Taking Our Time in Cedar Key

Posted from Orlando TT near Clermont, FL
 (Click on Pics to Enlarge)

We stayed in Cedar Key, FL for a week, but there are so many things to do and see that we'll make a return trip someday.  That's one of the really great things about the fulltime lifestyle.  If you see something you like, you can always re-visit.

As the docent at the Cedar Key Historical Museum told us, Cedar Key really is some a place that you have to want to visit as there is only 1 road in and out, and there isn't a whole lot at the end of that road other than Cedar Key.

Our first day we just wandered around a bit getting a lay of the town.  (Not too hard, because it isn't that big!)  The public beach at 2nd and A Street is a nice place for sunning, playing in the water, or launching a kayak or canoe to do some exploring by water.

Right down from this beach are companies who offer boat tours, watercraft rental, and this one where fresh fish is brought in for a local restaurant.

The pelicans think that this is the buffet line, I believe.

The Atlantic to Gulf Railroad ran along this stretch and ended on Dock Street not too far from here.  The railroad was completed in 1861 and the last train ran in 1932.  All that's left in this area today is this sign to commemorate this.

The entire downtown area can literally be walked after parking on any of the streets.  I didn't see any parking meters anywhere.  Island Hotel on 2nd Street was established in 1859 and still operates today.  (Notice that it opened just prior to the completion of the cross-state railroad line.)

A really good place to begin to understand Cedar Key and its' history is at the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum on the corner of 2nd Street and D Street.  The entrance fee is only $3 per person and the exhibits do a nice job of showing the evolution of the area.

Present-day Cedar Key was first called Way Key and the first plat of the area was issued by the Railroad in 1859. The area has been a home to many different industries throughout the years. The Faber and Eagle Pencil Companies established cedar saw mills here.  It's interesting to note that no pencil were ever produced here, but rather the slats were shipped out via railroad to northern companies.  The hurricane of 1896 caused all operations to cease.

The Standard Manufacturing Company was the first manufacturing company in Cedar Key. It operated from 1910-1952 and produced several fiber-related products, with Donax Brushes being one of its' better known products.

Fishing activities, of course, have always been important to a town on the water such as Cedar Key.  A ban on net fishing in 1995 by the State legislature all but put an end to commercial fishing in the area.  Area fisherman were resilient, however, and turned to clam farming.  In 1997, clam farming produced a record 100 million clams.


It would be well worth a visit to the museum if you travel to Cedar Key.

One of the things that you will notice very quickly is that there are no chain restaurants in Cedar Key.  The restaurants come and go down on Dock Street, but are all locally run.

Dock Street is a short and easy walk in the evening hours. A great place to drop in for a drink or grab a bite.  The scenery isn't too shabby at that time of day either.







You can view many more pictures of Cedar Key not included in this blog post by going to my Google+ Album. 

Thanks for dropping by to take a look!