Top 4 Dog-Friendly Parks in Citrus County

Living in paradise doesn’t have to only apply to humans. Man’s best friend seems to love it here too! There are MANY options for dog-friendly parks and fun in Citrus County, but we’ve narrowed it down to our top 4!

1.     Villages of Citrus Hills – Rockwood Park

Villages of Citrus Hills has a lot to offer its residents in the community, as well as their furry friends! The community park, Rockwood Park, has an extremely accommodating dog park that your pup will love!

With right around 2 acres of land for your pup to run around and make friends, you can sit back and relax, knowing he’s got everything he needs in a close vicinity. There are multiple doggy clean-up stations, so if little Charlie has an accident on his way to play-time, you’re covered. You won’t have to worry about watching your step when walking your pup around the park either (hopefully).

There is also a dog-wash area! We all know a dog that runs around and rolls in the dirt the second he’s set loose outside. If your dog is anything like that, you’ll be thankful for this dog-wash area! There’s nothing worse than getting back to our car, only to realize your pooch is covered in mud!

If your pooch is shy, there is more than one fenced in area as well. Big dog and small dog areas are separated for your and Rover’s convenience! There’s nothing better than a big lovable labrador that just wants to lick everyone and everything in its sight, but smaller dogs might find that just a little bit scary and overwhelming! Rest assured, you will have options here in our community dog park!

2.     Bark Central Dog Park - Inverness

Dog parks in Citrus County give many great opportunities for your dog to release his energy, and be social with others of their kind. Dogs love other dogs, and this park offers a great open space for dogs to play with each other and swim as they please!

Surrounded by a giant six-foot chain link fence, this massive dog park extends a total of 15 acres. Surely that is enough land for your little friend to get all of his energy out, and enjoy the beautiful Florida weather!

If your dog likes to swim, this is the place to be! Bark Central Dog Park offers multiple man-made swimming areas that are filtered similar to a fish tank aquarium filter! No chemicals are added, making it safe for your dog to swim and drink the water if he/she pleases! Although maybe bringing your own water would be better, since it is a swimming pool, after all.

If your small Chihuahua doesn’t mix well with someone else’s giant labrador retriever, it’s no worry! This dog park has designated areas for smaller dogs, with plenty of room to roam! Rest assured, your little Buttercup won’t be bothered by any big scary dogs here.

Another thing that makes this dog park one of the best in the county, is the outdoor rinse station! For those of you that have a dog that can’t help himself when he sees a body of water, this rinse station will be your best friend. There’s nothing worse than riding home with a wet, muddy Rover in the back seat!

The last thing that makes this dog park one of the best in the county would definitely be the fact that proof of rabies and DHLPPC vaccinations are required upon entry. Rest assured, if little Jelly Bean and Fluffy decide to play in the grass, and there’s little scrapes on Fluffy when you get home, there’s nothing to worry about!

3.     Whispering Pines Park - Inverness

The next top dog-friendly park that we’re going to cover is also in Inverness! As there are multiple county parks to choose from that are dog friendly, our favorite would have to be Whispering Pines Park.

This park is not only completely beautiful with its wooded landscaping made up of big beautiful oak trees, but it offers a lot for you to do as well as your pup! With a direct path to the Withlacoochee State Trail, there’s no question about if your dog is going to enjoy a nice hike.

This park also has multiple dog-walking trails setup for you to come and spend the day in the beautiful Central Florida weather. Unlike the other surrounding parks, this is the only one with dog-walking trails for your convenience. As these dog-walking trails are all under 3 miles, it’s a great way to start a nice cool Sunday afternoon. Maybe afterwards you can head over to the butterfly garden and watch the butterflies dance along the flower-tops.

The last deciding-factor for you to choose this park as your next day out in the sun with Sparky, would be the doggy clean-up stations they have available to you. There’s nothing worse than walking your dog in the park on a beautiful summer day, and then all of the sudden you realize you need to change your shoes, because there was nowhere for someone to clean up after their furry friend.

