Last Updated: May 2026
From Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, we made the hour-long drive southwest of Gainesville to Cedar Key — a cluster of islands on the Gulf of Mexico named after the eastern red cedar that once blanketed the surrounding coast. The population is only about 700, though on weekends the numbers swell considerably with tourists, motorcyclists in particular. Cedar Key runs on two things: tourism and aquaculture. Farm-raised clams and oysters are a thriving multimillion-dollar industry here, and the waterfront is genuinely charming. The town is compact and easy to explore on foot or by bicycle — and we found ourselves staying longer than planned.
[Read more…] about Cedar Key, Florida: John Muir’s 1,000-Mile Journey End, Civil War Salt Raids & Sunrise Ospreys