Manatees are sometimes known as ‘sea cows’ and they are one of the most delightful creatures to be found anywhere in Florida.  They are very gentle sea creatures and are mainly herbivores.  They graze in the shallow waters off the coast of Florida, or else in the rivers.  They eat many different plant types including mangrove leaves, and even certain types of algae.  If you take a very close look at their faces you will notice that they have a divided upper lip, which enables them to eat the plant easily.  Amazingly, an adult manatee can eat nearly 9% of its body weight each day, which could amount to around 30 pounds in weight.  They only have 6 teeth which continuously fall out and are then replaced.

Manatees can grow up to a length of between 9 feet and 10 feet and can weigh up to 1200 lbs, with the females being the heaviest.  They do not swim very fast, usually around 3 to 5 miles per hour, although they can swim at a speed of up to 15 miles per hour for short periods of time.  The manatee uses its paddle shaped tail to propel itself along, as it glides through the water.

A baby manatee weighs a staggering 15 pounds and an adult can live for anything up to 60 years.  They only breed every other year, as their gestation period lasts around 12 months.  They give birth to just one calf, which feeds from its mother for up to 18 months.  In fact, manatees are quite intelligent, and can demonstrate the sort of task learning and discrimination usually associated with dolphins.  They also show signs of having a long term memory as well as being capable of understanding discrimination tasks.  Unlike dolphins however, the manatee is generally a solitary creature and spends most of its life on its own.

Florida is the ideal location for the manatee to live as they have a low metabolic rate, which means that they cannot endure cold temperatures.  Indeed, they cannot survive at temperatures below 15 degrees Centigrade, so they migrate up warm spring fed rivers during the winter months.

If you want to see manatees in the winter then Crystal River and Blue Springs are the places to go.  Here, the water is maintained at a constant 22 degrees Centigrade all year round, so the manatees congregate around these warm springs.

Sadly, manatees are quite vulnerable.  Although they have few natural enemies apart from sharks, whales, crocodiles and alligators, it is man made dangers that are the main problem.  Manatees are particularly susceptible to injury from boats and their propellers.  Many manatees carry the scars of altercations with motor boats, and wounds are often fatal.  In fact, it is illegal under Florida law to cause manatees injury or harm.  Nevertheless, whilst the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission do not recognise them as being endangered, they have to be protected, and so they have been declared by them to be ‘threatened’ although under federal law they are still endangered.

If you are lucky enough to visit Orlando in the winter months, from mid November, then do take the opportunity to go and visit one of their winter habitats.  They are delightful and non aggressive creatures which are quite curious.  A visit to Crystal River or Blue Springs will be well worthwhile, as manatees congregate in waters warmed by the springs.  You can even swim with them here.

We visited Crystal River a short while ago and took a tour to swim with the manatees and it was a totally wonderful experience and we can highly recommend it.  The trip starts very early (around 6.30 am), as this is the best time to see them in action.  You are provided with a wet suit, fins, snorkel and even an underwater camera to take some memorable photos.  Bouyancy aids are available for people who are not strong swimmers.  We were taken out into the river where the Manatees live and found them around 20 minutes later.  Please be aware that there is no guarantee that you will see them although most days they will be there.  The captain stopped the boat and we descended into the very, very cool waters to take a look around.  The captain of the boat only makes one trip a day and so we were able to spend as much time as we liked in the water.  We had around two hours and were not pushed to return to the boat at all.  We swam around with the Manatees, stroked them and took photos.  We really would recommend this trip to everyone.

There is no food as such in this inlet but the manatees are drawn by the warm water, and it is only when the water in the gulf is cold that they will venture into this inlet. One can imagine that in the summer months when the gulf is 85 degrees or so the water around the power plant would be unbearably hot for the Manatees.

The best time of day to visit is in the morning or around noon when the sun is behind you or overhead, it is much easier to see them rather than later in the day.

The volunteers are helpful and informative, and pleased to educate the tourists.

Best of all apart from a $1 car park fee, its free.

Funnily enough it’s called Manatee Park and is located right off interstate 75 on State Road 80 in Fort Myers. It is a small park with a playground and picnic benches but Manatees are the main attraction. There is a small gift shop and drink machines.

Manatee Park
5761 Palm Beach Bvld
Fort Myers

Telephone Number 239 432 2004

We have often been strolling along a beach on the gulf coast and seen a glimpse of what we believed to be manatees, so it was nice to go somewhere and see them in all there glory in their natural environment

It is possible to arrange an entire vacation around visits to the theme parks – but it is always good to find an alternative way of spending a few hours.  Especially when it is something which simply isn’t available at home – at least for UK and European visitors.