The next time you’re sitting around the house, and you’re looking at the weather forecast for a nice Florida day in the park, remember this option for you and Rover!

4.     Crystal River Archaeological Park – Crystal River

Another great option for you to consider would be the Crystal River Archaeological Park. This park may not have some of the other dog-specific amenities as others, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a fantastic option for you and Biscuit this weekend!

As this National Historic Landmark does sit at about 61-acres, there’s a lot of choices as far as dog-friendly activities. For instance, if you’re in the mood for a picnic with your loved ones, there are designated areas with plenty of space for little Charlie to nibble on a squeaky toy while you enjoy your lunch!

Another fun dog-friendly activity at the Crystal River Archaeological Park would have to be the Geocaching opportunities. Geo-seeking has always been popular among the Crystal River community, but with the current state of constant connection with others on the internet, it is as popular as ever! This park allows for hiding and hunting for small treasures, and who better to help you hunt than your furry companion?

All of the dog-friendly trails in this park vary depending on how far you like to hike. Some are under 2 miles long, where others are around 7 miles long. There’s really no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than with a nice breezy hike through this park.

Best of all, these parks are less than 20 minutes from the front gates at Terra Vista!

Citrus County Library Guide

With almost all of the world’s reading happening on electronic devices these days, it would be easy for the classic libraries to simply fade into oblivion. But that just isn’t the case here in Citrus County.

We are actually seeing the exact opposite happening as more and more local residents are getting involved in the various programs that are being coordinated through the Citrus County Library System.

Whether you are interested in borrowing one specific book, stumbling onto a lifetime worth of book recommendations, or taking a class that actually has nothing to do with reading at all, there is something for just about everyone happening at one of the five libraries located throughout the county.

Online Book Club

The first goal of any good library system is to get local residents to read more books. Here in Citrus County, one of the ways that our library system achieves this goal is by emailing excerpts from popular books.

All you have to do is sign up for the online book club on the library website and they will immediately add you to the list. After that, you are free to read any or all of the recommended books at whatever pace you like.

Each library also has a full collection of staff picks, which is a great starting place for anyone who isn’t quite sure what they should be reading next.

The Art Collection

One of the newest additions to the Citrus County Library System was “The Art Collection 2019,” which is a massive list of art-focused books that was assembled last year.

This monster reading list covers a wide range of artistic topics, and there are books for everyone from novice artists all the way through master critics.

Research Databases

Outside of reading for pleasure, the library system is also an excellent resource for anyone looking to dig in on a research project.

The Citrus County Library System offers residents access to massive databases like the Florida Electronic Library, the Thompson Reuters Westlaw Library, and the Ancestry.com Library.

Library Classes

While the majority of the classes offered at the Citrus County Libraries revolve around literacy, there is also a collection of Self Enrichment classes that cover a wider range of topics.

With classes on topics like Artistic Doodling, Master Gardening, and Sewing Basics, local residents have the opportunity to explore new interests right at their local library.

Citrus County Library Locations

The closest branch to us here at the Villages of Citrus Hills is the Central Ridge Library in Beverly Hills.

The four other libraries that make up the Citrus County Library System are the Coastal Region Library in Crystal River, the Floral City Public Library in Floral City, the Homosassa Public Library in Homosassa, and the Lake Region Library in Inverness.

If you are looking for a good way to get involved in a community activity, participating in one of the many programs offered by these local libraries is always going to be an excellent place to get started. Just head on over to one of their five locations and start expanding your knowledge.

Citrus Hills Spring Training Preview 2020

It’s the most wonderful time of the year...if you’re a baseball fan.

Here at the Villages of Citrus Hills, we are surrounded by six different teams that make their winter and spring homes nearby.

Pitchers and catchers have officially reported for duty, and the sights and sounds of baseball are taking over the state of Florida.

