Florida Town Made HGTV List For Most Charming Towns In America
Everybody knows Florida to be one of the biggest vacation destinations in the country. Most people associate Florida with beaches and Disney World, but Florida is much more than that. Crystal River, Florida recently made the HGTV list for most charming towns in America. Crystal River is one of those spots Florida residents know all about, but stays more of a hidden gem from the rest of the world.
HGTV decided to put together their list of the 50 most charming towns in America and we had to take a look. Now, they don’t exactly tell us how they came about choosing these specific destinations. Was it travel records? Personal experience? Whatever it was, the Florida spot on the list for most charming towns in America is Crystal River.
What makes Crystal River one of the most charming towns in America?
If you’re not familiar with Crystal River, it is the only place in the United States you can get up close and personal with manatees. Often referred to as “sea cows”, you’ll find between 500-1000 manatees that migrate to these waters for warmer temps during the winter. With a trained guide, you can swim with these creatures in crystal clear water making for a once in a lifetime experience.
If you don’t want to swim with the manatees, you’ll also be able to see these creatures while kayaking, paddle boarding, or hiking Three Sisters Springs. Here you will find a boardwalk across the 75 acres to see over 100 species of bird and other wildlife. Just a short drive from Crystal River is Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park. Here you’ll dive straight into Florida’s wildlife by walking the surface to see various animals including black bears, alligators, whooping cranes, the endangered Florida Panther, and much more. If you want to take a dive beneath the surface, they have an underwater viewing area to catch the aquatic life in their natural habitat. You’ll see flamingos, various fish species, and even the world’s oldest captive hippo.
Crystal River, Florida is just a short drive away from the beaches along the nature coast. If you’re looking for a truly unique experience, Crystal River is anything but ordinary. To catch the full list of HGTV 50 most charming towns in America, click here.
Tourist Traps: Here Are Florida's 5 Most Overpriced Attractions
Universal Studios
The first Florida destination to land on USA Today’s list (#44 out of 100) is Universal Studios. They mentioned that in over 127,000 reviews, 1,628 of them mention “expensive”. If you love roller coasters, superheroes and Harry Potter, we think Universal is definitely worth the trip! It helps that locals get hooked up with the Florida resident discount. But those from out-of-state are coughing up $175 for a 1 day-2-park ticket. And that doesn’t include hotel costs, food, drinks, and souvenirs.
Busch Gardens Tampa
Number #49 on the list is Busch Gardens Tampa… This is where we disagree with USA Today’s list. We think Busch Gardens is one of the more family-friendly and affordable attractions in Florida. Not only do you get to experience some of the best roller coasters in the country, but you can also get close and learn about various wild animals. Normally, a single day ticket will cost you about $140, but you can get one now for $85!
Tampa’s premiere theme park for more than 60 years.
Disney World
The last Florida attraction to make it on USA Today’s list is Disney World. Tickets to experience the magic of Disney only keep increasing as they continue to improve the parks. Annual pass prices increased by $30 to $50 on Wednesday 10/11, and parking passes increased by $5. Depending on the park, you could spend up to $170 for a single ticket and $236 for a park-hopper pass. And that’s just if you’re a Florida resident. Tickets are even more expensive if you live out-of-state. Many call Disney a tourist trap because of all the hoops you have to jump through just to experience some of the parks attractions. You can also expect there to ALWAYS be a large crowd, even during the hottest days of summer.
