Cedar Key Florida Attractions

Cedar Key is one of Florida's oldest ports. The first Florida railroad connected Fernandina on the Atlantic Ocean to Cedar Key on the Gulf of Mexico and enabled the easy transport of seafood and timber products to the northeast coast of Florida. The railroad is gone, but the town of Cedar Key cherishes its history which can be explored at the Cedar Key Historical Society in Cedar Key's downtown area and at the Cedar Key Museum State Park on S.W. 166th Court in Cedar Key, Florida.

Known as a "haven for artists, photographers, and writers", Cedar Key's unspoiled environment is inspirational to the many who come to the island to explore the Nature Coast's extraordinary beauty. The thousands of visitors who come to Cedar Key each year enjoy the Cedar Key Arts Festival (Old Florida Celebration of the Arts), the best fireworks display on the Fourth of July, and October's Annual Cedar Key Seafood Festival. It's for these reasons and the friendly people of Cedar Key that it finished in the top ten for America's Coolest Small Town contest by Budget Travel.

Cedar Key's Nature Attractions

Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge

The Cedar Keys NWR is comprised of a group of restricted access islands in the Gulf of Mexico. Seahorse Key contains a major seabird rookery and a lighthouse which is documented as Florida´s highest coastal elevation. View more info about Cedar Keys, FL National Wildlife Refuge.

Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve

The Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve offers a unique scrub habitat with excellent birdwatching and walking trails. It's located on the mainland, about 7 miles off island.

Cedar Key Museum State Park

The Cedar Key Museum State Park was established in 1962 and dedicated to St. Clair Whitman who operated the first museum in Cedar Key. The museum has sea shells and Indian artifacts collected by Mr. Whitman. Also on site is Mr. Whitman's home restored to reflect life in the 1920s. A treat for history buffs!

Shell Mound Park

The Shell Mound Unit of Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. Featuring a prehistoric Indian mound and nature trail, Shell Mound offers wildflowers, hiking trails, great bird watching, camping, a boat ramp, and picnicking.

Manatee Springs State Park

A Florida first magnitude spring, offers diving, swimming, picnicking, boat ramp, canoe rentals, and an elevated boardwalk through primordial cypress wetlands into the historic Suwannee River.

Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge

A new 40,000 acre refuge, offers nature driving and hiking trails for wildlife observation and photography and access to the famous Suwannee River.

Friends of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges

Visit the web site for Friends and Volunteers of Cedar Key and Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuges to see what sort of special activities and talks are planned for each month highlighting the two refuges and the Cedar Key area's natural offerings. Also find out what opportunities are available for volunteering.

Waccassassa Bay State Preserve

A 31,000 acre limited access preserve between Yankeetown and Cedar Key offers access to canoeists and campers for both freshwater and saltwater fishing, photography and historic site exploration.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey

Located in Maitland, Florida, the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is an urban environmental nature center that specializes in the rescue, medical care, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured and orphaned raptors (birds of prey).

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