Local guide
An Old Homosassa day, planned for you
Old Homosassa is a historic waterfront community on Florida's Nature Coast. Here is how to spend a day on the river without missing the parts that make it worth the drive.
The place
Why people come to Old Homosassa
Old Homosassa is a historic and picturesque waterfront community in Citrus County, Florida. It has a strong connection to fishing — commercial boats and recreational anglers share the river — and it sits where the Homosassa River meets the Gulf of Mexico.
Boating, scalloping, kayaking, eco river tours and paddle boarding are all popular here, and the river is clear enough to see manatees from the boat. The community also has waterfront restaurants and bars serving fresh seafood with a view, a calendar of local festivals, and a laid-back waterfront lifestyle that has not changed much in decades.
Visitors come for a blend of history, nature and slow water: the wildlife at Homosassa Springs, fishing along the river, the local arts scene and the old Florida charm of a town that still works for a living.
Morning: get on the water
Start with the river while it is quiet. In winter, that means a manatee swim — three hours with a wetsuit, mask and snorkel, floating in the springs where the manatees gather. In summer, it means a scallop charter into the Gulf, where the grass flats are thick with bay scallops from July through September.
If you have less time, the one-hour eco cruise covers the springs, Monkey Island and the river's wildlife before lunch.
Afternoon: the Gulf or the town
After a morning on the water, Old Homosassa is best seen slowly. Pick up an electric golf cart and follow the 25 mph roads along the river to the seafood shacks, the shops and the springs, as far as the Old Homosassa Water Tower. It is the way locals get around, and it saves you hunting for parking at every stop.
Evening: waterfront dinner
The restaurants and bars along the river serve fresh seafood and local dishes with a view of the water. Arrive before sunset, sit outside, and watch the boats come back in. It is the reason most people come back to Old Homosassa a second time.
Practical notes
- Our trips leave from the marina at Monkey Island Riverside Resort, 5297 South Cherokee Way.
- Arrive 10 minutes before departure — the boat leaves on time.
- Bring sunscreen, a hat and water. Wetsuits, snorkels and fins are provided on the trips that need them.
- Online booking closes 12 hours before departure; call for same-day seats.
Start your Old Homosassa day at the marina
Book a morning on the river and a cart for the afternoon.