9 Best Things to Do in Homosassa, FL

By VI Staff on December 23, 2019

Homosassa is a lovely former fishing town located along the banks of Florida's Gulf of Mexico coast, home to the famed Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. The town is a paradise for nature and water sports enthusiasts, offering opportunities to snorkel alongside native populations of West Indian manatees and view animals such as American alligators in their natural habitats. Unique attraction Monkey Island preserves a habitat for spider monkeys, while nearby Little Tigertail Island is known as one of Florida's top seasonal holiday resort areas. Visitors can also attend the city's annual Homosassa Arts, Crafts, and Seafood Festival, held each year in November.

1.The Homosassa River

The Homosassa River is one of Western Florida's most gorgeous natural treasures, spanning 7.7 miles throughout Citrus County and flowing west into the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. The river is home to a lovely estuary habitat that provides an ecosystem for a plethora of native wildlife, including rare West Indian manatees, common bottlenose dolphins, nine-banded armadillos, and American alligators. Visitors can enjoy some of the state's best opportunities for canoeing and kayaking on the river throughout the year on its freshwater and saltwater areas, which are home to a wide variety of fish species for anglers to catch. The river is also known as a top spot for viewing manatees throughout the year due to its consistently temperate water conditions. Charming Monkey Island, located within the river near Homosassa's downtown district, is home to a small population of spider monkeys brought from nearby Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park.

2.Alpaca Magic USA

Alpaca Magic USA is one of Homosassa's most unique visitor attractions, opened in 1996 as a habitat for suri alpacas. The family-owned business, which is operated by Jean Riley and Kent and Doreen Mylin, has grown its alpaca population to approximately 20 animals today, which can be viewed for free seven days a week during the afternoon hours. Visitors can get up close and personal with animals for daily feedings and learn about care and keeping of alpacas from the facility's experienced staff. An alpaca-focused store sells a plethora of merchandise crafted from the animals' fur, including hats, sweaters, socks, and scarves. Alpaca yarn is also sold, along with needle felting supplies and other items for creating craft items from alpaca fur.

4920 W Grover Cleveland Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34446, Phone: 352-628-0156

3.River Safaris And Gulf Charters

River Safaris And Gulf Charters has offered excursions along Homosassa's Nature Coast since 1982, exploring the waters of the beautiful Homosassa River as part of guided pontoon and airboating tours. The company was originally founded to take tourists to the city's former Crow's Nest restaurant, which was located on an island within the river's pristine waters. Today, it has shifted its focus to offer narrated historic tours about the region's culture and ecosystems, with a focus on viewing native wildlife. Visitors can embark on guided manatee and alligator viewing excursions throughout the year, led by experienced tour guides. Airboat tours are also offered, along with private scalloping and fishing charter experiences for individuals and small groups. Visitors can also see the company's three American alligators, which are housed within an exhibit open to the public free of charge without tour ticket purchase.

10823 W Yulee Dr, Homosassa, FL 34448, Phone: 352-628-5222

4.River Ventures - Homosassa

River Ventures - Homosassa offer some of the best tourist experiences on Florida's Nature Coast, leading group tours on the Homosassa River and the Gulf of Mexico throughout the year. Visitors can enjoy unique wildlife tour excursions guided by experienced tour guides, including Pontoon of Privilege tours taking six participants at a time aboard a luxury pontoon boat for wildlife viewing opportunities. Houseboat tours are also offered, along with opportunities to snorkel among the region's West Indian manatee populations. Other tour options provide opportunities for scallop harvesting and chances to see the Gulf of Mexico from a new perspective aboard airboat tours. Tours last approximately three hours from start to finish, providing snacks and beverages for all participants, including beer and wine for adult tour participants.

10823 W Yulee Dr, Homosassa, FL 34448, Phone: 352-628-5222

5.Monkey Island

Monkey Island is a unique attraction within the beautiful Homosassa River, named for its current population of spider monkeys, which were transported to the location in the 1960s from nearby Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. The small island was entirely undeveloped until the mid-2oth century, when its terrain was dredged to create a picturesque landscape for a tourist attraction. Today, it is home to five spider monkeys that have free run of the island's lands. Though visitors cannot come directly ashore on the island due to its preservation as a wildlife habitat, its monkey population can be viewed as part of guided boat tours. Nearby, the Homosassa Riverside Resort offers excellent dining experiences for island visitors, serving up delicious American-style fare at the Monkey Bar and Grill.

6.Howard's Flea Market

Howard's Flea Market is Citrus County's largest flea market, offering more than 800 covered booth spaces and more than 43 acres of outdoor vendor space. The market, which was established in 1972, is overseen by Swap-O-Rama and offers wholesome, family-friendly shopping experiences for visitors throughout the week. It has been named as one of the Homosassa region's best attractions each year since 1996 by the Citrus County Chronicle, acclaimed for its delightful selection of high-quality vendors selling clothing, antiques, and home goods. Visitors can enter the market for free throughout the week and peruse its excellent selection of merchandise, which ranges from vintage jewelry and locally-crafted artisan goods to hard-to-find books, collectibles, and unique locally-produced pantry goods. Restaurants on site at the flea market serve up a variety of locally-crafted fare at breakfast and lunch.

6373 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34446, Phone: 352-628-3532

7.Little Tigertail Island

Little Tigertail Island is a charming oasis within the beautiful Gulf of Mexico near the city of Homosassa, named in honor of its native bird population of the same name. The island is known as one of Florida's top holiday tourist destinations outside of the Miami region and has been featured in a number of major motion pictures and television series throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. Its beautiful flat landscape is covered in low-lying bushes and flanked by miles and miles of pristine sandy beachfront, which offer safe swimming and water play experiences for visitors of all ages. Massive hotels and resorts line one side of the island, offering all-inclusive accommodations and luxurious amenities. Sea kayaking and beach volleyball are popular activities throughout the year on the island's stunning beachfront, which draws crowds of all ages throughout the year.

8.The Starting Gate Restaurant

The Starting Gate Restaurant is a delicious family-owned dining destination in Homosassa, serving up high-quality American fare at breakfast and lunch throughout the week. The restaurant is known for its creative eggs Benedict specials, which range from traditional American and Mexican varieties to clever artisanal selections like fried green tomato Benedicts topped with bacon. House specialties include creative omelettes, hearty breakfast burritos, and selections like fried green tomato BLT sandwiches served with breakfast potatoes and grits. At lunch, diners can pair house favorites like New York strip steaks, gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, and smoked sausage hoagies with servings of the restaurant's famed scratch-made blueberry cobbler.

10605 W Yulee Dr, Homosassa, FL 34448, Phone: 352-503-2076

9.Breakfast Station

Breakfast Station is a charming all-day breakfast and lunch restaurant chain offering more than a dozen locations throughout the Florida area, including a location in downtown Homosassa. The restaurant chain, which was founded in 1995 in Port Richey, specializes in high-quality, affordable American breakfast options served up in a lovely dining space with travel-themed decor. Diners can enjoy the restaurant's signature Railroad Yard omelettes throughout the day, which are prepared with three eggs and stuffed with delicious toppings like homemade chili, turkey, peppers, and Swiss cheese. Classic skillet breakfasts, Benedicts, and breakfast burritos are also served up, along with Southern-style favorites like chicken and waffles. At lunch, diners can choose from favorites like patty melts, quesadillas, and mushroom and Swiss burgers.

7781 S Suncoast Blvd, Homosassa, FL 34448, Phone: 352-503-2031