Florida's Best-Kept Secret

Cedar Key,
Florida

Wild birds. Fresh clams. Slow sunsets.
Old Florida the way it used to be.

🦅 Spring Migration 2026: Peak birding season is now — over 200 species visible on the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge.

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Farm to table Gulf seafood

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Where To Stay

Waterfront inns & cottages

The Last Unspoiled Gulf Town

Cedar Key sits at the end of State Road 24, strung across a cluster of islands where the Gulf of Mexico meets the mouth of the Suwannee River. There are no chain restaurants, no resort hotels, no souvenir shops selling plastic flamingos. What there is: some of the finest birding in the Eastern United States, the freshest clams you'll ever eat, and a genuine old Florida fishing village that somehow survived the 20th century intact.

This is the Florida that existed before Disney — and the secret is starting to get out.

Top Experiences

Roseate spoonbill at Cedar Key Florida wildlife refuge

World-Class Birding

One of Florida's top birding destinations — roseate spoonbills, painted buntings, oystercatchers, and hundreds more. The Lower Suwannee NWR is steps away.

Full Birding Guide →

Kayaking through Cedar Key Florida mangroves

Kayaking & Paddling

Paddle through ancient mangrove tunnels, visit uninhabited shell mound islands, and watch dolphins in the shallow Gulf flats. Rentals available in town.

Things To Do →

Cedar Key Clams

Cedar Key produces a third of Florida's farmed hard clams. You can taste them within hours of harvest at the waterfront restaurants lining Dock Street.

Best Restaurants →

Plan Your Stay

Cedar Key has a handful of charming waterfront inns and rental cottages. They fill up fast on weekends — book ahead.

Browse Lodging Options

Cedar Key,Florida