Manatee springs

Florida manatees are tropical animals living at the northern edge of their range. When the Gulf and the rivers drop below about 68°F, they move into the springs, where the outflow holds a constant 72°F. That is why the viewing season runs from roughly mid-November through March, with the largest gatherings on the coldest mornings of January and February. On a warm winter day many animals leave the springs to feed, so the count at any one site swings with the weather.

Kings Bay at Crystal River is the only place in the United States where in-water interaction with wild manatees is legal, under U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules enforced by licensed tour operators. Three Sisters Springs, inside the bay, is the signature site and is closed to swimmers when manatee numbers are high; the boardwalk in the refuge stays open. Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park keeps a resident population viewable year-round from an underwater observatory. Blue Spring State Park on the St. Johns River is the closest winter refuge to Orlando, posts a daily manatee count in season, and closes its run to swimming from mid-November through March so the animals can rest.

Rules protect the animals and they are enforced: no chasing, no touching an animal that does not approach you, no feeding, no flash photography underwater, and idle-speed zones on the water. Passive observation from a boardwalk or a kayak at a respectful distance is the low-impact option. If you want an in-water tour, book with a Crystal River operator in advance; the January and February weekends sell out weeks ahead.