The best places to see wild manatees in Florida

The naturally warm spring waters that flow into the river at Three Sister Springs attract tons of manatees all year-round. During the winter, the spring is closed off so that the manatees can warm up (there can be up to 200 at once in here!) but during the summer, you're free to kayak or canoe with the peaceful beasts-- it's so much cooler than just watching them from the boardwalk!

Admission to Homosassa Springs State Park gets you access to a boat ride up Pepper Creek to its special Wildlife Park. Spy deer, wolves, otters, gators, cranes, and, of course, West Indian manatees, who flock to the warm spring during cold winter months. The park has a floating underwater observatory where you can find unparalleled views of the sea cows, and they offer manatee programs where rangers give tons of great information on manatees (and other native beasts here.) Don't miss the reptile house, either!

Like at Three Sisters, swimming and boating are prohibited during the winter at Blue Spring State Park so that the hoardes of manatees and forage for sea grass and sleep in peace-- did you know that manatees can spend up to 50% of their day snoozing? When it isn't manatee season, guests are welcome to swim and snorkel in the springs. If you can't make it down to see the manatees during the winter, they offer a wild manatee webcam; it's pretty mesmerizing and relaxing!

Lovers Key State Park is awesome for manatee-spotting because it's less crowded than others, and it's a little more undeveloped and natural. It's perfect if you want to kayak with the manatees-- you can bring your own or rent one there, and have the park rangers point you towards the sea cow herds. And, on the bright side, if you don't see manatees, you'll probably at least spot a few bottle-nosed dolphins!

Merritt Island Nat'l Wildlife Refuge: Weirdly, we have NASA to thank for this manatee-spotting preserve. NASA purchased the land to build the Kennedy Space Center and turned the leftover land into a wildlife preserve. Originally intended to protect migratory birds, they've found that all kinds of endangered species have settled into the park. From scrub-jays to wood storks to Eastern Indigo snakes and gopher tortoises, it's definitely been a haven for wildlife-- and yes, you'll see manatees here, too! It's one of the few places where you'll have a chance to spot them all year round.