Blake Walsh

15 Best Things to Do in Homosassa, FL

  • Published 2021/12/08

The town of Homosassa on Florida’s western coast is perfectly nestled along the famous Gulf of Mexico, making it a wonderful destination for waterborne activities.

It’s a census-designated community in Citrus County with a population of roughly 3,000 people who thrive on the riches brought by the 7.7-mile Homosassa River.

Despite its quaint appeal, this fishing town is widely known across Citrus County as a perfect destination for sports fishing and boat cruises.

If you’re searching for a place in Florida that’s not too mainstream like the Everglades, Disney World, or Miami, Homosassa is the perfect place to be.

There’s a plethora of exciting stuff you can do in Homosassa, like visiting its state parks, such as the Yulee Sugar Mill and Springs Wildlife State Parks, where you’ll get up close with the gentle manatees.

Not to take this long, here is a list of the 15 best things to do in Homosassa, Florida:

Cruise on the Scenic Homosassa River

View of Scenic Homosassa River

TRE Wheeler BA (Hons) / Shutterstock.com

The townsfolks of Homosassa are very proud of having one of Western Florida’s most beautiful natural attractions, the Homosassa River.

The entire river system spans about 7.7 miles across Citrus County and ends on the Gulf of Mexico.

This beautiful river is an estuary of dozens of native wildlife and ecosystem, including, of course, the famous manatees.

View of Scenic Homosassa River

Malachi Jacobs / Shutterstock.com

Also, bottle-nose dolphins, American alligators, nine-banded armadillos, flamingos, and other animals thrive on this river system.

Aside from boat cruising along the river, you can also enjoy kayaking or canoeing throughout the entire year.

Furthermore, the Homosassa River is a perfect place for anglers to catch exotic fish.

You can coordinate with numerous companies offering tours and boat cruises for waterborne activities on the Homosassa River.

Spend the Night at the Resort Campground

If you’re bringing your recreational vehicle with you and want a place to park it and camp for the entire night, Resort Campground, located at 10359 West Halls River Road, is the perfect place to be.

The campground covers more than 97 acres of secluded space and provides campers and visitors direct access to the famous Gulf of Mexico.

It has a very convenient and spacious RV site with a concrete pad and hookups and other amenities like electricity, clean water, and cable TV.

If you feel about spending the night outdoors with your loved ones in your RV, head to the Resort Campground and enjoy its peaceful atmosphere.

Explore the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

View of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

It would be best if you head first to the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, located at 4150 S. Suncoast Blvd, for a fitting introduction to what this town offers to its visitors.

Aside from being the town’s top attraction, the state park serves many purposes in protecting animals and the environment.

View of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

It’s where you’ll come across manatees who are taken care of by dedicated people for their rehabilitation.

Several manatees are currently recovering in the state park, which you can visit and get up close to them.

These endangered mammals are seen at the state park’s floating observatory, which lets you traverse underwater and watch other marine creatures there.

View of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Furthermore, the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park is home to numerous animals like red wolves, black bears, and bobcats.

To visit the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park, it opens from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm.

View of Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Hike Along the Salt Marsh Trails

One of the entrances to the scenic Salt Marsh Trails is the Crystal River Wildlife Refuge Complex Trailhead, which is about a mile south of Homosassa’s town center.

Locals and visitors widely know this place as a perfect hiking destination in Homosassa.

It has a compact network of scenic trails where you can come across local wildlife in the town.

Visiting this place every morning and late evening allows you to glance at the local wildlife, such as birds and mammals.

To visit this popular trail in Homosassa, it is at S Mason Creek Rd & S Westview Dr. Homosassa, FL.

Shop ‘til You Drop at the Homosassa Square

If you want to resupply yourself while you’re in Homosassa, head to Homosassa Square, the top shopping destination in town.

It’s a one-stop shopping center in Homosassa, widely known for its bang for the buck items and customer-friendly service.

It offers you clothes, food, essentials along with premium items from more than a dozen shops.

If you’re also planning to buy exciting gifts for your loved ones back home, Homosassa Square is the perfect place to find one.

This shopping center is at 4500 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL, and it opens from 9:30 am to 8 pm daily.

Pay Tribute to the Men and Women in Service at the Old Homosassa Veterans Memorial

View of Old Homosassa Veterans Memorial

Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Homosassa has a place where you can pay tribute to the war veterans and the men and women in service at the Old Homosassa Veterans Memorial.

The place along Yulee Drive and S. Willard Avenue is where most locals gather every Veterans Day and Memorial Day annually.

View of Old Homosassa Veterans Memorial

Holly Guerrio / Shutterstock.com

The memorial’s focal point is the two life-sized statues of soldiers that flank the American flag along with the plaque, which mentions all of the names of the Purple Heart recipients.

Since this place is highly accessible, it would also be great to drop by and take photos and honor those who served and died with the armed forces.

View of Old Homosassa Veterans Memorial

Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Explore Homosassa and the Gulf of Mexico With its Gulf Charters and River Safaris

Like what was mentioned above, most of Homosassa’s activities are waterborne.

It means most of the time, you’ll find yourself onboard a boat or rowing a kayak along its majestic river or the Gulf of Mexico, which is a few kilometers away from the town.

Most of the charters and river safaris in Citrus County are based in Homosassa, so you shouldn’t miss this kind of activity there.

They offer you the best excursions to explore the entire Homosassa River system and the Gulf of Mexico.

You can choose from the fast-moving airboats for added adventure or the standard-sized boats for a more relaxing exploration.

There are a lot of companies you can book in Homosassa for river safaris and gulf charters.

