanta (with normal traffic about a 6-hour drive) at the following address:

 16 SE Paradise Circle, Crystal River, FL

Click on the above red "Location Icon" for a detailed map and click on "satellite view" for a zoomable aerial view of the Port Hotel resort and its vicinity.

The resort's Dive Shop recommends this route to Crystal River from Atlanta:
Take I-75 South about 360 miles to Exit #350 in Ocala, FL, then drive SW about 40 more miles to Crystal River via FL-200, FL-491, County Rd 486, and FL-44. (Below are details of this route beginning at I-75 Exit #350.)

TO PORT HOTEL from I-75 SOUTH EXIT #350 in OCALA, FLORIDA: (from MapQuest)

1. At  I-75 South Exit #350 turn Right (SW) onto FL-200 (S/SW College Rd) and go 16.2 miles.
2. Turn Right onto N Lecanto Hwy S. (County Rd 491) and go 10.2 miles.
3. Turn Right onto W Norvell Bryant Hwy (County Rd 486) and go 3.9 miles.
4. Bear Right onto W Gulf to Lake Hwy(FL-44) and follow SR-44 for 2.4 miles to Crystal R, FL.
5. Turn Left onto US-19/98(Suncoast Blvd.) and go 1.0 mile.  (Look for RaceTrac & SunTrust Bank).
6. Just past SunTrust Bank turn Right onto SW Paradise Point Rd. and go 0.6 mile to its end.
7. Turn Left onto SE Paradise Cir W. and go just 0.1 mile to the Port Hotel Office parking lot. Our Friday room check-ins are guaranteed for 3:00 PM, but rooms may be available earlier.  Standard checkout time is 11:00 AM on Sun (or Mon if you arrange to stay the extra nite at your own expense).

LAT/LON COORDINATES for GPS: You Mobile-GPS users can augment the above directions by entering as your destination either the above Hotel address or the following Lat/Lon coordinates of the Hotel Office parking lot:  28.8825,-82.5923

As discussed in the event article we'll formally begin the event on Fri evening by gathering at about 6:00 pm in the Port Hotel's Tiki Bar followed by dinner in the resort's Ale House Restaurant. Any late night arrivals can meet us Sat AM at 8:00 at the Hotel's waterfront dive shop.

Your $90 AOC Trip Fee covers:

- Fri and Sat night accommodations (double occupancy) at the Port Hotel and Marina in Crystal River, FL. (Your Trip Leaders can assign you a compatible roommate if you need one).
- Your share of our Sat AM Pontoon Boats Group Rental (for the above-discussed "snorkeling with manatees encounter," including gas and tip.

PLEASE NOTE:  Any hotel charges outside our Fri & Sat night “official” stay are our individual parties' responsibility - not the AOC's.  Also, with the exception of our Sat group-use Pontoon Boats, expenses for activities, gear, meals, etc. are your own responsibility.
  You can pay individually with cash or a credit/debit card if you need to rent mask, snorkel, wet suit, kayak or canoe, stand-up paddleboard, etc. - also for wildlife park admission, group dinners, etc.

Full payment of your $90 trip fee is due to the AOC Treasurer by Fri Jan 25.  You may cancel your registration prior to your payment with no penalty.  After Jan 25 refunds will be granted only if an eligible AOC wait-listed member-applicant replaces you and pays in full.  If you apply for a refund and are so approved a $10 cancellation fee will apply.