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Manatee Viewing at Blue Spring State Park

When you think of Florida, cold weather isn’t the first thing to come to mind.  But when the mercury starts to drop, some of the best places to visit are the state’s springs.  That’s where you will be able to see manatees in their natural habitats – a sight that never gets old.  So, when we got our first blast of cold air, guess where we headed?

Blue Spring State Park

Blue Spring State Park in Orange City offers some of the best views of manatees (at least in our opinion).  Considered one of the largest gathering sites for these gentle giants during the winter months, Blue Spring is home to nearly 500 manatees, up from about 40 when research began in the 1970s.

The park offers numerous viewing platforms to see the manatees. Watch from the overlooks, a metal dock or follow the boardwalk to the headspring.  About 1/3 of a mile from the St. Johns River, this first magnitude spring (a spring that discharges water at the rate of 100 cubic feet per second) provides a safe haven for these gentle giants.

Manatees in the spring run

Take the boardwalk to the headspring

What You Will See

If it’s cold outside, there’s no doubt you will observe manatees during your visit to Blue Spring State Park.  Watch as the manatees hang out in the spring run or the spring itself.  Get a glimpse of the manatee mothers swimming alongside their calves, or a group of manatees playing games in the water. See them glide slowly through the water, sit on the bottom of the spring run or perform barrel rolls.  There is something very peaceful about observing these mammals in their habitat.

Manatees of all sizes can be observed in Blue Spring State Park. They can grow up to 10-12 feet in length and can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds. Manatees can live 50 – 60 years in the wild, and according to the Save the Manatee website, some of the same manatees have been spotted in Blue Spring since the early 70s.

Mama and her calf

Injuries to Manatees

Sadly, many manatees receive serious injuries from boats, some from propellers cutting into their skin, or from blunt-force from speeding boaters.  Many of the manatees seen in Blue Spring have scars as evidence of their injuries.  Not all injuries come from boats, however. Some come from nets or fishing line or other items tossed into the water ways.

Water Activities

Canoeing, kayaking, swimming and diving are all suspended in the spring run and the headspring at Blue Spring State Park during the winter months.

Tips for Viewing

Besides Blue Spring State Park, manatees can be seen in many springs, rivers and other waterways around the state during the winter months of November through March.  No matter where you see them, here are a few tips for viewing:

  1. On cold mornings at Blue Spring State Park, arrive early. The park closes its gates once the parking lots are full. Check your destination for site specific information.
  2. Look but don’t touch.
  3. Be patient. Manatees typically come up for air every three to five minutes. However, they can stay underwater for up to 15 – 20 minutes.
  4. When the manatees surface, listen closely for their breathing sounds.
  5. Do not feed them or poke them with anything.
  6. Take along a camera or use your smart phone. They don’t move fast and you can get some great photos!
  7. Sunny days are more picturesque than cloudy days, but you can still see them, even with overcast skies.

Hanging out over the spring

Blue Spring State Park is a 50-minute drive from Orlando and is located on French Avenue in Orange City, west of US Highway 17-92.  Park hours are 8:00 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year.  There is a $6.00 per car charge to get into the park.

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Wakulla Springs State Park

Even when exploring isn’t the main goal for a weekend, there is always a desire to find someplace nearby to visit for the day.  I recently traveled to Tallahassee to see my granddaughter perform in her school’s spring program.  The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for the weekend, and we knew our Saturday plans should include someplace outside.  Our final choice:  Wakulla Springs Lodge and State Park, about 16 miles south of Tallahassee, truly a slice of “old Florida.”

What made this excursion more enjoyable was seeing it through the eyes of my grandkids.

Wakulla Springs State Park | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

First, a little about the park.  Wakulla Springs State Park incorporates 6,000 acres and was developed as a wildlife sanctuary by Edward Ball who purchased the property in 1934.  There is a lodge on the property, one of the largest springs in the world, a nature trail, and a river tour that offers an up-close look at the wildlife along the Wakulla River.

