Manatees are the well-loved gentle giants many visitors in Florida want to see. And trust me, I get it! Their cute lil’ nose boops when they come up for a breath, the way they munch on the sea grass, their plump round bodies and curious nature, it’s hard not to adore manatees.
While you can find manatees in Florida year-round, during the winter months, they tend to gather around warm water sources like the Florida springs or power plants. When I say “warm water” I don’t mean “warm” by human standards – this isn’t the Bahamas. Manatees are large mammals who need water to be above 68 degrees Fahrenheit to survive, otherwise they risk getting “cold stress” which can be fatal. To prevent this from happening, manatees will migrate to those warmer waters. The Florida springs tend to be a popular spot amongst manatees because the water is consistently 72 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are hoping to see some manatees in Florida, consider visiting one of these 5 fantastic spots!
Crystal River, Florida
Crystal River is the Manatee Capital of the World, and is one of the only places where you can swim with manatees in Florida. It is also home to the only manatee refuge in the USA!
It’s important to remember that swimming with manatees is an absolute privilege and should be handled responsibly. Please do not initiate contact with manatees, feed them, or chase them. Instead, politely observe them from a respectable distance.
What if a manatee approaches me?
Silver Springs State Park
This state park in Silver Springs, FL has a lot to offer besides just manatees, but manatees are an excellent feature! While you can’t swim at Silver Springs, you are allowed to bring or rent SUPs and kayaks. You’re going to have the highest chance of seeing a manatee during the winter months: November – March. I highly recommend renting a clear kayak for your day’s adventures so you don’t miss any potential manatee sightings.
Silver Springs State Park also has a lot of other activities to offer including hiking, a history museum, birding, and even glass bottom tours! You can easily spend 1 or 2 days exploring this park.
Silver Glen Springs
Another beautiful location to see manatees is Silver Glen Springs. Silver Glen Springs is a must-see tropical oasis in Central Florida and is located 90 minutes north of Orlando. It has some of the clearest water I’ve ever seen in my life, and is surrounded by Ocala National Forest. There’s a spring run that empties into Lake George that you can kayak or paddle board through.
Swimming IS allowed at Silver Glen Springs but only in the designated swimming area. All boats (including non-motorized boats like kayaks) must remain outside of the swimming area.
There is an admission fee, and during certain months there is also a required vehicle reservation and fee on top of your admission fee. Visit ReserveOcala.com for more information.
Manatee Lagoon Discovery Center
Manatee Lagoon is a special facility located next to Florida Power & Light Company’s (FPL) Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center. It’s called Manatee Lagoon because, as you guessed, manatees love to huddle up in the warm water outputs from the Clean Energy Center.
There’s a very large outdoor two-story observation deck for visitors to spot manatees from. You can also head inside to the discovery center to learn about manatees
This is a FREE attraction to visit, and while you won’t be getting on the water to observe these creatures, it’s very likely you will see a large number of them. You can also check out their live Manatee Cam any time of the day or night. I honestly could watch this stream for hours!
Lake Wyman
This one is a little lesser known, but still can be a great place to spot manatees in Boca Raton, FL. You can access boardwalks along the shores of Lake Wyman at Lake Wyman Park, James A. Rutherford Park, or the intracoastal side of Red Reef Park. Hopefully, in getting outside on or around Lake Wyman will bring you the luck you need to spot a manatee!
FAQ: Manatees in Florida
While manatees can be spotted in Florida year-round, manatee season runs from November 15 – March.
The only place you can legally swim with manatees is in Crystal River, Florida.
If a manatee approaches you, try to maintain the “look, don’t touch” rule. While they are very cute and usually very friendly creatures, they are still wild animals and should be treated with the respect all wild animals deserve. Check out these Manatee Manners for more regulations and guidelines!
No! Manatees are generally very docile creatures. However, if you do encounter a manatee, it is standard practice to give it plenty of space so avoid it becoming threatened. A threatened wild animal is never predictable.
