H eadlines
Crystal River, Florida: Tranquility Amid Manatees
least three days — and more
would be better. If you are
JEFF AND VIRGINIA ORENSTEIN |
short on time and just want
JE FEATURE
to swim with the manatees
and see whatever else a quick
Note: We recommend that getaway allows, then one or
travelers follow CDC guide- two days will give you a flavor
lines and check with each mode of the place.

of transportation and specific
venue of interest for current
information before traveling. Before You Go:
Check discovercrystalriverfl. • discovercrystalriverfl.com/
com/covid-19/before you go.

• fun2dive.com/
• fws.gov/refuge/crystal_
CRYSTAL RIVER IS the only
river/visit/plan_your_ place in the world where you
visit.html can swim with the manatees • divergenttravelers.com/
in their natural habitat and
crystal-river-florida-things- enjoy what Florida’s seacoast
to-do/ must have been a century or • visittheusa.com/experience/
more ago. It is a great place for
crystal-river-florida-guide- a getaway that is different from
manatees-scalloping- most Florida destinations.

and-outdoors. The Crystal River and
environs are on Florida’s Nature Getting There:
Coast and just an hour and a Crystal River can be reached
quarter’s drive from bustling, by highway, air or train.

modern Tampa. Traveling
that distance is almost like a • By car, Crystal River and
time warp, bringing you to a
the Florida Nature Coast
delightful oasis of southern
are along S.R. 98 which runs
hospitality and “old Florida”
north and south to the west
charm. Located on scenic and
of U.S. 41 and Interstate 75.

largely unspoiled Kings Bay • By air, Tampa International
and adjacent to the Crystal
Airport (TPA) is 74 miles
River National Wildlife Refuge,
distant, and Orlando
this off-the-beaten-path region
International (MCO) is 97
abounds with natural attrac-
miles away.

tions, as well as a generous • By train, Amtrak serves
Tampa. The station is 79
helping of new and old Florida.

miles away.

Downtown Crystal River
still exudes “old” Florida feel • The nearest cruise port is
Tampa, 78.5 miles to the
with kitschy shops and walkable
south. streets. Kings Bay itself is fed
by at least 70 springs and its
restored eel grass sea bottom Must-Sees and Dos for
attracts manatees year-round a Short Trip:
(many more in the winter) and • Visit Three Sisters Springs,
Crystal River National
is home to a thriving colony of
Wildlife Refuge.

bay scallops. Other bay attrac-
tions include spring diving in • Take a guided swim with
the manatees tour at the
crystal-clear water, kayaking,
Plantation Adventure
paddleboarding, fishing,
Center or other locations
boating, birding, hiking
• Visit the Inverness Depot
and golf.

District and walk the
If you like outdoor activities
Withlacoochee Trail.

and are looking for unique,
uncrowded experiences, we • Take an airboat ride with
River Safaris.

recommend that you plan at
T RAV EL
10 NOVEMBER 25, 2021
If You Have Several
Days: • Try your luck with fresh
and/or saltwater fishing
either inshore or deep sea.

• Visit Tarpon Springs and
experience the Florida
version of Greece.

• Explore Tampa’s museums
and attractions, 73 miles
distant. • Check out the theme parks
in Orlando, 87 miles away.

Ginny O’s Tips for
Dressing the Simply
Smart Travel Way
Crystal River:
One of the approximately 50 manatees that live in Kings Bay year-
round swims by our boat during our swim with the manatees boat tour
from the Plantation Adventure Center.
Photos by Jeff Orenstein
This is a relaxed and casual
resort area. There is no need to
dress up. Resort casual dress
for dining and appropriate
recreation wear is always good.

This Destination at a
Glance: Over 50 Advantage: Beautiful
waterscapes, relaxing “old
Florida” ambiance.

Mobility Level:
Low except for swimming with the
manatees or other water sports.

When to Go: Year-round.

May through September are hot
and sticky but a bit less crowded.

Winters are glorious, especially
November through March.

January can have some cool days.

Manatees are present year-round
but are most prevalent between
Thanksgiving and Easter.

Where to Stay: The
Plantation on Crystal River.

Great dinner at Katch
Twenty-Two in nearby Lecanto.

Special Travel Interests:
Manatees, natural springs and
water sports. l
Jeffrey and Virginia Orenstein
are travel writers from Sarasota,
Florida. Beautiful Kings Bay and its tributaries are ideal places to explore on a
stand-up paddleboard. Here, a local resident and her canine deckhand
enjoy the calm waters and balmy temperatures.

Kings Bay and its tributaries are a popular place to explore the
manatee-inhabited waters.

www.jewishexponent.com JEWISH EXPONENT
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



H eadlines
Jewish Crystal River
WHILE FLORIDA’S NATURE COAST and
Citrus County are not hotbeds of Judaic life, there
is still some Jewish presence in the region. There are
some clusters of Jews in the Villages, Leesburg and
Beverly Hills and larger concentrations of Jewish
life in Tampa and Orlando.

Citrus County developed slowly after the Civil
War. Early Jewish settlers included Philip Rubin
and his family, who moved to Crystal River from
Daytona Beach in 1929. Rubin owned a furni-
ture store and served three terms as the mayor
of Crystal River. The county did not experience
significant growth until the 1960s and had few Jews
in residence. However, when development finally
hit the county, it was largely catalyzed by a Jewish
businessman from New York, Sam Kellner.

Kellner bought 3,500 acres in interior Citrus
County in 1960, developed the cattle land, named
it Beverly Hills and built and sold homes to retirees
from the urban North, especially New York and
Detroit. It was a pioneer retirement-oriented planned
community in Central Florida. By 1968, a small
number of Jews lived there and founded the Beverly
Hills Jewish Center. By the 1970s, they began to call
themselves Congregation Beth Sholom and affiliated
with the Conservative movement.

Congregation Beth Sholom continued its activi-
ties into the 21st century, with regular services and
lifecycle events. The religious school operated until
at least 2002, and Rabbi Zvi Ettinger served the
congregation until approximately 2006. Another
small Jewish group, Chavurah Shabbat, also met in
the early 2000s, holding monthly Shabbat services
at members’ homes in Crystal River. Beth Sholom
is the only Jewish congregation in Citrus County at
present time.

Other synagogues include a Chabad Lubavitch
Jewish Center approximately 31 miles from Crystal
River in Ocala and Congregation B’nai Israel in
Gainesville, 54 miles away. There is no kosher food
available locally around Crystal River. l
— Jeff and Virginia Orenstein
Happy Chanukah!
Kings Bay is a popular place for boaters and water sports enthusiasts.

The busy docks at the Plantation Adventure Center are a popular
embarkation point along the Crystal River for fishing, scalloping and
manatee excursions.

from th e
www.jewishexponent.com The Tiki Bar at the Plantation on Crystal River is a place along the
Crystal River where hotel guests and boaters congregate.

JEWISHEXPONENT.COM JEWISH EXPONENT
NOVEMBER 25, 2021
11