Victorian homes front the gently curving Steinhatchee River as it ambles through town before reaching the shallows of the Gulf of Mexico. Surrounding swamps and wetlands stretch for long distances outside of town, offering both seclusion and endless opportunities for outdoor recreation. Steinhatchee’s main draw is its fishing and shellfishing, particularly the famed scallops that come into season each summer in the bay. Add stone crab, snapper, kingfish, tarpon, and redfish to the seafood medley. Steinhatchee’s Old Florida look from its 19th-century heritage makes it a pleasant place for wandering around on foot, paddling on the river, or biking around the quiet country roads, admiring the famous Spanish moss and the egrets that make their home here. The huge swaths of land managed by the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commision make it an ideal place to spot the region’s animal residents, including panthers, alligators, hogs, and shorebirds.

Steinhatchee offers a wide slate of outdoor recreation and fishing year-round, but its all-star seafood, the scallop, makes its grand appearance in summer. Scallop season runs from mid-June through early September, and if you’re interested in the procurement of the tasty bivalve mollusk, there’s no better time to book one of the area’s vacation condo rentals. The weather here stays warm all year, but gets extremely hot in the height of summer, which also sees the most rainy days of any season. If you do plan your trip in summer, be prepared for both the heat and the humidity, but also keep an eye on weather alerts, as it is hurricane season.

Scallop Season

The state of Florida as a whole is an anglers’ paradise, but Steinhatchee, with its location on the river and the Gulf of Mexico, holds a special place for anglers looking to pull in the local catch, specifically scallops. The summer scallop harvest brings people from all over to Steinhatchee, armed with snorkels, fins, and net bags. The simple gathering can be done from a boat or on shore, you just wade in and dive down to grab the bivalves as they sit on the ocean floor.

Steinhatchee Falls Park

The park surrounding Florida’s widest waterfall offers a gentle hike, viewing points for the falls, and a picnic area. The falls are shallow and the volume of water varies throughout the year, but remains impressive because of the width of the stones over which it flows. A three-mile multi-use loop trail makes for an enjoyable stroll and a good introduction to the local flora and fauna.

Steinhatchee River Paddling Trail

This six-mile beginner paddling route winds through shady, remote wilderness from the limestone ledge that creates Steinhatchee Falls, down through the town of Steinhatchee, and finally out into the Gulf of Mexico. Kayaking or canoeing the gentle waterway is a good way to see shorebirds. And if you bring a fishing pole, you’ll be treated to both freshwater and saltwater fish.