Contest Prize Package includes Mermaid Lessons and Custom-Made Tails
CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. (May 15, 2023) – Riding a wave of mermaid excitement, Discover Crystal River Florida (DCRF) has created a one-of-a-kind “MerCation” Giveaway, giving one lucky winner a chance to dive into a “fintastic” vacation in Florida. In addition to a two-night stay at Plantation on Crystal River and a private manatee snorkeling tour, the package includes a personal mermaid tail crafted by Mertailor Tails & Swimwear, and a monofin swim lesson from Crystal River Watersports, where aspiring merfolk can learn to use their new fishy appendage. With an estimated value of $1,491, the MerCation Giveaway is available to enter online at discovercrystalriverfl.com/mercation from May 15 to June 2. The drawing will be held June 5.
“Mermaids and manatees go hand in hand in Crystal River, where the community offers unique experiences to enjoy both,” said John Pricher, Executive Director of Discover Crystal River Florida. “This vacation giveaway is a fun way to celebrate our status as the Manatee Capital of the World and spread the word about all the exciting outdoor adventures we have to offer.”
The fascination with mermaids is centuries old, fueled in part by sailors who mistook manatees for the legendary creatures, and perpetuated in popular books, TV shows and movies. According to Pricher, Citrus County is ideally suited to friends and fans of mermaids and manatees alike, with attractions and natural assets showcasing both underwater wonders.
“We’re the only place in the world where you can swim alongside manatees in the wild, and we’re also home to the newly opened Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter, where guests can interact with a variety of sea creatures in touch tanks and catch a daily mermaid show staged in a 15,000-gallon Caribbean saltwater aquarium,” added Pricher.
Located about 75 minutes north of Tampa and 90 minutes west of Orlando, Crystal River and the surrounding cities of Homosassa, Inverness and Floral City are perfectly situated on the Gulf of Mexico, Florida’s Nature Coast. Visit discovercrystalriverfl.com/mercation to learn more about the DCRF MerCation Giveaway and enter online.
About Crystal River, Florida
Widely known as the Manatee Capital of the World, Crystal River, Florida, is the only place in the United States to legally experience the up-close encounter of swimming with these gentle giants. Located on Central Florida’s Gulf Coast, Crystal River and the surrounding cities of Old Homosassa, Inverness and Floral City are an authentic showcase of outdoor adventure and scenic beauty. Within tens of thousands of acres of protected state parks, forests and wildlife refuges, visitors can explore miles of bicycling, walking, birding, horseback riding and hiking trails to unlock a wild and wonderful world of natural, recreational and archaeological treasures. Pristine swimmable springs and a shimmering network of rivers, lakes, marshlands and mangroves make Crystal River perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, canoeing, boating, fishing, scalloping and floating. Feeding the fun is a creative collection of restaurants, pubs, bistros and bars serving up freshly caught seafood and other seasonal favorites all year long. Begin your adventure at DiscoverCrystalRiverFL.com or call (800) 587-6667.