Wakulla Lodge | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The Lodge

The lodge was completed in 1937 and is still operational today.  Walking inside you can’t help but notice its grandeur.  Everything from the grand piano, to the furnishings, to the 10-foot ceilings.

The ceiling at Wakulla Lodge | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Also in the lodge, a bit of its history is on display, including a photograph of some of the original groundskeepers of the park.  It’s funny what kids pick up on, because later in the day when my four-year-old granddaughter was looking through the photos on my phone, she saw that picture and said, “My great-granddaddy is in that picture.”  Her paternal grandmother, along on our trip, says “It was nothing but swamp land, and he and all those men cleared it out and kept the grounds.”

While inside, you don’t want to miss “Old Joe,” an 11-foot 2-inch stuffed alligator. He was once a famous resident along the river, but met with a tragic death in 1966.  Needless to say, he is still a hit – and kids and grandkids are amazed by just how big he was.

Checking out “Old Joe” | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Wakulla Springs was also home to some famous movies.  Tarzan’s Secret Treasure was filmed here in 1941.  Then there was The Creature from the Black Lagoon (1950s) that used Wakulla Springs for most of its underwater scenes.  An FSU student and part-time lifeguard at the springs played the part of the creature in those scenes.  (Both of these movies are talked about more in the River Boat Tour.)

Movie Memorabilia, Wakulla Springs | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Also, a hit of the lodge, the Soda Fountain which offers some delicious sweet treats and is home to the longest marble counter ever built:  70 feet six inches long.

Soda Fountain at Wakulla Lodge | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

The Springs and Boat Tour

Of course the draw to the park is the spring itself.  Wakulla Springs is one of the largest in the world.  It measures 315 feet in diameter, is almost 185 feet deep, and pumps 250 – 300 million gallons of water a day.  A beach and three-story dive tower are favorites among park visitors.

Dive Tower at Wakulla Springs | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

When the water is clear, a glass bottom boat tour can provide beautiful glimpses into the bowl of the spring.  Unfortunately, the boats don’t run as much as they used to and you can no longer see some of the Springs’ treasures:  a mastodon, schools of fish, or Henry-the-Pole-Vaulting Fish.

The River Boat Tour may not offer all of the beauty below the surface, but there is still plenty to see.  A 40-minute leisurely ride around a two-mile loop is a must for visitors.  Our tour guide was friendly, provided answers to questions, and allowed us to drift around points of interest, which included close up views of birds…

alligators…

and amazing views of the river.

Cameras are a must to capture the beauty of this state park.  Binoculars are a good idea, too, even for the youngest of passengers.  As my grandson said, “I can’t see anything without them!”

This is definitely one of those places for the whole family to enjoy.  Plan for a whole day for picnicking, swimming, playing on the playground or visiting inside the lodge.  Just make sure you get your boat tickets early.  They do sell out.

 Floridiana Magazine (FM) Footnote:  Wakulla Springs State Park is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a National Natural Landmark.  It’s believed that Wakulla means “river of the crying bird” or “strange and mysterious waters.”

De Leon Springs State Park

With more than 160 state parks in Florida, it would take a little over three years to visit them all, if you only visited one each weekend.  Those parks are some of the best places to experience the “old” Florida and chances are, no matter where you live in the state, you are within a short driving distance of one of them.

If you live in or near Volusia County, you have a gem in your own backyard – De Leon Springs State Park. The park covers 625 acres and includes a spring that pumps 19 million gallons of water a day and offers something for everyone: water activities, hiking, learning history, picnicking and even pancakes!

Water Activities 

With a spring boasting year round temperatures of 72 degrees, it is a popular location for swimming and snorkeling.  Besides swimming, you can rent canoes, kayaks or paddleboats and explore the paddling trail that provides access to the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge.  There’s also a free boat ramp if you choose to launch your own boat.  And of course, what would water activities be if fishing weren’t included?  Fish in the St. John’s River or the spring run.  Just be sure you have a freshwater fishing license if you plan on casting a line.

Great place for a swim! De Leon Springs State Park | Photo by Doris Keeler, Floridiana Magazine

Rent a canoe to explore the waterways.

