The Vibe
The Paddletail Waterfront Lodge in Crystal River, Florida, is just 90 miles from Orlando but offers a relaxed, authentic “Old Florida” experience beyond the popular theme parks. Named for the wide, paddle-shaped tail of the manatees that frequent the area, the lodge has an on-site dive shop, swimming pool, hot tub and covered outdoor social area.
Historic fishing boats dot the landscape of the 113-room waterfront property. Rooms, located in a cluster of two-story buildings, open directly to the parking lot. Limited mobility guests should request a mobility-accessible room on the first floor. The spacious lobby serves as an anchor to the lodge, with comfortable lounge space, books on Florida history and a selection of games and puzzles for guests to use. My husband and I enjoyed the tabletop shuffleboard one rainy morning. Manatee sculptures and photos pay tribute to the large aquatic mammals that many guests come to see.
How I Felt
Relaxed. With aqua hues, seashell decor, wicker and marine accents, the lodge has a calming vibe and a modern, comfortable aesthetic. Water views, palm trees and pine groves contributed to the vacation-mode feeling.
The Digs
Our double room came with a mini-fridge and coffee maker, plenty of storage space and plantation-style shutters for a good, dark sleep. An easy chair, large TV and desk completed the spacious, clean room. The manatee photo above the bed continued the lodge theme.
The Agenda
Crystal River is the only place in America to swim legally with manatees in the wild, and the onsite Paddletail Waterfront Adventures arranges manatee tours, kayak rentals and sightseeing boat tours. Packages are available that include selected activities.
The center’s proximity to our room made it easy to be flexible when tour times changed due to the weather. Swimming with these gentle giants in Crystal River is an incredible experience, and we learned so much from the guide team about manatees, conservation and history. We went back the next day for a scallop diving tour, which took us out into the Gulf of Mexico to harvest warm-water bay scallops.
In between boat tours, we explored the shops downtown, walked the historic streets of Crystal River and visited Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, including a manatee observation area and nature trail.
The Eats
The lodge offers complimentary hot breakfast starting at 6 a.m., which is convenient for those heading out on early boat trips or other adventures. Coffee and tea are available in the lobby, along with a small sundries shop selling cold drinks and snacks. Perched over the water, the open-air Tiki Bar offers salads, sandwiches and fresh seafood baskets as well as tropical cocktails. They’ll also cook your catch if you’re lucky enough to reel in fish or scoop up scallops. The blackened scallops they prepared from our early morning catch were a highlight of the stay.
It’s an easy walk to Citrus Avenue, where we enjoyed fresh grouper at Bayside Seafood Grille. The Crab Plant, The Tipsy Tarpon and Cracker’s Bar & Grill are also within walking distance, serving fresh seafood and water views. Cattle Dog Coffee serves delicious coffee and fresh pastries, as well as breakfast and lunch.
Why I Would Go Back
Paddletail Waterfront Lodge, with comfortable, clean rooms and complimentary breakfast, is a convenient base for exploring Florida’s Nature Coast. The onsite adventure center, walking distance to restaurants and shops and proximity to the beach and natural springs would draw me back again.
Kirsten Harrington
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