seeing manatees
 

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.

Three Sisters in Crystal River.

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.

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

Blue Springs State Park near Deland. Florida State Parks If you go when it's cooler you will see 200-300 wild manatees. Cost is $5 per car load.

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

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.