# Site: explorida.com # URL: https://explorida.com # Generated: 2026-08-16 03:01:46 # Version: 1.2 # File Type: llms.txt # Total Pages: 27 --- ## Summers are for Scalloping in Florida! URL: https://explorida.com/summers-are-for-scalloping-in-florida/ What do you see when you close your eyes and picture the perfect summer vacation? Do you picture yourself swimming in salt water off the coastline of Florida? If not, you’re not doing it right!! Scalloping in Florida is a favorie summer past time! Do you know how much summer fun comes with scalloping? If not, you are really missing out!! Sunshine, salt water and scallops make up the best summer memories! Cruising out to the scallop grounds, donning your snorkel gear, and taking that initial dive for the delectable bay scallop is the best way to spend a sunny summer day! Citrus County, aka the Nature Coast, provides locals and tourists alike with some of the most fertile grass beds for recreational scallop harvest every year. As a matter of fact, the shoreline off the coast of Citrus County was recently deemed as “outstanding Florida Waters”  by Florida legislature!... --- ## How the Kings Bay Restoration Project Saved Crystal River URL: https://explorida.com/how-the-kings-bay-restoration-project-saved-crystal-river/ The greatest threat to the planet is the thought that someone else will save it . This was the mindset of a few dedicated citizens and business professionals on the Nature Coast who decided enough was enough!!  They set their sights on Crystal River… They were concerned for the health of a major Eco System in Citrus County, and joined forces to make a change! The whole world needs to know about it…. so keep reading! They called themselves  “Save Crystal River.”  Short, sweet, and straight to the point. Their goal was to save Crystal River, and that is exactly what they did. They set their sights on Kings Bay, aka the Crystal River National Wildlife refuge. An invasive algea had choked out all the healthy vegetation and left the bay desolate of marine life. ### Why is seagrass important? Aquatic vegetation, specifically seagrass, is extremely important to the health of our ecosystem. Where seagrass grows, it filters the water to help with its clarity.... --- ## Explorida Ranks Top 10 Bucket list Experience in the Globe! URL: https://explorida.com/explorida-ranks-top-10-bucket-list-experience-in-the-globe/ ### Explorida’s Great Traveler Reviews Land it a Place Among Travelers’ Favorites Trip Advisor, the worlds largest travel guidance program, has officially announced the 2022 Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” Award Winners for the top bucket list experiences across the globe. We are proud to announce that Swimming with Manatees at Explorida Adventure Center has made the cut! “Congratulations to the 2022 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Winners,” said Kanika Soni, Chief Commercial Officer at Tripadvisor. “The Travelers’ Choice Awards recognize the best in tourism and hospitality, according to those who matter most: your guests.” The Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” award is Trip Advisors highest recognition. The BOB Award is presented annually to those businesses that earn excellent reviews from travelers and are ranked in the top 1% of experiences worldwide.... --- ## Crystal River – Home of the Manatee! URL: https://explorida.com/crystal-river-home-of-the-manatee/ Have you ever heard of Crystal River, Florida? If you have, then you probably know it as the “Home of the Manatee.” If you haven’t, then you need to KEEP READING! Crystal River is located in Citrus County, which is about an hour north of Tampa and an hour and a half west of Orlando. Citrus County is revered as the manatee capital of the world, and rightfully so! Only in the waters of Citrus County, are you able to legally swim with manatee in their natural habitat! That’s right!! Swimming with manatees is a privilege that is uniquely ours. ### Nowhere else in the world are you able to come face to face with the Florida Manatee. In the coldest months of winter, you are guaranteed to encounter these majestic beasts in all Citrus County waterways. Nowhere else in Florida will you encounter more manatees than in the spring-fed waters of Crystal River, Homosassa and Chassahowitzka. Why, you ask?... --- ## Who are the real friends of manatees? URL: https://explorida.com/who-are-the-real-friends-of-manatees/ ### Swimming with Manatees has become increasingly popular over the last decade. This bucket list experience has garnered