Florida Beach Vacation Rentals

Cedar Key & Steinhatchee

Friendly, small town manners (pop. is just under a thousand), beautiful sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico, great seafood, old shacks on stilts over the water. Here is the authentic look of old Florida as it morphed from timbering for pencil making, to honest to goodness quaint Victorian fishing village to today’s quiet spot three miles out into the Gulf. Take a boat trip to an off shore island within the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge, to a white sand beach. Go kayaking around the many estuaries for a glimpse at the more than 250 species of birds here. This is the clam farming center of the entire country so have some prepared in a variety of ways at the many excellent eateries, most with great views.

Steinhatchee is another of Florida’s fresh water springs, this one giving rise to a sleepy hamlet of just over a thousand, that comes to life during scallop season with upwards of a 1000 boats, that’s one boat for every citizen! arriving for opening day. Locals grab a snorkel and bag and get their own in Dead Man’s Bay. You can charter with the locals for some great fishing here, which makes eating seafood at the end of the day even better. Don’t forget that you’re in hush puppy land, as they are fabulous with fish.

Cedar Key:

Tony’s Seafood Restaurant: Classic southern seafood and a chowder they are rightfully famous for.
597 2nd Street, Cedar Key, (352) 543-0022
Island Room: Excellent seafood and a nice setting on the water. Try the Seafood Boil if you’re real hungry.
192 2nd St, Cedar Key, (352) 543-6520
Blue Desert Cafe: Good basic fare. Good pizzas and desserts.
Highway 24, Cedar Key, (352) 543-9111
Frog’s Landing Restaurant: Good seafood bar food and live music at night.
420 Dock St, Cedar Key, (352) 543-9243

Robinson’s Seafood Market/Restaurant/Charters: Good seafood market
6991 SW State Road 24, Cedar Key, (352) 543-5051
Clamtastic Farm Raised Florida Hard Clams: THE place to get locally grown clams
5971 SW 103rd Ter, Cedar Key, (352) 543-5678

Steinhatchee:

Fiddler’s Restaurant: GOOD seafood and a nice bar.
1306 Riverside Dr SE, (352) 498-7427
Roy’s Restaurant: Nice waterfront location which is the best part.
Highway 51, (352) 498-5000