Let’s check in with each of those teams to see what we might expect from them this spring and summer.

This spring took an ugly twist for the New York Yankees with stud pitcher Luis Severino already suffering a season-ending injury, but that alone won’t be enough to slow down this year’s Bronx Bombers.

The Yankees made a huge splash this offseason when they inked the best pitcher in the world, Gerit Cole, to a nine-year deal. There is going to be plenty of excitement in Tampa this spring when you combine that with the hopefully healthy seasons from sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

The Phillies made headlines when they signed outfielder Bruce Harper to a monster contract last winter, but everything since has been a massive disappointment.

In hopes of turning things around this year, they brought in free agent shortstop Didi Gregorious and pitcher Zack Wheeler. Add in the return of lead-off man Andrew McCutchen, and Philadelphia will be fielding another impressive lineup that should be able to contend for a pennant in the NL East.

The Toronto Blue Jays had a horrible record in 2019, and things aren’t going to get much better for them going up against the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays in the American League East this year. However, they do have a treasure trove of young talent that will be on display in Dunedin this spring.

Rising stars like Vladmir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Cavan Biggio, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Danny Jansen, and Nate Pearson each have All-Star potential, and this spring could be the launching point for any of them to skyrocket into superstardom.

Things have been downright brutal for the Detroit Tigers ever since trading ace pitcher Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros a few years ago. Time will tell, but it doesn’t seem like they are likely to improve much at all in 2020.

While Justin Verlander certainly isn’t the force to be reckoned with that he once was, the legendary Miguel Cabrera will still be in the Tigers lineup this year, and he alone is worth a trip to Dunedin this spring.

The Pittsburgh Pirates finished at the bottom of the NL Central in 2019. After trading away their best player this winter, they are probably looking to repeat with a similar performance in 2020.

Outside of Chris Archer and maybe Josh Bell, you aren’t going to know very many players on the Pirates roster this spring. On the other hand though, Pirate City in Bradenton is a gorgeous place to take in a baseball game, and Bradenton is always a fantastic destination for a day trip.

Heading into their 2020 campaign, the Baltimore Orioles might be the one team that is positioned even worse than the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Much like the Pirates, you aren’t going to recognize any big names on this roster, but don’t let that stop you from making the trek down to Sarasota for a day.

The Yankees and Phillies are the only teams near us that have World Series aspirations this year. Between those two options and the other four destinations, there is still an incredible amount of exciting baseball happening all around the Villages of Citrus Hills this spring.

Make sure that you get out to experience some of the Spring Training magic before they head north for opening day on Thursday, March 26th!

March Activities and Events at the Villages of Citrus Hills

Even with an extra day this year, the month of February flew right by and we are already into March of 2020. It seems to be the busiest month yet at the Villages of Citrus Hills, as far as activities and events are concerned.

Whether you are looking for exciting shows, friendly social experiences, educational opportunities, competitive golf and tennis, or just a delicious meal with friends, we have got all the bases covered for everything happening in March.

Let’s jump right in and check out some of the events that you won’t want to miss this month!

Big Show Series

The Big Show Series will make its return to the Activity Center Auditorium when The Platters take the stage for two shows on Thursday, March 12th. They will be playing all of your favorite hits with showtimes at 6:00pm and 8:15pm.

On Thursday, March 26, the Big Show series will be back with Maureen McGovern performing at 6:00pm and 8:15pm. She is best known for massive hits like “The Morning After” and “The Poseidon Adventure.”

Social Events

One of the very first events that you won’t want to miss this month will be the Comedy Night event in the Hampton Room with George Casey on Tuesday, March 3rd. This will be a 100% clean show that starts with a cocktail hour at 6:00pm before George takes the stage at 7:00pm.

On Friday, March 13th, the Celtic Fusion Dinner Show featuring pianist Marvin Goldstein and vocalist Vanessa Joy will be happening in the Hampton Room. The event will also include an Irish dinner menu with options like Corned Beef & Cabbage and Stout Chicken.