So we can thoroughly recommend an airboat ride as a great ‘tourist attraction’ – slightly off the beaten track, yet typically Floridian.

One option is to drive down to the Everglades, where airboat rides will skim you across the lakes – yet there are similar trips available much closer to the attractions area in central Florida.

Our favourite is at Boggy Creek, just minutes away from Orlando International Airport (close enough that you can read the writing on the sides of the jets as they land at the airport!).  Here you can join an airboat ride which takes you across East Lake Toho – a typical daytime trip lasts around 30 minutes, with a very different experience available after nightfall.

This is an opportunity to see the local wildlife, including eagles and turtles, as well as alligators.  And in an 18 seater airboat, at high speeds skimming across the water amongst the reeds – do take up the option of earphones, as the engine on these boats is loud, to say the least!

So – a few tips to enjoy your airboat ride:

Take a discount voucher with you – these are widely available in many tourist brochures, distributed at kiosks, malls and supermarkets.  A couple of dollars saved on the cost can be very welcome!

Wear shades – the sun is very bright on the water.  And there will inevitably be a few insects, so shades will protect your eyes at speeds of up to 50 mph.

Wear a sun-block – its not worth the risk of sunburn.

Booking is not always necessary – but be prepared for a short wait at the coffee bar, or an opportunity to grab a bite to eat.

Sebastian has one 18-hole golf course, and several more are within a short distance of town.  It is also a favourite location for sky diving.

Route 512, from I-95 to Sebastian, passes through cattle ranches, citrus groves and some of the area’s light industry, giving the motorist a flavour of the diversity of the Sebastian River Area.  Route 512 then continues east across the Indian River to Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, which contains Dodger Town, the former spring home to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

www.floridastateparks.org/stsebastian

Located to the west side of Sebastian, the St Sebastian River Preserve State Park is a place to see ‘natural Florida’, with open grassy forests of longleaf pine forming a backdrop to cypress domes, scrubby flatwoods, sandhills and a strand swamp.  Over 50 protected species inhabit this area.

There are many miles of trails to be explored on foot, or by bicycle or on horseback, as well as canoeing, boating and fishing on the St Sebastian River.  Launching facilities can be found outside the park, at Dale Wimbrow Park and a canoe launch north of County Road 512.

Park Opening Hours:       8am until sundown 365 days a year.

Visitor Centre Hours:      9.00am – 4.30pm Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Admission Fee:               No entrance fee.

Primitive Camping Fee:   $5.00 per person per night, plus tax.

Driving Directions:

North Entrance (Visitor Centre & Manatee Vista): Exit I-95 at County Road 514 to reach County Road 507.  Entrance is off Babcock Street, just north of the C-54 Canal.

South Entrance: Off Fellsmere Road (County Road 512) 1.8 miles east of I-95.

Address:

1000 Buffer Preserve Drive
Fellsmere, Florida 32948

Phone: 321-953-5005
Fax: 321-953-5006

Sebastian Inlet State Park

www.sebastianinletcam.com

Actually located on S Atlantic Avenue that runs the length of the peninsular from Cape Canaveral, it is actually 3 miles by water, 16 miles by land from Sebastian to Sebastian Inlet State Park.  This park covers 600 acres and spans both sides of Sebastian Inlet.

Sebastian Inlet is one of six inlets that connect the Indian River Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean.  The Indian River Lagoon actually extends 156 miles over 6 costal counties in all and five state parks.

Sebastian Inlet provides three miles of beautiful beaches to swim, scuba dive, snorkle or just sunbathe.  Sebastian Inlet is also home to Florida east coast’s best saltwater fishing, and where snook, redfish, bluefish, croakers, jacks and tarpon are plentiful (As of 01/08/09, a shoreline fishing permit must be purchased).  The north jetty extends into the Atlantic, whilst the south side has a smaller jetty allowing access to the rocks.  Also on the south side is the ‘cleaning table’ as well as the L-Dock, where anglers cast jigs and bump the bottom to entice the fish.

Many surfing tournaments take place at Sebastian Inlet every year – see website for current dates.  As well as the north jetty and inlet, another popular surfing spot is Monster Hole, which forms long lines of waves, and is located 1/3 mile off the beach, on the south side of Sebastian inlet.

