Closest Manatee?

[ElenaJane]

Hello! We will be staying in Orlando for a week, the end of January/beginning of February. I think in the winter, the Manatees swim to warmer springs. Does anyone know of the closest place to likely view them in the wild (closest to Orlando)? I was looking for a day trip away from Orlando to see some natural Florida.

TIA!!

 

[Grumpy92]

Apollo Beach is probably the closest. Crystal River is a great location but is a little bit of a drive.
http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/t...ive-great-places-to-see-florida-manatees.html

 

[bankr63]

Blue Spring State Park is great. Just barely North of Orlando, and very reasonable admission fees.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Blue-Spring

We can highly recommend the boat tour of the St Johns River that leaves from inside the park as well. The guides are very knowledgeable and you will see an astonishing array of wildlife.

 

[ElenaJane]

Apollo Beach is probably the closest. Crystal River is a great location but is a little bit of a drive.
http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us/t...ive-great-places-to-see-florida-manatees.html

That is a great site! I guess I am not the only Manatee fan. Crystal River may be worth the drive as there were "a hundred" Manatees spotted there!

 

[ElenaJane]

Blue Spring State Park is great. Just barely North of Orlando, and very reasonable admission fees.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Blue-Spring

We can highly recommend the boat tour of the St Johns River that leaves from inside the park as well. The guides are very knowledgeable and you will see an astonishing array of wildlife.

There is a live Manatee cam!!! I could check them out before driving there. So cool!

 

[disney world dreamer]

its not in the wild but my family has personally always loved homosassa springs which is along crystal river (known as the home of the manatee).

there's other animals as well including lou the hippo who is about 55yrs old. we have many pics of lou. he's our favorite hippo in the whole world!

and while you're in the neighborhood you could swing by weeki wachee springs (home of the mermaid) and take in a mermaid show and a river tour on crystal river.

 

[ElenaJane]

its not in the wild but my family has personally always loved homosassa springs which is along crystal river (known as the home of the manatee).

there's other animals as well including lou the hippo who is about 55yrs old. we have many pics of lou. he's our favorite hippo in the whole world!

and while you're in the neighborhood you could swing by weeki wachee springs (home of the mermaid) and take in a mermaid show and a river tour on crystal river.

I have always wanted to go to Weeki Wachee (and it is fun to say) but the drive seems a bit much from Orlando. However, Homosassa Springs sounds really cool! And the 365-day availability of animals is intriguing. Thanks!

 

[disney world dreamer]

I have always wanted to go to Weeki Wachee (and it is fun to say) but the drive seems a bit much from Orlando. However, Homosassa Springs sounds really cool! And the 365-day availability of animals is intriguing. Thanks!

weeki wachee is only a few minutes drive from homosassa so if you go to both on the same day its not bad at all.
thats what we do.

 

[Miumiu4me]

Weeki Wachee in January...meh. It is pretty, but if you can't go in the water it's not worth the drive. We went yesterday. It is pretty, but it is a solid 2 hours from Orlando.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

Blue Springs will be closest. Less than an hour from Orlando.

 

[powellrj]

We have gone to Blue Springs before to see them.