Hiking and Birding

De Leon Springs offers up three trails, perfect for both the casual walker and the more serious hiker. One of the trails – The Nature Trail – is a half-mile paved trail and boardwalk that winds through a cypress swamp and leads you to Old Methuselah – a cypress tree that’s more than 500 years old. There are also two other trails – Monkey Island Trail and the Wild Persimmon Hiking Trail.  Wild Persimmon is four miles long and is not for the casual walker.  The park is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, so take along your binoculars and keep an eye to the sky (or the trees).

The Nature Trail to Old Methuselah

 

History

If you are a history buff, there is plenty of history to learn about at De Leon Springs. Nearly 30 years ago a dugout canoe – said to be 6,000 years old – was found in the spring.  Other historical notes include the arrival of the first Spanish friars in the 1590s, the only water-powered sugar mill in Florida, a tourist resort, hotel and casino, a roadside attraction with a jungle cruise, and its current use as the De Leon Springs State Park.  There are plenty of artifacts left over from the time as a sugar mill and most of them are located near the Sugar Mill Restaurant.

One of many historic structures in the park.

Pancakes

Yes! Pancakes!  The Sugar Mill Restaurant at the park is a favorite among guests. Located inside the replica of the old sugar mill, what makes this restaurant unique is that each table has its own griddle.  Visitors are provided  homemade batter and actually pour and flip their own pancakes.  Additional items, like chocolate chips, bananas and blueberries can be ordered to customize your pancakes.  Plan on a wait time, as this is one of the hot spots at the park.

Picnicking

No matter what your reason for visiting the park, make sure you pack a picnic lunch and enjoy eating at one of the picnic tables.  Two pavilions are available for free on a first come, first serve basis, or you can rent one of four other pavilions.  Kids will love the playground!

If you’re looking for a little day trip, pack up the car.  The park is located off Highway 17 in De Leon Springs, about an hour north of Orlando.

Blue Spring State Park

Away from the crowded beaches and major theme parks that attract millions of visitors from around the globe, is the natural Florida. Places where nature is left intact and is preserved.  Places where you can witness the beauty of the “old” Florida.  The Springs.  And there are a lot of them.  In fact, geologists have estimated there to be more than 900 springs in the state, including Blue Spring State Park.

Blue Spring State Park in Orange City is home to the largest spring on the St. John’s River.  With more than 2,600 acres, the park offers something for just about any nature lover. Or manatee lover.

Blue Spring State Park

Manatee Season

Blue Spring is a designated manatee refuge and is the winter home to hundreds of West Indies manatees. Manatee season here runs from mid-November through March and is one of the biggest draws to the park.  The water is a constant 72 degrees, so when the mercury drops, the manatees find their way into the spring run and the spring itself.  On a cold winter morning, with steam rising from the spring, manatees can be easily spotted.  Manatee watchers count them daily and record  their numbers. Since guests are  not allowed to get into the water, several lookouts are strategically located and allow you to stand above the spring to view these gentle giants.

On the day of our visit, with temperatures of 35 degrees and wind chills much colder, 270 manatees were counted.  The following day, that number jumped to 377.


Historical Site

The park is also an historical site. The Thursby House, a two-story frame structure, was built in 1873, at the height of the steamboat era, by Louis Thursby.  It was the hub of activity along the St. John’s River and hosted steamboat passengers as they traveled up and down the river.

Other Amenities

For water lovers, there is canoeing, kayaking, boating, fishing, swimming, snorkeling and certified scuba diving (with a partner).  Just be advised, no water activities are allowed in the spring or the spring run during manatee season.

For campers, there are six cabins, each with two bedrooms, and 51 campsites.  For those just wanting to get away for a day and enjoy a nice picnic in the park, there are plenty pavilions to help you do just that.

Make sure also you take the boardwalk (1/3 of a mile) through the hammock to the spring.

Orange City is located on Highway 17 between DeBary and DeLand.  The park is four miles off 17 on West French Avenue.  The gates open at 8:00 a.m., but will close temporarily when the parking lot is full.  Admission to the park is $6.00 per car.