Cedar Key- Where Time Stands Still

Cedar Key, Florida

Where time stands still

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Imagine a place...

Where all your cares melt like a sunset on the horizon.

Find your own slice of paradise...

Welcome to Cedar Key.  

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Imagine a place where you can have a private island getaway, without going back in time!

Enjoy watching rarely seen tropical birds glide overhead in the freshly painted sunset that seems to melt into the gentle Gulf waters.

Take an early boat ride and see dolphins, shorebirds, even bald eagles. Unwind in the lounge chair and catch some rays while listening to your favorites. Spend some time at the Tiki Bar or have a classy dining experience by the ocean.

Enjoy a little bit of island paradise right in your own back yard...welcome to Cedar Key!

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Just a little southwest of Jacksonville, but a whole world away.

Taking the scenic route through Gainesville, down State Road 24 will bring you to an island atmosphere an hour away from big cities, but forever away from the hustle and bustle of today.

Follow the road over four short channels and you will arrive at dock street, the downtown of Cedar Key located on Way Key, the main of a dozen or so islands that make up Cedar Key. The surrounding islands also make up the Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge, a home to some of the most beautiful and inspiring scenes and wildlife you can find in the northern hemisphere.  www.floridaswild.com

Cedar Key: Yesterday and Today

Cedar Key got its name from the apparent abundance of cedar trees on Atsena Otie, the original "Cedar" key. It was quite the little boom town back in those days, and once reached a population of two thousand.

It became home to several cedar mills that logged the timber for pencil manufacturing.

However, contrary to popular belief, the pencils themselves were not made in Cedar Key; rather the timber was shipped to the pencil factory in New York.

David Yulee successfully negotiated for Cedar Key to become the western ending point of the first trans-Florida railroad. It was completed in 1861, making the quiet fishing

village the first to be directly connected to Fernandina on the east coast via railway, a huge step for economic growth.

In January of 1862, just after the railroad was finished, the civil war threatened its

destruction. In March of that year, David Yulee fled Cedar Key on the last train out.

Confederate troops took the remaining rails up to use them elsewhere, temporarily destroying what was left of the railroad.

In 1896 a catastrophic hurricane made landfall in Cedar Key, destroying the majority of the booming local business. Among those that suffered a total loss was the Eberhard

Faber Mill and the Eagle Pencil Company Cedar Mill. The combination of damage from the hurricane and depletion of timber from poor cultivation practices caused the companies not to rebuild.

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Cedar Key today is home to about 1000 residents and over 200 species of birds. It's a relaxed island community in the heart of the nature coast, admired by many for its tranquility. With all of the beauty that surrounds Cedar Key, it would be easy to imagine that the main industry is tourism. However, thanks to the pristine waters, aquaculture is the staple of the economy. Cedar Key is the number one producer of farm raised clams in the US! It's a small town, but it has a lot to offer.

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Just a few things to do while you're visiting...

(See the last page for full information on activities of interest) 

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1. Take an ecotour of outlying islands and find dolphin to play in the boats wakeÂ

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www.tidewatertours.com 352-543-9523

2. Snap your own shot of the most photographed structure on the gulf coast

Unfortunate update: the "honeymoon cottage" has suffered the fate of many waterfront buildings before it. It no longer resembles the photo you see above, but rather a more shaken and fragile silhouette is cast upon the shores of Cedar Key.

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3. Experience the famous gulf coast sunset and witness the sun melting into the horizon

(The mirage is caused by light refracting in the warm air just above the sea surface.)

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4. See the magnificent frigate bird at their northern-most gathering

5. Explore solitary beaches scattered with driftwood

6. Get a close-up view of the elusive white pelican

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7. Have an expert lead you to birds over water

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patbonishphotography.com everymilesamemory@gmail.com

8. Enjoy good times and great local seafood on Dock Street.

Cedar Key is the US capital for farm raised clam thanks to its pristine waters. There are lots of great restaurants to choose from, including clam chowder cookoff world champions, Tony's Seafood.

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9. Get up close to hundreds of baby pelicans.

You might even get lucky enough to see a rarely observed feeding as the mother delivers a meal!

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10. See the abundant wildlife that calls the pristine waters of Cedar Key home.

