Cedar Key Adventure Travel Guide
Cedar Key is a small, resilient island community about four miles into the Gulf and just over an hour from Gainesville, but there’s no shortage of adventures and experiences to fill your days. Here are five of my favorites.
1. Get Around Cedar Key by Golf Cart
Seeing Cedar Key by golf cart is part of the fun. Locals and visitors alike use them to cruise the island's small footprint, making it one of the easiest ways to get around. Rent a cart from Cedar Key Adventures for a few hours or a few days.
Stop at local shops like Main Street Mercantile and art galleries like Cedar Keyhole Artists Co-op & Gallery. Between stops, fuel up at some of Cedar Key's best local restaurants and cafes:
Breakfast: The Prickly Palm, Cedar Key Island Bakery, and 1842 Daily Grind & Mercantile
Lunch/Dinner: Steamers, Jaybird's Chicken and Dock Street Dips, and Island Hotel Restaurant
2. See Cedar Key by Boat
Getting out on the water gives you a whole new view of Cedar Key. Join Captain Doug, who has been running tours here for decades. You’ll pass nearby islands like Seahorse Key and often spot wildlife like spoonbills, white pelicans (depending on the time of year), and dolphins along the way.
3. Kayak to Atsena Otie Island from Cedar Key
Paddle to Atsena Otie Key, an island about a half-mile from Cedar Key. It was once home to a bustling cedar mill and dozens of families until a hurricane wiped it out in 1896.
Rent a kayak from Cedar Key Adventures and paddle over to explore what remains, including an old cemetery hidden beneath the trees. Just don’t forget the bug spray. The mosquitoes mean business!
4. Check Out Cedar Key’s Bar Scene
Cedar Key’s bar scene is small but full of character. A Sips & Stories Tour with Living Cedar Key takes you to local favorites like Low-Key Hideaway and Thirst Emporium. You’ll travel by golf cart while hearing stories and local history along the way.
Living Cedar Key also offers Cedar Key History Tours, Sunset Tours, and more.
5. Learn About Cedar Key History
A stop at the recently reopened Cedar Key Historical Society Museum is a great way to understand the island’s roots. The museum spans two buildings and is filled with relics from Cedar Key’s past. It’s open Thursday through Sunday, and admission is five dollars per person.
