If you're looking to enjoy a real outdoor experience for just an hour or the whole day, grab your picnic basket and head for one of the beautiful parks in Citrus County.
There is nothing quite like a picnic in the park. It could be peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with the grandkids, or a romantic basket of gourmet food and a bottle of wine shared with your significant other.
Either way, having a relaxing picnic in a natural environment is a perfect way to spend quality time with the people you love. And lucky for us, there are amazing picnic spots all over Citrus County!
These are seven of our favorite picnic spots that are all located close to the Villages of Citrus Hills.
Liberty Park
The first option on our list of perfect picnic spots is located right up the road from the Villages of Citrus Hills in Inverness. The park was finished in 2002 and is actually one of six waterfront parks located around Inverness.
The picnic facilities here include a nice selection of tables, covered pavilions, and grills. Everything is available on a first come, first serve basis unless reserved for special events.
Yule Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park
If you want to have a history-themed picnic and discuss what it might have been like to live, work, and eat on a Florida plantation in the mid-1800s, Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins Historic State Park is a perfect spot.
In addition to the remains of David Levy Yulee’s famous sugar mill, there is also a picnic area with a 6-table pavilion, and multiple other options for picnic tables and grills.
Potts Preserve
Potts Preserve is known for its hiking trails and camping facilities, but if you are looking for a great place to have an impromptu picnic in one of Florida’s best bird watching venues, this is a fantastic choice.
Crystal River Archaeological State Park.
Another historic option that might include a little more activity if you are up for it is picnicking at Crystal River Archaeological State Park.
In addition to the small picnic area here, visitors can also go on boat tours, explore the archaeological museum, or kick back and watch for all the different types of wildlife.
Withlacoochee State Forest
If you want to eat out in the wilderness surrounded by wildlife, there is nothing quite like the experience of picnicking in Withlacoochee State Forest. This is the third largest state forest in Florida, so there is plenty of room to spread out here.
Most of the people who visit the forest will be focused on the trails and birding, but there are lots of picnic tables available at the camping facilities.
Fort Cooper State Park
One of the calm and relaxing state parks you will find in Citrus County is Fort Cooper State Park, which is located on Fort Cooper Lake just east of Inverness. The park includes a pavilion that can seat up to 60 people, as well as many smaller picnic tables spread across an area that overlooks the lake.
Kings Bay Park
If small community parks are where you prefer to do your picnicking, then Kings Bay Park in Crystal River makes for a great option that includes picnic tables, grills, and a really nice fishing pier. It also has a great playground area for children.
No matter where you prefer to take your picnic, as long as the food is good and the conversations are lively you are almost certain to have a good time. But these seven places seem to have special qualities about them that make everything taste just a bit better!