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of the state’s prime scallop hubs, including Homosassa, Crystal River and Steinhatchee. No matter which location you choose, there are plenty of tour companies with guided excursions or, if you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you can comb through the sea grasses on your own time and dime. If you plan on finding your own scallop oasis, you’ll need a diver’s flag and a Florida saltwater fishing license, plus a sense of direction to hit it big. With your catch of the day you can whip up scallop stuffing, fried scallops or scallops on the half shell, but if you’d rather leave the cooking to the seafood experts, take your scalloping adventure to
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Horseshoe Beach down in Dixie County. The cooks at the town’s café will blacken or fry your bounty and serve it up along with sides. No matter what, when collecting scallops don’t put them in your pockets or bathing trunks — they pinch! www.flseagrant.org www.southerncrosses.com
NO WAKE ZONE – VISIT CRYSTAL RIVER Come face to face with Florida’s own gentle giants. Guided manatee tours, which Crystal River is famous for, occur year-round from a variety of local tour companies in Crystal River and the surrounding
area. Though the best time to see these creatures is during the winter months, most tours have a track record for spotting manatees on almost every tour. To ensure the safety of the manatee — an endangered species — tour companies let guests know the safety rules before they set off on their tour, including how to properly interact with the manatee (you can only pet the manatees if they approach you first) and how to properly swim when near manatees (you should float at the surface and avoid causing any disturbances in the water). www.crystalriverflorida.com www.sunshinerivertours.com