worldwide attention through social media and travel blogs globally. With the good, comes the bad. We realize that as we increase in popularity, what we do has become controversial. Rather than argue with those that misinform, we instead strive to educate the open minded. This is the perfect opportunity to explain the importance in what we do. Here are just a few of the things we want you to know about the ‘Manatee Industry’, straight from those of us who know it best. ### People who work with Manatees, LOVE Manatees Local waterways are at the heart of how many local families earn a living, but we could have chosen many different pursuits! We work with manatees because we love them! Seeing them in their natural habitat stirs our souls in a way that we wish to share with the world, and that is why we do what we do.... --- ## Home URL: https://explorida.com/ # Experience Explorida Swim with manatees in Crystal River, Florida Book now Explore our tours 5 STAR rated on Google & Trip Advisor with thousands of reviews and counting! ## Most Popular Tours ### Group Manatee Swim Tours Tours daily 3 hours Starting at $55 Max capacity of 10 Book Now Learn More ### Private Manatee Tours Tours daily 3 hours Starting at $420 Small to large group options Book Now Learn More ### Manatee Viewing Eco Cruise Tours Daily 1.5 hours Starting at $35 Max capacity of 13 Book Now Learn More ### The adventure starts here! Explore All Tours ## The adventure starts here! #### Step into an authentic Florida adventure with Explorida as your guide! There is no experience more authentic to Florida than meeting the Florida manatee! At Explorida, our manatee boat tours in Crystal River, FL, offer exactly that.... --- ## Things To Do URL: https://explorida.com/things-to-do/ # Discover Crystal River like never before --- ## About Us URL: https://explorida.com/about-us/ # Experience Explorida ## What is Explorida all about? ### We started off as just a couple of locals who were inspired by the privilege unique to Citrus County. When you can swim with manatees in your back yard, it is easy to take this privilege for granted – but, not for us. We quickly discovered a passion for sharing our privilege with others, and uncovered a passion for doing it the right way! Explorida is not only the largest and most comfortable tour facility in Crystal River, we are proud to feature one of the largest and most unique souvenir/gift shops. We couldn’t stop there, though. We sprinkled finishing touches through our shop that shine a light on our dedication to your experience. You will see this in our dedicated customer lounge, graciously spacious orientation area, our private climate controlled changing rooms, and our well maintained indoor restrooms. Gone are the days of being crammed in a small stinky dive shop like snorkeling sardines!!... --- ## Blog URL: https://explorida.com/blog/ # Education: The key to Conservation --- ## Contact Us URL: https://explorida.com/contact-us/ # Contact the Crew ## We're here for you Have questions? Call us or send us an email and we will get back to you as soon as possible! info@explorida.tours 545 N. Citrus Ave. Crystal River,FL 34428 --- ## Scallop Charters URL: https://explorida.com/scallop-charters/ # Explorida Scallop Charters ## Explore the real florida ### Spend your summer the right way… enjoying salty dives and sweet memories! Citrus County, also known as the Nature Coast, has provided locals and tourists alike with some of the most fertile grass beds for recreational scallop harvest every year and has rightfully earned its designation as the #1 scalloping spot on Florida’s coastline! Let Explorida serve you the most authentic Florida experience yet! Hop aboard our USCG–certified vessel and join your captain on this scenic scallop charter trip from Crystal River, FL, to the Gulf of Mexico!! In addition to your master captain, you will be paired with an expert in-water guide who will be there to assist every step of the way, for no additional cost. Your guide will scallop along with you to contribute to your haul and help you get as close to limit as possible!... --- ## Manatee Swim Tours URL: https://explorida.com/manatee-tour/ # Manatee Swim Tours ## Crystal River - Manatee capital of the world ### Join us to embark on one of the most memorable experiences of a lifetime Citrus County is revered as the manatee capital of the world, and swimming with manatees is a privilege that is uniquely ours. Get up close and personal with the Florida manatee on this three- hour, swimming with manatees tour in the federally