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ureout
02-15-2018, 07:31 PM
where is a good place to go see the manatees? are the tours worth the money or is there other ways to see them thx.
Brenda.ball
02-15-2018, 07:36 PM
Three Sisters in Crystal River.
Ooper
02-15-2018, 11:53 PM
Homasassa State Park, about an hour west of The Villages is a manatee refuge. You can watch them feeding and caring for the manatees as well as a walking zoo with hundreds of animals and a boat ride up a river. Short trip, great day.
juneroses
02-16-2018, 06:43 AM
Tampa Electric has a free viewing center. The first time I visited, I noticed all the big boulders in the river - then I realized they were manatees. It's very easy to see them from the boardwalk.

Manatee Viewing Center - Tampa Electric (http://www.tampaelectric.com/company/mvc/)
OpusX1
02-16-2018, 08:36 AM
Blue Springs State Park near Deland. Florida State Parks (https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Blue-Spring) If you go when it's cooler you will see 200-300 wild manatees. Cost is $5 per car load.
petsetc
02-16-2018, 08:46 AM
Another vote for Blue Springs. I've been to a bunch of them and none compare to Blue Springs. They control # of cars so you may have a bit of a wait in line, but it's worth it since that also prevents too many people at once. Go to their site to see if the manatees are in before going.

Webcams - Save the Manatee Club (https://www.savethemanatee.org/manatees/manatee-webcams/)
Sandtrap328
02-16-2018, 09:36 AM
I agree Blue Springs State Park is a great place to see manatees. I was there about a month ago and the Park Service said they had counted 279 manatees that morning.

$5 a car admission. However, Florida does have the state parks free for life for disabled veterans. Check on the Florida state park website for required documents.
eweissenbach
02-26-2018, 01:38 PM
I agree Blue Springs State Park is a great place to see manatees. I was there about a month ago and the Park Service said they had counted 279 manatees that morning.

$5 a car admission. However, Florida does have the state parks free for life for disabled veterans. Check on the Florida state park website for required documents.

Four votes for Blue Spring.