Manatees and Florida are synonymous! For hundreds, if not thousands, of years people have been asking, “Where can I see manatees in Florida?”. The answer is everywhere!
Where Can I See Manatees in Florida Near Me?
The 10 best places in Florida to see manatees near me:
- Around Key West, Florida – Key West National Marine Sanctuary is located off the coast of Key West, Florida, and is one of the best places in Florida to see manatees in the winter months. The sanctuary offers boat tours and kayaking excursions that allow visitors to get up close to manatees.
From personal experience, we have frequently viewed manatees in the bay behind Hogfish Bar & Grill on Stock Island. They seem to hang around the boats anchored there where occasionally they are offered fresh lettuce.
We also regularly manatees behind what is called the Hurricane Hole just before you go over the main bridge to Key West. The manatees here seem to be year-round which makes Key West one of the best places in Florida to see manatees.
- Blue Spring State Park is located in Orange City, Florida, about 45 minutes north of Orlando. Blue Spring is home to a large population of manatees. Visitors can see manatees from the park’s boardwalk or from a boat tour.
Manatee and baby at Hurricane Hole in Key West, Florida. - Crystal River is located in Citrus County, Florida, about a 90-minute drive north of Tampa and Clearwater Beach. Crystal River is known for its clear waters and abundance of manatees.
Visitors can see manatees from the shore near the Plantation Inn or at the Three Sisters Springs Park on the outskirts of downtown Crystal River. This is considered one of the best places in Florida to see manatees.
- Weeki Wachee Springs State Park is located in Spring Hill, Florida, just 30 minutes north of Tampa. Weeki Wachee is home to a large population of manatees and mermaids!. Visitors can see manatees from the park’s underwater viewing area and view fun water ballets by resident mermaids.
- Manatee Springs State Park: This park is located in Chiefland, Florida, which is less than an hour southwest of Gainesville. Manatee Springs has a large population of manatees. The Suwanee River borders the park. Visitors can easily see manatees from the park’s boardwalk.
- Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge: This refuge is located on the east coast of Florida, and is home to a large population of manatees. Visitors can see manatees from the refuge’s boardwalk or from a boat tour.
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This article originally appeared here and was republished with permission.
