Three Sisters Springs at Crystal River

34-Day Cross Country RV Trip + 7-Day Caribbean Cruise 2022

Day 13: Old Pavilion RV Park to Largo, Florida

May 10, 2022

We do not have a long drive ahead today but we do need to make a stop at a town called Crystal Springs on our way. There is suppose to be a manatee habitat at Three Sisters Springs which we are very much interested to check out on this fine day.

On our way out from Old Pavilion RV Park, we passed through the main street of Perry which looked like a good-size town with many chain fast-food restaurants along the roadside. Our drive remained mainly on Hwy 98 all the way south. Not long after, we arrived at Crystal River City Hall. 

According to the information that we have, we are suppose to purchase our tickets at the city hall, and board the shuttle from there to Three Sisters Springs because there is no entry for private cars onto the grounds there. They only have limited parking for disabled visitors, as I understand.

Crystal River and Three Sisters Springs

Crystal River City Hall

Front of City Hall

Here is the entrance where we purchased the tickets and waited for the shuttle bus.

I'll say the bus comes by about every half an hour. Our RV was too big for the parking spaces here so we were told to park along the roadside next to the park outside under the trees. Perfect! 

There is an empty lot across the street but do not park there, it's private property!

Soon, the shuttle bus brought us to the refuge.

Here is the bus stop and the shuttle.

First thing we saw after we got on the boardwalk. Wow!

Boardwalk around the springs.

It must be heavenly living in this area.

Unfortunately, we did not see a single manatee even though there should be 40 'permanent residents' living here year round. We were told that none of those came into the springs today.

People could be swimming with the manatees here.

It was good that we came by, even though we did not see the manatees.

Waiting to get back on the bus.

Here it is!

On the way back, we could see different parts of the city on the bus. This city is usually bustling on the weekends but today it was very quiet.

Charlie's Seafood House

Again, it was past our lunch time and almost 2:00 PM by now. We still need to look for lunch and we have to find a place where there is parking for the RV. Right across from City Hall is Charlie's Seafood House that looked like parking is available and that was where we ended up. 

Good parking right out front of the restaurant.

We had the seafood platter and combination platter

son had the stone crab claws.

They all turned out really good!

View out on deck of the restaurant.

Front of restaurant

Our route for the day.

Vacation Village (Thousand Trails) RV Park, Largo, Florida

It was a couple more hours after our delicious lunch that we arrived at our destination for the night. Vacation Village is an Encore campground with Thousand Trails right in the city of Largo on a busy street out front. It certainly did not feel like a vacation place from the outside. Staff was friendly and helpful but we later found that this is a very crowded campground. 

This area near the office looks pretty nice with a swimming pool,

beach ball court,

shuffle board,

and tennis court (not pictured). But, that's it!

The rest of the park was cramped, like stacking on top of each others.

A tiny stream running through the campground.

Looks like most residents are long-term or permanent. Definitely convenient right by the main drag of town with a bus stop outside the park.

Our space for the night, which seemed decent. Our front view is directly looking at a wall with apartments on the other side. I believe this side of the campground is probably for actual traveling members as short term stay.

For more detail of this day and the campground, please click here for video.

"Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us."   -- Isaiah 26:12