The tidal pool on the north and west of the bridge is a great place for families to bathe.

Sebastian Inlet State Park also has two museums, both open 7 days per week 10am – 4pm:

The McLarty Treasure Museum: Recounting the history of the 1715 Spanish treasure fleet

The Sebastian Fishing Museum: Recounting the history of the area’s fishing industry

The Hammock Trail provides a relaxing mile-long stroll through the park, and there is a marina located one mile north of the Sebastian Inlet bridge, which provides a food concession and a gift shop, open 9.00am – 5.00pm daily.

There is also a boat ramp, picnic areas, camping facilities and a bait and tackle shop (not open Tuesdays & Wednesdays) where fishing licences can be bought.

A concession stand also rents out canoes, kayaks and paddleboats.

Also, take a look at the website to find when concerts are held at the pavilion on Coconut Point, located on the south side of Sebastian Inlet, which overlooks the water, and provides an ideal platform for a musical interlude.

Park Admission Fee:    
$8.00 per vehicle (Limit 2 – 8 people per vehicle). 
$4.00 per single occupant vehicle.
$2.00 pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers.

Camping Fee:        

$28.00 per night, plus tax (includes water & electricity).

Driving Directions:                               

From Indian River County (i.e. South): Exit I-95 at Fellsmere/Sebastian exit, and go east on County Road 512 (towards Sebastian).  Turn right on County Road 510 and intersect with US Highway 1.  Continue over the Indian River, to State Road A1A.  Turn left and head for 7 miles on State Road A1A.

From Brevard County (i.e. North): From I= 95 take the US 192 exit and go east to State Road A1A in Indialantic.  Turn right (south) on State Road A1A and continue for 18 miles.

Address:

9700 South A1A
Melbourne Beach, Florida 32951

Phone: 321-984-4852
Fax: 321-984-4854

One of the trips I would like to recommend to anyone going out to Florida is an air boat ride. We picked the one on the Boggy Creek road as it is only 19 miles away and an easy 25 minute drive and you don’t have to book either.

The cost per ticket is $25 for ½ hour and slightly less for kids but do look in the attraction tickets booklets in Wallmarts for money off coupons for this and others.

We only waited a short while for our time slot and the waiting area was under cover which as the temperature that day was over 100’ was very welcome. There was an area also that you could look into that held quite a few young crocodiles.

Our number was called and we picked up our ear defenders before boarding. These are necessary as the noise from the engine fan at the rear is quite loud. The boat holds approximately 30 people and we were lucky enough to get the first 2 rows.

The boat goes quite fast and twists and turns before slowing down and moving into a small inlet with reeds and shallow water. All of a sudden we saw a croc and edged closer to it. It was about 4 foot long and was only about 18 inches from the side of the boat. All of a sudden he opened his mouth and we all edged away although it wouldn’t have been able to get near anyone on the boat.

We then went to another inlet and saw another croc but it scuttled away before we could get some more pictures.

The boat then picked up speed and for the next 10 minutes we were flying all through the weeds and across the water, zig zagging as we went along. The kids loved it.

All too soon it was time to go back to shore but the highlight of the day was to get to hold a small croc and have your photo done with it. I’m very glad to say that his jaws were firmly taped together.

Believe it or not, the manatee, or “Sea Cow” is a distant cousin of the elephant, and scientists have traced them both back some 60 million years to a common ancestor. Their forelimbs contain three to four fingernails, very similar to an elephant’s.

Manatees are herbivores, eating only aquatic plants, and typically grow to about 2,000 pounds and almost 12 feet. Unhappily, their backs often bear the marks of boat propeller scars, as they tend to graze near the surface of shallow water. They have no natural predator, but contact with humans (and their boats!) along with loss of feeding grounds (also down to the humans) has made them an endangered species

So Where Can I see Manatees in the Orlando area?

The easy answer, of course, is at Sea World, but it might be more fun to see them in the wild. We have seen manatees on the Gulf Coast where they congregate around docks in the summer months, and around the Merritt Island area by The Kennedy Space Center.

In the cooler months, however, the ocean gets too cold for manatees, so they look for warmer waters. They typically come to inland Florida waters via rivers and canals.

The best place to see manatees inland is at Blue Spring State Park, just off the St. Johns River  (you can get there on the I4), between November and March. There they have a boardwalk which gives perfect viewing.

