Manatees are an endangered species of marine animal mostly seen in Florida! Here are 5 of the best places to see them in the Tampa Bay Area.
TECO Manatee Viewing Center
TECO Manatee viewing center is located about 20 minutes south of Tampa in Apollo Beach and it’s one of the best places to see manatees in Florida. Manatees gather there during the winter months to find warmth.
Other activities include a “touch tank” which allows visitors to have hands-on encounters with rays and other marine life. You will also find a mile long nature walk through coastal habitat that leads to a 50 foot tall observation tower.
The TECO Manatee viewing center is FREE and one of the best FREE activities to do in Tampa. It’s open daily from November 1st until April 15th from 10am to 5pm.
Crystal River
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is located in Citrus County about an hour north of Tampa. It is the only wildlife refuge that is dedicated to the protection of West Indian Manatees. It is also the only place in Florida where you can swim with manatees.
There are more than 20 springs in the Crystal River Spring Group. Three Sisters Springs and Homosassa Springs are two of the best places to find manatees.
There are several activities available to visitors at Crystal River like wildlife viewing, hiking, guided tours, paddling and fishing.
Three Sisters Springs
Three Sisters Springs is a unit of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. You can either rent a kayak or walk around the boardwalk that offer multiple area to view manatees in their natural environment.
Weeki Wachee Springs State Park
Weeki Wachee is located about an hour North of Tampa. It is an enchanted spring where you can take a river boat cruise, see live mermaids, swim in the waters at Buccaneer Bay and embark on a paddling adventure down the Weeki Wachee River to have a chance of seeing manatees. Manatees are usually in the river from October to April.
Paddling on the Weeki Wachee River is very popular. Click here to rent your kayak and take a trip down the pristine waters of the Weeki Wachee river.
Homosassa Springs
Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is located about an hour North of Tampa and has a manatee educational program that allows visitors to view manatees in their natural habitat thanks to the Fish Bowl Underwater Observatory. This observatory floats in the main spring and is perfect for an up-close view of the spring, fish and manatees.
The park also has elevated boardwalks which allow an elevated view into the natural habitats of the wildlife that includes manatees but also Florida panther, red wolf, bobcat and alligators.
Other activities include birding, hiking and geo-seeking.