Vero - Manatee Observation Center

[imgoingtodisney]

Does anyone know anything about this? Only certain times of the year? How do you get there from Vero Beach resort? Cost? etc.?

 

[Regina]

A *bump* to the top.

I don't know if Vero is near Homassassa. That's a well known Manatee refuge.

I hope that someone is familiar with this and can offer their help.

 

[hpygrll]

We were just there and I know there is an observation area by the power plant. I don't remember exact directions, but you go right out of the resort and I believe it's the second big bridge across the intercoastal. The power plant is at the other end on the right. I think that is the place where they are really able to be seen in the winter. There is parking for it right by the power plant, but you can also ask the front desk.

 

[Cap]

We went to the Manatee observation post last March. It's across the Inland Waterway, and a bit south of the DVC Vero site. If you ask at the front desk or the info desk to the right of the front desk, they can give you directions.

It's not a fancy observation site. As you face the power plant, you walk to the left toward the canal. We saw five manatees when we visited.

Hope you have fun.

 

[TinkerbellRules]

Homosassa is no where near Vero. We went to the state park a week ago so my DD could see her adopted Manatee, Ariel . She is there with about 8 other manatees along with a hippo, cougars, etc. It's a rehabilitation refuge for animals.

Go to www.savethemanatee.org for information on adoption. It's only $20 and makes a perfect gift. We adopted Ariel for the obvious reason We watched the manatees for at least a couple hours. HOmosassa is a couple hours northwest of Orlando on the gulf.

 

[nickglover]

Sounds like the manatees gather in the warmer discharge water from the power plant near VB.

Homossasa is about an hour or so north of Tampa.

A great location to view manatee in the winter months is at Blue Springs State Park near Orange City, just off I-4, north of Orlando, on the way to Daytona. Many manatees come into the spring area because the St John's River gets colder than the spring (where the temp is about 72 year-round) - the water is clear and they have walkways above the spring and the spring run to view them.

 

[TinkerbellRules]

I forgot to add. The manatees at Homosassa are there year-round. You can get to any of the park's websites through the above link for Save the Manatee. Look under Manatee Viewing.