If you want to get up close and personal, go to the Crystal River area, and go snorkelling or rent a small boat. As many as 300 manatees winter in the Crystal River area on the West coast, 80 miles north of Tampa, and less than 2 hours from Orlando. Again, the best time is from late November until the end of February and it is recommended to avoid weekends if you want to avoid the crowds.

Strangely enough, the Tampa Electric Company is a great place to see manatees during the colder weather. The company’s Big Bend Station on Tampa Bay attracts manatees in winter to its warm-water discharge and they have built a special manatee viewing centre with a viewing platform, open from early December to March (closed Monday and Tuesday). From the I-75 in Tampa take the ApolloBeach exit onto Big Bend road. The viewing centre is at a turn after the road’s intersection with U.S. 41.

Happy mermaid hunting!

Andy Brownlie

• The Trail is only open during daylight hours, and alcoholic drinks are prohibited.
• Pedestrians and handicapped have the right of way, wheelchairs should use the pedestrian lanes and electric handicap wheelchairs are always permitted
• Bicyclists are required to obey all traffic controls and signals
• Cyclists are not permitted to wear headphones at any time and under age 16, they must wear a helmet
• Electric bicycles and motorised vehicles (except wheelchairs, maintenance, law enforcement and emergency vehicles) are not allowed on the Pinellas Trail, nor are horses
• Bicyclists and skaters should obey the posted speed limits. No racing or race training
• Skaters should use the bicycle lanes, and both skaters and cyclists should give an audible warning when passing
• Pets must be kept on a max. 6 foot leash and under control

We have vacationed as a family in Central Florida for the last eight years spending a total of over 25 weeks in the sunshine state.  When planning our next trips the first question asked by my children is “can we get a pontoon boat on Crystal River?”.  We have also invited friends to spend time with us on vacation and always include this day out as part of the trip.  Needless to say they usually mark this down as the highlight of their vacation. So with this kind of recommendation I feel sure you will appreciate some tips as to how to maximise the enjoyment of your day on Crystal River.

The journey up to Homosassa from Orlando, (I Drive) or the Davenport / 192 area via Highway 27 and Clermont, takes about one and a half hours.  It is a pleasant enough trip combining two lane state roads and the Turnpike with plenty of things to see on the way.

Aim to arrive in Homosassa at around 11.30am and call in at the Publix on the SR19 it is very close to W.Yulee Drive the main road leading down to the riverbank.  They have a well stocked hot food counter which is ideal to stock up the picnic items which you can enjoy when you get to the boat. 

A half day rental of a pontoon for 10 people will cost around $120 including fuel.  You can chose any of the boat rental houses around monkey island and you will pay the same and be very well looked after in all of them.  You will get a boating briefing before setting out, and you are given maps to help you navigate.  You don’t need any previous experience and even first timers will be happy at the controls within a matter of minutes. Once away from the boathouse you are free to enjoy cruising and absorbing all the wonderful wildlife that the tropical river has to offer.  Birds and manatees are plentiful and you will cruise past shoals of fish.  There is a lovely lagoon where you can drop anchor and enjoy a swim or head in the other direction out towards the ocean.

The boat will need to be returned around 5 pm and once back on dry land you can relax and enjoy the drive back to Orlando.  Passing the frequent billboards advertising all the attractions that Orlando has to offer, whilst reflecting on you day in wilderness, is a great way to recharge your batteries and whet your appetite to restart your vacation in the entertainment capital of the world.

The landscape has definitely changed since my annual walk last August in 2008. The two huge lakes are a cluster of five to six smaller lakes which make walking around them a lot easier. You can see all the lakes by taking the sand foot paths which surround them and dissect their locations, this was not possible last year.

The woods were great to walk through, and the wild life was very rewarding. I saw lots of species of birds including a wood pecker with a red head. I saw my first Armadillo, a young one I think, it scurried away when it saw me, it must have been more frightened of me than I was of it.

On the first lake we came to we saw a pair of nesting cranes. Their nest was on the ground on an island in a small lake. We walked within thirty yards of the nest and could see quite clearly two young chicks. There were two types of herons, white ibis and lots of waders.

I had a camera with me, but the thing that I missed most was a pair of binoculars, my next trip will include these as well as a bird field guide. I must say I see something different on each walk, it is so relaxing and rewarding to be up close to Central Florida bird and wild life within a few minutes walk from the villa.

This was the perfect escape from the theme parks and a perfect way to watch the Florida sun go down. This is just one of the many benefits when you book at

www.mickeyswoodlandretreat.co.uk

Please come and try it for yourselves, Florida is not just full of theme parks!