Manatee Park

Manatee Park Review

Here you may glimpse Florida's most famous, yet often hard to spot, marine mammal. When gulf waters are cold—usually from November to March—the sea cows congregate in these waters, which are warmed by the outflow of a towering nearby power plant. Pause at any of the three observation decks (the first nearest the outflow and last at the lagoon usually yield the most sightings) and watch for bubbles. Hydrophones on the last deck allow you to eavesdrop on their songs. Periodically (more frequently on cold days) one of the mammoth creatures—mature adults weigh hundreds of pounds—will surface. Calusa Blueway Outfitters (see) runs the visitor center's gift shop and offers kayak rentals, clinics, and tours to paddle the canals and get closer to the gentle giants.