Loggerhead sea turtles, bonnet head sharks, and many other marine animals feed in the rich waters.

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Raccoons can be seen feeding in the evening and often even swim to other nearby islands or oyster bars.

Bald eagles are a common sight.

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Black skimmers,

Royal terns,

And many kinds of shorebirds can be expected on almost every trip to the islands

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11. Watch the sun fade right from the privacy of your own balcony.

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12. Check out the highest point on the gulf coast.

(52 feet above sea level!)

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13. Enjoy the many wonders of nature that you can find scattered among the islands.

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14. Have the captain drop you off on an island and collect shells, take a stroll, or just soak up the serenity!

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15. Rent a kayak and enjoy the islands at your own pace.

You might even get a curious visitor!

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www.kayakcedarkeys.com 352.543.9447

ABOVE ALL...

Take time to enjoy the sunset!!!!

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(Sunrise isn't half bad either!!!)

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When booking reservations at any of the following, please mention that Florida's Wild sent you!

1.

Boat tours are easy to find on Cedar Key at the dock. However,Tidewater Tours give a great history of the islands, as well as delivering an overall awesome experience.

Make sure to call and ask what times they will be going out, as this can vary due to tides.

They also offer boat rentals! tidewatertours.com

352-543-9523

2. You can see the "honeymoon cottage" from the shore at the fishing pier or get a close up on a boat tour. www.floridaswild.com

3. There are many places to experience the sunset but the Tiki Bar at Low Key Hideaway is THE favorite spot of the locals.

4.

These birds, like most, are only around during certain times due to their migratory path. They can usually be seen at Seahorse Key from August to October. The males display their red pouches at the peak of breeding season (typically September- October)

5. There are quite a few places to see some great driftwood. But, if you can make the trip to North Key, you won't be disappointed!!!

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6. Seasonally appearing, (with some immature stragglers) the best time to see the white pelican in great numbers is in the winter months (December-February). They are truly a majestic bird!

7. Local photographers, Pat and Cindy Bonish are now sharing their love of photography with intimate photography boat tours of the islands.

The tours are quite the treat- with a fusion of island history, bird knowledge, and, of course, a focus on getting "that" shot.

8. There are too many great places to eat to list them all! A few make the short list. www.floridaswild.com

For breakfast, Annie's is a personal favorite.

(Although to be fair to the others I haven't tried many other spots after having Annie's.) Bring your cash though! No credit cards taken here.

For dining with a view, the Pickled Pelican and the Sea Breeze are both great. The Sea Breeze is a little more casual and moderately priced between the two. Tony's Seafood can't be missed if you like clam chowder- they are three time world champs in a clam chowder cook-off.

(The only reason they haven't taken more championships is due to being forced to retire their recipe after three consecutive wins!!!)

For fine dining, the Island Room takes the cake. www.floridaswild.com

9. Pelican nesting season is September to October. If you are planning a photography shoot to try to capture this moment, you may want to get in touch with the experts at Birds Over Water for advice on getting to the islands, equipment, etc.

10. Cedar Key has some of the cleanest waters in the gulf. It is home to many fishing charters, as well as migratory shore birds and other species that take advantage of the abundance of wildlife and pristine waters.

11.

There are a number of places to choose from for your nights stay. If you plan far enough in

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advance, you might be lucky enough to get to stay at Low Key Hideaway. tel: (352)543-0700 (If not, Pat and Cindy will still love to see you at the Tiki Bar). If they are booked, try Beach Front Motel. tel: (352)543-9960 12. The lighthouse is now being leased by the University of Florida as a marine lab. It's open to the public once a year during the seafood festival.

13. Not only can you enjoy a close up of the islands but you can also get a birds' eye view in a plane tour. Cedar Key via air with Marvin Franks will www.floridaswild.com

take care of all of it for you! tel: 352-477-0105 14. You can sometimes request island dropoffs for picnics,etc. There is also an ancient cemetary on Atsena Otie that is accessible during the cooler months. (The mosquitoes will carry you away during the warmer months).

15. Cedar Key is truly a kayak enthusiast's paradise, recognized as a primary gathering area for paddlers from over the state of Florida and south Georgia. Exploring the islands by kayak affords a more intimate experience, and

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Kayak Cedar Keys delivers. They also now offer paddle boards!

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