Tasty Trivia Tuesday will be back in the Hampton Room on Tuesday, March 24th. The topic for this month’s trivia questions is “weather,” and the menu will include Chicken Parmesan and Pork Scaloppini.

Friday, March 27th will be the next installment of the Shalom Social Dinner, which meets at Skyview Restaurant. The menu for this fun night out will include Stuffed Chicken Marsala, Braised Short Ribs, Crusted Cod Loin, and Bourbon Salmon.

On Sunday, March 29th, the Activity Center Parking Lot will be hosting three events all rolled into one when the Springtime Jubilee combines the annual Farmers’ Market, Craft Fair, and Cruise-In events all into one massive event. There will also be lots of local food trucks on hand from 10 am to 2:00pm.

In addition to their normal dinner specials, Skyview Restaurant is also going to be hosting a Spring Bash on Tuesday, March 31st that will feature live music and dancing from The Dave & Kenny Duo along with plenty of light hors d’oeuvres. This party is set to run from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, and the drink special will be $5.00 Sparkling Rose Lemonade.

Art & Education

Doc Talk will be back in the Activity Center Auditorium on Wednesday, March 18th at 6:00pm. This month’s topic is Colon Cancer Prevention, and there will be two local doctors leading what should be an interesting discussion on everything we can be doing to protect ourselves.

The St. Michael of Citrus Hills

On Thursday, March 19th at 2:00pm, the Activity Center will be hosting a workshop on Florida-Friendly Landscaping that will cover everything you need to know about making your home look its best here in the Sunshine State. Whether you are a new resident or a longtime Floridian, there should be plenty of great information for everyone attending this event.

Max Schulman, who is the author of Finding the Treasures of the Trails, will be hosting Lunch & Learn in the Garden Room on Friday, March 27th. The discussion this month will cover “Hiking, Biking, & Paddling in Citrus County,” and the menu will feature a BLT Chicken Salad with Bleu Cheese.

Golf & Tennis

There will be some serious competition out on the links this month here at the Villages of Citrus Hills. The 2020 Skyview Ladies Club Championship is scheduled for March 5th and 6th, and the Citrus Hills Couples Championship will be happening on March 12th and 13th.

If you are looking for a more fun and relaxing golf experience, The Meadows course will be hosting the Four-Leaf Clover Open on Saturday, March 7th starting at 8:30am.

There will also be Free Golf Clinics for all skill levels with PGA/LPGA Teaching Professional Mary Slinkard happening at Citrus Hills. This month, she will be working with beginners on March 2nd, 3rd, and 4th. Then, she will be back to work with intermediate golfers on March 9th, 10th, and 11th.

Skyview Golf Course

March is also a great month to get involved at the Skyview Tennis Center, which will be hosting another Free Beginner Tennis Clinic at 11:30am on Tuesday, March 10th.

Anyone who attends the Free Beginner Tennis Clinic can put those skills to use at the Skyview Tennis Spring Break event on Sunday, March 15th. This will be a mixed doubles round robin that also includes lunch with beer and wine!

Tennis players should also be spending the month prepping for the 2020 Skyview Men’s and Women’s Club Championship Doubles Tournament, which is right around the corner in mid-April.

Dinner Specials

Our friends at Skyview Restaurant are going to be working overtime this month with fantastic specials like a Tastes of Florida Wine Dinner on Tuesday, March 3rd, an Italian Night on Thursday, March 5th, and a St. Patrick’s Day Dinner on Tuesday, March 17th.

The Grille will also be pulling out all of the stops for St. Patrick’s Day with their own dinner special that will feature traditional options like Irish Stew, Corned Beef & Cabbage, Roasted Lamb Shanks, and Black and Tan Pork.

