Fort Island Beach

by Chris M
(Florida)

One of the quietest Florida beaches is Fort Island Beach in Citrus County, Florida, near Crystal River. It is a small beach at the end of a ride down Fort Island Trail (also know as SR 44 West).

On the way to Fort Island Beach, you'll see brackish wetlands. Wild boar, nutria, fox, reptiles, and birds of all kinds have been known to be spotted on the ride up.

At the beach, the sand is soft. Sometimes, it is only you and the birds sharing a picnic table. When it is busy, it is still not packed like the well known beaches.

A short walk from the sandy beach is a boardwalk that takes you through the canopy of palms, oak, and cypress. You feel like you are walking through Jurassic park. At the end of the boardwalk, there is a fishing pier where you can sometimes see people crabbing or fishing. As a special treat, you may just see dolphins playing or birds diving for fish and stealing bait right off the hook.

Before you leave, buy an ice cream bar from the ice cream truck. It is usually only one of two vendors that sometimes set up.

Dogs are allowed on the pier side. They are not allowed in the sand, but there is still plenty of area to walk your friend if it is not too hot out.