Things to do in Cedar Key, Florida
Spending Winter in Cedar Key
When we first arrived in Cedar Key, the little island seemed somewhat devoid of things to do. After a few days in the area, however, we really came to like it there. Even though it’s a fairly quiet, non-touristy destination, there’s plenty to keep you busy for a month or two.
Where we stayed in Cedar Key: Cedar Blessings RV Park
The RV park we stayed at for the month of December, 2023, is about 7 miles from the island of Cedar Key. I chose it because it was reasonably priced ($563/month plus electricity). This is an older park that isn’t without its issues, but has a new owner and they are in process of making updates and expanding the park. If you want to save some money, then this is a good option. Know that the water here has a lot of iron and you will need some filters especially for removing iron. The roads in the park are dirt and are narrow making it difficult to navigate some areas. There is a good amount of space in between sites. Bathrooms and showers have been updated. There is a small pool, but it’s not heated so it was pretty icy in December.
Other Campgrounds in Cedar Key
If you want to stay on the island, there are a couple of options for RVs. Note that there was only one RV park in operation at the time of this writing due to damage caused by Hurricane Idalia in late August of 2023, shutting down the Sunset Isle RV Resort temporarily.
Sunset Isle RV Park is a small park right on the water. Sunsets here are magnificent. Though we didn’t stay here, we visited the Low Key Hideaway Tiki Bar next door and saw beautiful sunsets. Sites are full hookup, very close to each other and gravel/grass. Laundry is onsite. Pets are allowed.
Low Key Hideaway is next to Sunset Isle and has a small number of full hookup sites. It’s like parking spots but you’re directly next to the water. If you don’t need much space and want to enjoy the views and be close to Cedar Key, this may work for you. The prices are pretty high, so it was not for us. There’s also a small hotel and a tiki bar and the entire property is adults only. The tiki bar is popular so you will have noise most evenings. Great if you enjoy being around people! There’s also an incredible food truck onsite and that’s very popular as well. We tried the crab-stuffed burger – amazing!
Cedar Key RV Resort is across the street from Cedar Blessings RV Park where we stayed for a month. We had the opportunity to walk around there and it was considerably nicer than Cedar Blessings. The roads are paved and wide, sites are large and concrete, pool is heated and there’s a dog run and a nice clubhouse. There are still issues with iron in the water that’s used for the laundry, but water at the sites isn’t bad (according to people we talked to that were staying there).
Things to do in Cedar Key
HIKING
Shell Mound Trail The site features mounds of marine shell (predominately oyster) measuring about 23 feet high. Excavations by archaeologists from the University of Florida have discovered the remains of large feasts that took place in the summer–likely celebrating the Summer Solstice–the longest day of the year. This trail also features a fishing pier and a boat and canoe/kayak launch. The pier was closed when we were here due to hurricane damage.
Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve
Mostly salt marshes with plenty of birds including bald eagles. Whitetail deer are also present in the area. There are many trailheads in this area off of highway 347 between Cedar Key and Chiefland. We hiked here with our dogs (keep them leashed). There are many trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding.
FISHING
The fishing charters in Cedar Key are cheaper than I’ve seen in other areas of Florida. There are even a couple of places that charge only $100 per person. If you’re not up for a charter, you can fish directly from the Cedar Key fishing pier in the downtown area next to the shopping and dining spots. We didn’t do any fishing during the month we were in the area, but according to locals you can catch redfish, ladyfish, black drum, whiting and in winter months, some sheepshead.
GIFT SHOPS
HOLIDAY LIGHTS CONTEST
There is a good variety of shops near the waterfront in Cedar Key. If you’re looking for some lower cost souvenirs and gifts to bring home for family and friends, you’ll find them at the Island Trading Post. They also have ice cream, hot dogs, smoothies and coffee drinks. At the Dilly Dally Gally, find some more upscale clothing, jewelry and accessories.
Stop in at the visitor’s center and pick up a ballot for voting for the best holiday decorations. There are different categories such as condos or businesses, traditional or modern, etc. We had fun walking around choosing our favorite lights and decor and putting in our votes.
LOW KEY TIKI BAR
Located on Hwy 24 behind the Low Key Motel, this cocktail bar was our favorite place to watch the sunset. Get a drink at the bar and then walk out on the pier or sit on the patio. They have live music on the patio on some nights and campfires after dark. Their bloody Mary’s are legendary!
FRESH SEAFOOD IN CEDAR KEY
Cedar Key is known for their farm-raised clams, and some aquaculture companies also have oysters. Definitely try these local seafood specialties. Fresh caught fish here include grouper, red snapper, mullet, shrimp, stone crab and soft-shell crab. There are many seafood markets but we went to Robinson’s which is not on the island but on Hwy 24 about 7 miles from the island. We tried the red snapper and some shrimp. We also had their all-you-can-eat dinner which included fried shrimp, fried mullet and oysters. I am not a fan of mullet, it’s a little too fishy and oily for me. If you like fried seafood you may enjoy the all-you-can-eat dinner here.
RESTAURANTS IN CEDAR KEY
83 West & 29 North at 83 West: We tried Bourbon gator kabobs, fried green tomatoes, crab bisque, all of which were amazing! Other seafood options are wild caught red snapper, grouper, shrimp and grits. They also have pastas, Steak Diane, burgers and chicken sandwiches, salads and soups. We not only enjoyed the food here, but the views are great, too!
Island Hotel and Restaurant: Quality ingredients and great service made this our 2nd favorite restaurant in Cedar Key. They also have live music several nights a week. It can be busy on nights when there’s music so make sure you get there early! Menu options include local clams, scallops, shrimp, surf and turf, soups, pastas and steaks.
Lenny’s Tiki Taste Tour At Low Key Hideaway: This food truck is at Low Key Hideaway and was open every night. We tried the crabby burger, a crab- stuffed burger and it was soooo good! I only finished half of it, though, and when I got up to go to the restroom one of the servers from the tiki bar threw the rest away. When I told Lenny’s what happened, they made another one for me at no charge! Besides burgers, they have seafood sandwiches and po’ boys, and seafood tacos.
2nd Street Cafe: A very popular breakfast spot with outdoor or indoor seating. Breakfast was very good but it was so busy; we were lucky to get a seat!
1842 Daily Grind & Mercantile Cafe: This cafe serves regular and specialty coffee and tea drinks and a limited but interesting food menu: crepes / pancakes, frittatas and quiches, breakfast sandwiches, amazing salads and lunch sandwiches. We had a frozen coffee drink and really liked that.
Tony’s Restaurant: Famous for their clam chowder. When we were there they only had soup for carryout due to damage from a hurricane earlier in the year. It was pricey but very good!
Kiss Coffee House and Grill: Highly recommend barbecue, “coffee inspired menu” restaurant – and the only BBQ place in this area. Just a little roadside place but people rave about the pulled pork, brisket, smoked chicken, etc.; even the cole slaw! We didn’t get a chance to try it, so cannot say much about it but I would be willing to try it based upon reviews.