Manatee mania grows acute as you close in on Crystal River.
It's possibly the most manatee-dependent economy in Florida. Billboards plastered along Highway 19 tout differing manatee experiences but two stand out: the manatee tour at Plantation Inn on Crystal River and neighboring Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park (see story).
The manatee tour allows the unusual-even-in-Florida opportunity to legally swim and interact with literally hundreds of sea cows. After a short "manatee manners" video designed to avoid having someone go bareback or perform other no-nos on the gentle giants, tour goers are fitted with wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins.
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Manatee mania grows acute as you close in on Crystal River.
The three-hour tour stops twice at hot spots frequented by manatees in winter. It's a guaranteed marvel.
Back at the refurbished Plantation Inn, guests are treated to an affordable first-class experience on immaculate grounds. The two-story bungalow-style rooms are light and airy with views of Kings Bay and Crystal River. The rooms have great beds, flat screen TVs and heavy drapery capable of turning a brilliant Florida afternoon into a nap-worthy dark room at the tug of a drawstring.
Room costs are under $100, even in-season, which reflects more the Florida horse country economy than the value of the stay. Service was impeccable throughout the grounds.
Fact Box
Editor's Note: Gasparilla Magazine Joy Rides spotlight attractions within driving distance of Gasparilla Island. This month's visit is to the Plantation Inn on Crystal River.
And the food. Oh, the food.
Had lower-level expectations coming into the first meal at the Plantation Inn's West 82 Degrees Restaurant but was quickly disabused of those under-achieving notions.
The West 82 Degrees Restaurant, with a casually romantic ambiance highlighted by spectacular sunsets, has a menu noted for grouper and Cajun shrimp and grits. It was only half-filled during our Thanksgiving weekend visit.
The meal started with a delightfully crusty, hot rosemary breadbasket it took discipline not to fill up on.
We regretfully bypassed the short yet impressive wine list, which combined Pacific Coast vineyards with bottles from Argentina, Spain, New Zealand and Italy. The reason: An impending 6 a.m. wakeup call for the manatee tour meant we wanted to be sharp.
Appetizers arrived promptly: an unconventional seafood ceviche chilled under a thick sauce and perfectly seared crab cakes stuffed with its namesake and served with a delightfully zingy chipotle sauce.
Sous Chef Patrick Kelly, 32, came out with the entres, which arrived promptly after appetizers were gone. He also sent out a serving of the superlative thumb-sized shrimp and grits, which won over a food fan who had never enjoyed grits before.
Kelly, a Grand Rapids, Mich., native, has been there less than a year along with executive Chef Eric Smith but they have already established The West 82 Degrees Restaurant as a dining destination.
The richly sauced seafood linguini was loaded with shrimp and scallops and topped with a large lobster medallion. An outstanding meal at $23.
The shrimp and filet mignon was tender and juicy, done to perfection, with crisp asparagus spears grilled to smoky goodness, along with whipped potatoes. A little pricier at $35 but worth every cent.
All at the table were too filled by then to order $4 to $5 desserts such as strawberries and cream, chocolate bread pudding, vanilla crme brule, Key lime pie, warm fudge brownies or mango sorbet. We enjoyed a to-go bag of the tasty brule and Key lime pie later in the room.
Bypassed the cognac, cordials and coffee drinks, too, in preparation for the early morning manatee tour. Wanted to be fresh.
Unfortunately, it was 32 degrees outside the next morning so we bypassed swimming with the sea cows and our dining discipline went for naught. Our tour guide later said at least 15 people braved the unseasonable chill.
"Must be Canadians," someone was heard to mutter.
The unseasonable cold snap didn't deter from the visit, however, as the Plantation Inn on Crystal River delivered in all the important ways possible.