The Tiki Bar at the Grille

Later in the month, there will be a huge Soup Up the Night with Willie & Company event at the Tiki Bar featuring a musical comedy show and a full dinner buffet. This unique dinner is scheduled for Sunday, March 22nd with the buffet going out at 4:30pm and the show starting at 6:30pm.

With so many different types of activities and events happening all over the community this month, we might actually have a hard time catching our breath and finding some downtime during all the fun.

If you do happen to find a little free time between events this month, make sure that you plan on taking advantage of the Pure Fiji Facial special that Bella Vita Spa will be offering throughout March.

And looking forward to next month, don’t forget that Skyview Restaurant and The Grille will both be hosting outstanding options for Easter Dinner Specials!

The 10 Best West Coast Florida Beaches

The proximity to a large number of great Florida gulf coast beaches is one thing that makes living in the Villages of Citrus Hills so attractive.

Here are TEN of the most commonly referenced west coast beaches that you are definitely going to want to check out sooner, rather than later.

1. Clearwater Beach

Clearwater Beach, Florida

After being named TripAdvisor’s #1 beach in the country back in 2018, the secret is officially out on one of our all-time favorite beach destinations. With a perfect combination of silky-smooth white sand and a small-town atmosphere, Clearwater should continue to be at the top of just about everyone’s list of favorite beach destinations for years to come.

2. Destin

Known as an ideal destination for families, Destin is one of our favorite options located up in the panhandle along Florida’s Emerald Coast. If renting a condo for a week and kicking back on the beach with just a bit of snorkeling mixed in is your idea of a good time, Destin is a perfect fit.

3. Honeymoon Island

Honeymoon Island, Florida

Located just north of Clearwater Beach, Honeymoon Island features the same stunning white sand beaches in a more remote setting. This option is known for being a place that locals prefer when Clearwater is a bit too busy, and it is also a fantastic place to explore by kayak.

4. Lido Key

Another popular island destination along the Gulf Coast of Florida is Lido Key, which sits just west of Sarasota. This spot has a reputation for ecotourism, deep-sea fishing, and sunset cruises, and it is also home to a first-class beach resort, as well as plenty of exciting street performers.

5. Marco Island

Marco Island, Florida

If we head all the way down to the southern end of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Marco Island is the place that stands out as a must-see destination for beach lovers. This island is located just off of Naples, and it is home to some fabulous beach resorts, as well as the Briggs Nature Center and its half-mile boardwalk.

6. Panama City Beach

Panama City Beach might have a reputation as a spring break destination for college students, but it is about as laid back as the rest of the Gulf Coast throughout the rest of the year. With more than 27 miles of white sand beaches, you can always find a little section to enjoy all by yourself here, and the artificial reefs located just offshore are perfect for snorkeling. 

7. Pensacola Beach

Pensacola Beach, Florida

Located just 45 minutes east of the iconic Flora-Bama beach bar, Pensacola is the farthest west of the panhandle beaches on our list. This destination offers a bit of everything, including shopping, restaurants, and a fishing pier.

8. Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Seashells are the primary attraction down on Sanibel and Captiva Islands, and the amount of them spread across these popular beaches just west of Fort Myers is astounding. True shell lovers will also want to check out the nearby Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum while they are in the area.

9. Siesta Key

Siesta Key, Florida

Just south of Sarasota is where you will find the romantic beach destination of Siesta Key. In addition to white sand beaches and calm blue water, this eight-mile-long island paradise is also known for its resorts, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife.

10. St. Pete Beach

After kicking off our list with Clearwater Beach, it seems appropriate to close it out with St. Pete Beach, which is located just 30 minutes south. Just like Clearwater Beach, St. Pete Beach is one of the most gorgeous beach destinations in all of Florida, and it offers the added appeal of almost always having beautiful weather.

No matter which one of these beaches you choose to explore, it really is hard to find a bad option up and down Florida’s Gulf Coast.

In fact, we highly recommend that you make your way through all ten of these beaches and decide for yourself which ones are your favorites.