Rare lucywestie Posted August 24, 2017 #1 Share Posted August 24, 2017 In mid December we disembark from our 7 day Rhapsody cruise in Tampa and then will be driving to Fort Lauderdale to spend the night before embarking on another cruise out of Miami. Just wondering if any locals know where we might be able to stop along the way to have a chance at viewing Manatee's in the wild. From Google maps we would be driving down to Naples then across the Everglades to FL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_BJ Posted August 24, 2017 #2 Share Posted August 24, 2017 Apollo Beach (east side of Tampa Bay) http://www.tampaelectric.com/company/mvc/ Ft Meyers http://www.leegov.com/parks/facility?fid=0088 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brunello22 Posted August 24, 2017 #3 Share Posted August 24, 2017 If you take a different route to head east across the state (70 to 710), in between West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach, there is Manatee Lagoon: http://www.visitmanateelagoon.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
capriccio Posted August 24, 2017 #4 Share Posted August 24, 2017 If you take a different route to head east across the state (70 to 710), in between West Palm Beach and Riviera Beach, there is Manatee Lagoon: http://www.visitmanateelagoon.com/ I second this recommendation. Viewing is especially good on a cooler day in the winter -- we saw over 50 manatees the first time we went shortly after it opened (and zero the second time in late March on a warm day). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNBR Posted August 24, 2017 #5 Share Posted August 24, 2017 I can't think of anything really "on the way" - other than a few viewing areas that SOMETIMES have manatees. It's a shot in the dark. Better off visiting Sea World next time you are in Orlando - much better view of them, too. Or trying to make a trip out of the manatees and swimming with/viewing them in the springs further north. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_BJ Posted August 24, 2017 #6 Share Posted August 24, 2017 if ya wanna change your route I can send ya to a dozen places around Melbourne FL ... they clog our canals at that time of the year .... in some places you could walk across them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare lucywestie Posted August 25, 2017 Author #7 Share Posted August 25, 2017 Thanks for the replies. Looks like we will change the route and head to the Manatee Lagoon. No great rush to be in Fort Lauderdale early so we have lots of time to spare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjmsbu09 Posted August 31, 2017 #8 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Try Crystal River. It's a bit North of Tampa but the river was full of manatees Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjmsbu09 Posted August 31, 2017 #9 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brunello22 Posted August 31, 2017 #10 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Sent from my iPad using Forums I went snorkeling one December in Crystal River ... it was amazing swimming with the manatees. We have paddle boards and often see them along the Intracoastal as well as in the inner canals .. they swim alongside or up to our paddle boards sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerryincork Posted September 1, 2017 #11 Share Posted September 1, 2017 We saw Manatees in FL. The north end there's a national park. You pay a small fee to enter. We were just walking along the river when we saw them swimming by the bank 😀 Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adoptionmsw Posted September 1, 2017 #12 Share Posted September 1, 2017 Try Crystal River. It's a bit North of Tampa but the river was full of manatees Sent from my iPad using Forums Just south of Crystal River: Homosassa Wildlife Park. They have an under water viewing area. It's absolutely amazing at feeding time. It's a bit out of your way, a little over an hour north of Tampa, but so worth it. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lands4 Posted September 1, 2017 #13 Share Posted September 1, 2017 You could try Manatee Park in Ft Myers. It is located just off I 75 near a power plant. The manatees gather there in cooler weather. Admission is either free or cheap, I can't remember. Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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