Where can you go to truly relax and get away from all the hustle and bustle? Cedar Key is the place to be!
Cedar Key is an island town located on the northwest side of Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico. The closest city is Gainesville, about an hour east. There is hardly any traffic and the cell phone service is very minimal. There is only one main road, State Road 43, that leads into town. You can also fly in as there is a regional airport or take a boat into port.
It is known for the world class clams that they produce and harvest locally straight from the Gulf of Mexico. The clam chowder is also to die for! The town has fewer than 1,000 permanent residents. It is a quaint, cozy, historic place where life slows down enough to truly soak it all in. There are no stoplights in town and the residents love it this way!
The town was settled in the 1850s, making it one of oldest towns on the gulf coast. Many of the buildings in town date back to the civil war era and there are numerous historic sites nearby. You can certainly feel the charm of this historic place!
We recently took a trek to Cedar Key and of course we decided to camp. We stayed at Shell Mound Campground, which is about 15 minutes outside of Cedar Key. It is a cozy spot that contains about 20 campsites. There is both RV and tent sites available with electric and water hookups. The price is very reasonable, costing only $10 for a tent site per night! We were ecstatic to score this deal!
After a good night’s rest in our cozy tents, we set off to explore the town. After seeing and hearing about all the clams, we both were dying to try them! We discovered this great spot that sits high above the gulf called Steamers Clam Bar and Grill. We were situated on what seemed like our own personal balcony, overlooking the Gulf of Mexico!
We decided to go big and get the Clams Diablo, which is 25 fresh clams caught right off of Cedar Key! They are served in a delicious diablo sauce, which is similar to a spicy tomato-based sauce.
For more than 150 years, clam fishing has been a part of the community of Cedar Key. We were truly fascinated by the type of boat used for clam fishing. It is called a “Bird Dog” boat. The motor sits near the front, allowing for the back of the boat to stay clear for the clams that are caught. The motor points forward in the direction it is going, similar to a bird dog. This is how the boat got its name! The captain sits in the front, allowing for easy navigation. Many bird dog boats in Florida have a roof which protects the workers from the Florida sun! The back of the boat sits low to the water, allowing for easy access from the water to the deck. These are truly unique boats!
Along with Steamers, there are many other restaurants to go to in the heart of the town that allows for stunning views of the Gulf of Mexico. They all have their unique characteristics to enjoy; not one is the same! Any place you choose you are sure to get delicious food accompanied with vast views of the gulf. Along with this, there are a few shops to wander into as well, so you can purchase that perfect souvenir to last forever!
We spent the rest of our time wandering around the cozy town, getting to know the locals. One of the other main residents of Cedar Key are the pelicans. Anywhere you go, you are sure to glimpse a group of them congregating or soaring through the skies. We thoroughly enjoyed spending time watching them as we moseyed about town! They are such fascinating and curious birds that we can watch forever!
We spent an overall two nights in Cedar Key. We have found that there is certainly more time needed to be able to explore everything there is to offer here! We only brushed the surface…cannot wait to come back someday!!
“Shy is the oyster, fervent is the clam, peaceful is the ocean floor rocked by the sands of time.”
~ Bradley Chicho