Manatees

[margi7]

Hiyaz,
I absolutley luv manatees is there anywhere near Orlando or Sarasota where i could swim or see them? We'll be in Orlando September (late). For one weekend in Sarasota.
Thanks, Lance*Luver
:p

[JuviRex11]

Well, I was born and grew up in Sarasota, which is located in Manatee County. If you go out of Sarasota over the drawbridge to Bradenton, there are tons of places to swim with Manatees.

[Gonzo]

Check out "The Living Seas" @ Epcot Center. It's pretty cool. The last time I was there, the one manatee was just floating on the bottom for an extended period of time. I thought it had died.

[mom42860]

ok thanks, but... do is it on the beach do we just hop out of the water and go swimming with them or is it like a little park that hosts it???

[PlutoPal]

You can check them out at the Living Seas at Epcot!

[PigSoldier]

Not as good as seeing them in the wild, but there's a whole manatee exhibit at Sea World. You can see them above and below water, talk to a trainer about them, and watch films etc.
Not as good as the wild, but also far better than Living Seas at Epcot.

[Rhian]

I visited Crystal River last in October '99 and whilst taking a boat out was priviliged enough to have six wild manatees swim right under us.
They were really beautiful and it was the highlight of the holiday-definitely a moment I will never forget.

You can see manatees at the Living Seas and Homosassa Springs, but there's nothing like seeing them in the wild. I was so lucky because they are becoming extinct.:(

[PigSoldier]

Wow Rhian! You are soo lucky :D .
When we go to Orlando in October, we'e going on a boat trip on Crystal River. I'm really hoping we'll be as lucky as you.
What other animals did you see? Do you know if this happens often, or were you just really lucky?
I am soooo jealous right now :p .

[Rhian]

lol:D

Where are you staying in Crystal River? We stayed at the Plantation Inn Golf Resort (but we don't play golf)and the river ran right past our room.
We didn't see any other animals apart from birds, but we also went to Homosassa Springs and saw lots of wild animals. Our boat went right under a big yellow and black spiders' web!

Two of the manatees which we saw were a mother and calf-it was amazing.

Have fun and I hope you get to catch a rare glimpse of some wild manatees too.:D

[PigSoldier]

Wow, thanks for all the information :D, I really hope I can see some when I go.
We won't actually be staying at Crystal River, just going there for one day.

[Rhian]

Have a great time, PigSoldier:D

[margi7]

Thanks so much i went to sea wolrd and it was my favorite area there. but we never really explored seaworld, BUMMER!!! Thanks!! Lance luver