protected waters of Florida’s Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. Our Manatee swim tours offer the flexibility to book with (no more than 10) others on a group tour, or you can reserve a private manatee swim tour and keep the boat all to yourself! This tour is offered daily, year-round, so book now for your chance to meet our gentle giants and take home memories that will last forever! ## The Explorida Experience ### For this once in a lifetime trip – Experience Explorida! Your manatee swim tour begins and ends at our full service facility.... --- ## FAQs URL: https://explorida.com/faq/ # Frequently Asked Questions We started off as just a couple of locals who were inspired by the privilege unique to Citrus County..… swimming with the manatees! We realized our desire to share this privilege with others, and uncovered a passion for doing it the right way! We truly believe wildlife encounters have a legitimate place in education. We are proof that close-up encounters inspire more than a picture or a memorable story. When done responsibly these encounters can be a life-changing experience, and create other like-minded individuals who wish to be respectful of Mother Earth and her inhabitants. We commit to delivering our visitors the best nature encounters in the most sustainable way. Locally owned AND operated, we care deeply about our community and the future of our wildlife encounters. We thrive off our desire to educate all visitors and hope to inspire the inner nature lover of each person that steps foot through our door.... --- ## Explore All Tours URL: https://explorida.com/discovery/ # Uncover Florida's natural wonders ### Group Manatee Swim Tours Tours daily 3 hours Starting at $55 Max Capacity of 10 Book now Learn more ### Private manatee swim Tour Daily 3 hours Starting at $420 Small to large group options Book now Learn more ### Manatee Viewing Eco Cruise Tours daily 1.5 hours Starting at $35 Max capacity of 13 Book now Learn more ### Scallop charters Offered Seasonally | July - Sept. Combo Tours Available Max Capacity of 14 on One Boat Offered Private Only Book now Learn more --- ## 404 Error, content does not exist anymore URL: https://explorida.com/404-error-page/ # ERROR 404 - NOT FOUND // You may have mis-typed the URL, // Or the page has been removed, // Actually, there is nothing to see here... << Go back to home page >> --- ## Cart URL: https://explorida.com/cart/ ## You may be interested in… ## Your cart is currently empty! ## New in store --- ## Shop URL: https://explorida.com/shop/ # Explorida Merch --- ## Manatee Viewing Eco Cruise URL: https://explorida.com/manatee-viewing-eco-cruise/ # Explorida Manatee Viewing Eco Cruise ## Immerse yourself in nature, ABOVE the water’s surface! ### Join us for the best manatee viewing in Crystal River, all while staying dry! For the majority of the year, it is difficult to see manatees in Crystal River from shore, as they constantly move about our waterways searching for food.. but not with Explorida! On our manatee boat tours, we offer up the best manatee viewing in Crystal River, year round, all while staying dry! Join this Manatee viewing eco cruise to pair with one of our expert Master Captains who are trained to find manatees on your manatee boat tour, even in the offseason!! Our master captains and will deliver the best manatee tour in Crystal River, FL—every time. ## Tour King's Bay in style ### For this once in a lifetime trip – Experience Explorida! The Explorida manatee boat tour is the best way to see Crystal River.... --- ## 4OC- SEA TURTLE SM URL: https://explorida.com/product/4oc-sea-turtle-sm/ NO LONGER STOCKING NO REORDER LEVEL UPDATED --- ## CS Albert pin URL: https://explorida.com/product/albert-enamel-pin/ albert the confused manatee pin --- ## PZ OTTER 18 IN URL: https://explorida.com/product/pz-otter-13/ 18" (48cm) Sea Otter & Starfish SKU 316130 --- ## AR TEE STRAW HAT - 2 URL: https://explorida.com/product/ar-tee-straw-hat-2/ MOMBBY --- ## Color Florida Book URL: https://explorida.com/product/colrng-book/ COLORING BOOKS FOR ADULTS AND KIDS --- ## AZ TEE TOWEL URL: https://explorida.com/product/az-tee-towel/ 30 X 60 FLORIDA MANATEE TOWEL sales@atoztowels.com 8375 NW 30TH TERRACE DORAL, FL 33122 --- ## IA FIDGET TEE URL: https://explorida.com/product/ia/ Manatee Bubble Pop Fidget Toy --- ## PZ BRIGHTEYE TEE URL: https://explorida.com/product/pz-big-eye/ 10" (25cm) Bright Eye Manatee PZ SKU 406633 --- ## AZ cabana towel URL: https://explorida.com/product/az-cabana-towel/ Striped cabana towels in multi color ---