Kings Bay is the spring-fed estuary at the centre of Crystal River — a shallow, warm bay fed by more than 70 individual spring vents that collectively pump out millions of gallons of 72°F water daily. The bay is the primary gathering point for West Indian manatees in winter, and on a good morning in January or February you might see dozens of them: big, slow, unbothered creatures drifting through the clear water or surfacing every few minutes to breathe.
Outside of manatee season, Kings Bay is excellent for kayaking, paddleboarding, and fishing. The bay connects to a network of rivers and tidal channels that can be paddled for hours without crossing the same water twice. Scalloping — wading the shallow seagrass beds with a mask and snorkel to hand-collect bay scallops — opens in July and draws crowds of locals who have been doing it for generations.