They would gladly take you on an exciting tour while narrating information about the places you pass by and the animals you encounter.

Discover the Monkey Island

View of Monkey Island

ChrisNovak, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

You heard it right—Homosassa has a real Monkey Island.

It is home to several spider monkeys who have lived there for years.

The Monkey Island is nestled along the Homosassa River, near the center of the town.

This small island has been an attraction in Homosassa since the 1970s.

However, visitors are prohibited from coming directly to the island to preserve the monkeys’ natural habitat.

Instead, visitors can take pictures of the monkeys on their chosen river safari tours in the distance.

Nearby the Monkey Island, specifically on the mainland, there is a restaurant and grill billed as “Monkey Bar and Grill” that offers American comfort food which you can try.

Treat Yourself With Delicious Food at Marguerita Grill

Homosassa has many excellent restaurants, and food shacks that offer delicious food, one of them is the Marguerita Grill at 10200 W Halls River Rd.

Perhaps, it’s one of the top places to eat American comfort food that is fried, broiled, or grilled.

Furthermore, they have a wide array of seafood on their menu.

Their freshly grilled octopus, shrimps, American classics like Buffalo wings, and exotic food like gator bites, are all a must-try.

The Marguerita Grill starts serving from 12 noon to 9 pm; they are closed every Wednesday.

Experience Cuban Cuisine at the Museum Café

Cuban food is very popular across Florida; that is why you shouldn’t miss trying some of its signature dishes when you’re in Homosassa.

If you’re looking for a Cuban restaurant in Homosassa, look for the Museum Café at 10466 W Yulee Dr, Homosassa, FL.

They are popular for their great Cuban dishes, both flavorful and affordable.

Don’t miss out on trying their rice and black beans, Lechon, Cuban sandwich, roast pork sandwich, as well as their moors and Christian rice.

Museum Café, as its name suggests, has a museum-inspired dining area with lots of vintage and antique collections.

To try their delicious Cuban food, Museum Café is open from 10 am to 3 pm, but they’re closed every Sunday.

Score Some Rare Finds at the Howards Flea Market

View of Howards Flea Market

Holly Guerrio / Shutterstock.com

You shouldn’t miss Citrus County’s most extensive flea market, the Howards Flea Market, which features more than 800 booths occupying a vast 43-acre outdoor space.

The flea market, which has been open since 1972, allows you to buy unique finds that you won’t find in malls.

It has a wide array of good-quality products, such as homewares, clothing, furniture, toys, shoes, and antiques.

Plus, the flea market has more than a dozen food stalls that offer local favorites served from breakfast to lunch.

To visit the Howards Flea Market, it is at 6373 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL, and it’s open every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7 am to 4 pm.

Enjoy Delicious Seafood at the Nauti Time Seafood N Wings

The Nauti Time Seafood N Wings is a well-known outdoor dining restaurant at the historic Homosassa Water Tower.

The restaurant offers a menu that mainly focuses on fresh local seafood such as lobsters, shrimps, crabs, and fish.

They are known for their freshly grilled prawns, lobster sandwiches, shrimp tacos, fresh ceviche, and other delicious food items.

If you want delicious food in a cozy outdoor vibe, the Nauti Time Seafood N Wings is the best place for you to go.

To dine at the Nauti Time Seafood N Wings, it is at 10317 W Yulee Dr., and they are open daily except on Tuesdays from 11 am to 4 pm.

Hike Along the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park

View of Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park

Norm Lane / Shutterstock.com

If you’re a history buff, don’t miss visiting Homosassa’s Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park, which offers you more than 5,000 acres of land to explore.

This former sugar plantation was converted into a state park by a member of the Territorial Legislative Council; Davy Levy is where you’ll find most of Citrus County’s history.

View of Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park

Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It has old remnants of the old sugar plantation, such as cane presses, limestone chimneys, iron gears, and other old harvesting equipment.

Back in the day, the sugar plantation and its mill were an important source for Confederate troops during the Civil War.

To visit the Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park, it is at Co Rd 490, Homosassa, FL.

View of Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park

Norm Lane / Shutterstock.com

Buy Rare Antiques at the Comanche Moon Curious

If shopping for antique items is somewhat part of your itinerary, head to the Comanche Moon Curious at 1821 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL.

This store has an entire building featuring rare antique collections in Homosassa.

You can find antique furniture pieces, jewelry, painting, ceramic wares, and vintage miniature cars that you won’t find anywhere else.

Furthermore, the locals have widely known the place to have the most extensive Coca-Cola product memorabilia.

If you want to buy antique wares that you can bring back home, visit the Comanche Moon Curious, which is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 11 am to 6 pm.

Go Out for Sports Fishing

Sports fishing is a waterborne activity you shouldn’t miss when you’re in Homosassa.

This small town is one of Florida’s best destinations for this kind of outdoor sport, which promises you an unforgettable experience regardless of your angler skill level.

The town is home to more than a dozen fishing charter and boat cruise companies that offer sports fishing tours.

These companies offer you fishing tours around the Gulf of Mexico where you can catch huge fishes like Pompano, Mahi-mahi, Groupers, Sea Trout, Redfish, Halibut, Mackerel, and a lot more.

Final Thoughts

Homosassa always has something special because of its natural beauty and wildlife.

Until today, you can come across its local wildlife like the manatees, dolphins, and alligators roaming freely and unharmed on its rivers.

It shows how much the community in Homosassa takes care of mother nature.

So, in return, this town remains one of Western Florida’s most excellent tourist destinations.

Certainly, many great things for you to discover in Homosassa.

When you’re ready to head there, don’t forget to include the places listed in this post on your itinerary.

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