It’s Manatee Season in Crystal River, Florida; which means manatees frequent 3 Sisters Springs from mid November to March. Here are Things To Know:
Our favorite way to see these gentle giants is via direct shuttle service provided by the City of Crystal River to the spring’s boardwalk.
Located on the Gulf Coast of Florida, Crystal River is an hour and 45 mins west of Orlando and even better and an hour west of The Villages.
The manatee count was at a 100 plus when we got our shuttle tickets at the 3 Sister Springs Center.
Passing through the charming shops and restaurants in Heritage Village on Citrus Avenue, you know you’re on the way to something amazing.
The main springs entrance sign states access is for the trolley service, handicap vehicles with permit, and walk ins and bicyclists. On site parking and vehicular traffic is limited due to the springs being on a wildlife refuge.
Once we arrived, we were anxious to find out if there were any manatees at the springs.The water was calm and clear and the whole place was so peaceful.
A winding boardwalk with a canopy of moss-covered trees surround the springs. We walked to find any signs of manatees in the water.
At the end of the boardwalk is where we saw a small group of manatees which is what these kayakers were observing. The area was teeming with other wildlife as well.
Despite arriving about 9:30, the weather was not cold of enough for a ton of manatees to congregate at the actual 3 sister springs. We did see a precious manatee by the water’s edge.
The sign at the visitor center did say most of them are on Magnolia Ave.
After enjoying some more peace and calm soaking the beauty of nature, we headed on a trail towards Magnolia Springs Ave. It was about a 6 minute walk on gravel beyond the boardwalk to reach the viewing area.
You’ve arrived once you see the large Magnolia Springs Viewing Area sign.
Unlike the springs, the water in this canal is darker as you can see.
But we can tell there were dozens of manatees because they bobbed up and down the water’s surface to come up for air.
One helpful tip from a volunteer said to bring polaroid glasses which takes the glare off the water’s surface helping you see the manatees better.
There are a couple of benches available within the viewing area.
If you go, I recommend going as early in the morning as possible when manatees are most active and when crowds are less. Soon, the trolley was back to pick up passengers. They run about every 30 minutes.
Our next stop was at the Crystal River Wildlife Refuge Office and Visitor Center where they have a new area dedicated to learning all about the manatee, it’s habitat, and how to protect them.
Don’t forget to check out the back of the facility where they have a grassy area, more majestic trees and water views overlooking Kings Bay.
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Click on Crystal River’s 5 Must Do’s if you want to know other spots to check out. • Crystal River Florida ...
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20 авг 2024
