Anyone interested in Manatees?

[snelsonbrown]

Here in Brevard County exalty one mile south of the Radisson, you can take your family to see the manatees in the wild (well as wild as they can get in the River) - if anyone is interested just let me know and will put directions down how to get to it - checked it out and it is very pretty interesting.
Always
Shirley

 

[TxJasmine]

Shirley,

Yes, I am very interested in seeing manatees in the wild. How close to the port are they? We are on the 9/14 Magic and will be driving in from MCO that morning. We will also have a car on our return. I know that my kids would love seeing them!

 

[goofysgirl]

yes please post directions Shirley will be on the 10-5 Magic
Thanks

 

[goofysgirl]

yes please post directions Shirley we will be on the 10-5 Magic
Thanks

 

[lzj21428]

We were on the 8/18 Wonder and as we were leaving port a manatee was right there swimming around. My son was so excited I thought he would jump off the verandah.

 

[cumickey]

OOhhh! yes please Shirley, we are going on the 9/21 Magic.

 

[scottie]

Count us in!!

 

[imgoingtodisney]

Shirley - please post directions. We are staying at the Radisson Nov 29th before our Nov 30th cruise. After we get off the plane at 10am and get our Avis we are planning on heading directly over. Thank you
Is there a certain time of the year that the manatees can be seen?

 

[Doctor P]

We visit the Manatees on the other side of Florida at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park where you can see them both in the wild and in reconditioning pools. If you have a chance to see them in the wild, jump at it!

 

[Dancind]

Bumping so I'll know when Shirley posts the directions. My family would love to see the Manatees. Diana

 

[albiats]

I am interested in seeing the Manatees near the Port also.


I have two DGDs that are fascinated by them and I found a good way to hold their interest and give them some education about the Manatees. There is an organization called 'Save the Manatee' that is very active here in Florida and the singer, Jimmy Buffett, is one of the co-founders.

I pay the annual dues of $25 for them and the girls are able to 'adopt' a Manatee. I let them choose from the Manatees that are offered and the subscription fee collected is used to help support them at the State Park where they return every winter. I insist that they choose one of the Manatees that is known to return to a place on the same coast where I live, so we can visit the Manatee in December when the family comes down to visit us. One of the locations is at Blue Spring State Park, near Orange City, Fl. It's about 40 miles southwest of Daytona Beach with an exit off of Interstate 4.

During the winter months, many of the Manatees return to the warm springs where they were born, or where they have found to be comfortable. They usually migrate starting in November and return to the ocean waters in March.

Here's a link to the Save the Manatee site:
http://www.savethemanatee.org

When you adopt a Manatee, you receive lots of information in the mail about them, including photos of 'your' Manatee and a biography of it. Both of my DGDs really enjoy it and they have done school reports about it. I recommend it highly.

hope that helps

 

[snelsonbrown]

Good morning everyone,
I am going over today and check on the manatees spot - it is located on the west side of Ceneral Street right off A1A going south - I was told yesterday that it now has a do not disturb sign and want to make sure that it is fine for those that want to go - to go there - I wish I had them here in the river behind me - I would invite each of you to bring the children down here to see them in action - anyhow will post this evening what I found out - I have always gone there to watch them simply b/c they are such unique animals -
will give all details this evening - sorry it has taken this long to get back with the information - I was thinking this would be so neat for the children and something to do with them while here in Brevard County since we aren't loaded with too much to do with the children.
Always
Shirley

 

[pal2pluto]

Shirley.........you are a most wonderful person.......will you adopt me???

 

[cumickey]

LOL pal2pluto, that's just what I had thought too!. ....you are so thoughtful Shirley, this board is very lucky!

So can you adopt me too?

 

[peagreenid]

WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE MANATEES!!!
(and be adopted by shirley)

smiles Patty

 

[Chattyaholic]

Whenever we go to Florida during the winter to visit my DH's father we always go see the Manatees. There is an electrical plant, but I can't for the life of me remember WHERE it's at...somewhere around the Tampa/Palmetto area....maybe someone else on here will know EXACTLY where it is...but anyway, they welcome visitors and have a large pier for viewing the manatees that come there for the warm water. We also enjoy going to visit "Snooty" the Manatee at the Bradenton Museum.

 

[snelsonbrown]

If it was in my budget I WOULD ADOPT EACH OF YOU simply b/c of the pleasure you bring me - so many folks believe we make hundreds of baskets a month, but we don't BUT even if we did - my biggest pleasure would still be getting to meet all of those that I have met or became my email buddies - so many kept my best friend also known as my hubby in thoughts and prayers when he was in so many medical challengers - by the Grace of God his is now in good health -

now here is the scoop on the manatees - Norm and I went down and took a head of lettuce and fed the whole tribe of them - they acted if that was the dessert of the day - how do you get there - it is EXALTY one mile from the Radisson on the West side of A1A heading South - you will see a huge sign that says Space Coast Tourist Cener - turn right on that street which is called Central Street - go all the way to the end and there you are at the river and the manatees - Now there is no fence but there is a bench to sit at - there is restrictions tho - no loitering, drinking etc - please be careful with the children for the manatees come right up to the edge of the water - they are harmless and there is several babies which I enjoyed watching anyhow wouldn't want anyone to get hurt.

If anyone would like me to pick up some lettuce for you and you can stop by the shop and pick it up, just call me and will have it here for you -
Take care
And as always
Shirley

 

[Dancind]

Shirley, are they there year-round? And is there a certain time of day that's best? We would like to visit them after disembarking from our October cruise. Thanks so very much! Diana

 

[imgoingtodisney]

thanks so much Shirley - are they there year round?
It's these hidden tips that keep me on the DIS

 

[snelsonbrown]

Hi
Due to the water being warm there during the winter and cool during the summer, yes they are there all year round - Hey when you are getting fed such good food - would you move

This "park" isn't a park - you just get to go to the river and see the manatees at their best - Norm and I go and feed them, but then so does everyone else - if you need better directions, just drop me a note at snelsonbrown@aol.com

take care
Always
Shirley

years ago, I offered to help the state, at no charge, to keep track of the manatees that used to come up my canal just to get supper and drink from a hose that I would turn on so they could drink water - yep they love fresh water - I did this for over 5 years keeping a chart of the ones that came - all had names of course - Its a memory I still relish.