Blue Spring State Park near Orange City becomes a winter refuge for manatees when colder water sends the animals into the spring’s consistently 72-degree run along the St. Johns River.
Park signs have recorded as many as 700 manatees in a single day, according to Fastfoodclub. The daily total varies with the weather; the source noted one winter count of 215 manatees, with higher numbers possible during colder stretches.
Visitors can view the animals from a boardwalk and several platforms beside the spring run. During the colder months, the manatees have use of the spring, making swimming a secondary activity rather than the focus.
Blue Spring State Park also offers trails, picnic areas, a playground, a gift shop, a canteen and a historic house. In warmer months, visitors can swim, snorkel, tube or paddle in the clear spring water; kayak, canoe and paddleboard rentals are available, and the park offers a narrated two-hour wildlife boat ride on the river.
The park is about a 45-minute drive from Orlando, according to the source. Visitors should check Florida State Parks for current schedules and reservation details before heading out.
