Blue Springs State Park.

[Guest]

Just got home from Blue Springs State Park. Now that the weather is turning cooler the manatees are coming into the spring, over 100 today and many more expected. One day last week there were over 350. Well worth a trip and only $6 for the whole car.

[sam7]

I loved Blue Spring, what an amazingly beautiful place. We went in September and swam in the spring (one manatee swam up for a quick visit), recommend buying cheap donut rings in walmart, they hire them but it costs quite a bit and there were not many available when we went - totally recommend a visit.

[wez]

Sounds great. How far away is this (from Clearwater) & what else is there to do there? Thanks.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by sam7

I loved Blue Spring, what an amazingly beautiful place. We went in September and swam in the spring (one manatee swam up for a quick visit), recommend buying cheap donut rings in walmart, they hire them but it costs quite a bit and there were not many available when we went - totally recommend a visit.

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You can't swim in the spring in Manatee season, because they're a protected species, you can just walk the boardwalk and watch them. So no swimming until late March/April until most of them have left.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by wez

Sounds great. How far away is this (from Clearwater) & what else is there to do there? Thanks.

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It's 140 miles from Clearwater. It's only a few miles from Sanford.

Website here. floridastateparks/bluespring/

[wez]

Hmmmm, might need to find a state park closer to Clearwater then

[oohoohmonkey]

Thanks for the info we've planned a trip soon, with a stop at Winter Park on the way back. How long do you think we'll need there? Would love to see the Manatees. Are there car parks/cafe etc?

[Guest]

Originally Posted by oohoohmonkey

Thanks for the info we've planned a trip soon, with a stop at Winter Park on the way back. How long do you think we'll need there? Would love to see the Manatees. Are there car parks/cafe etc?

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Yes there's a car park, and a small cafe, that's pretty basic, I think it's run by volunteers. (Hamburgers, hotdogs and basic sandwiches). We were there for a couple of hours. If your going go early, it gets busy when the manatees are in, and they won't let you in if the car parks are full.

[oohoohmonkey]

Thanks. Is 10:30 am early enough? It will be boxing day.

[Guest]

I think so, that's about the time when we arrived yesterday, it was fine. I'm not sure about Boxing Day, although they don't do it here it's one of the busiest weeks of the year all over the area.

I really hope you can get in, although we go every year, it was lovely to see all the Mums and babies. The water is so clear.

They have a boat ride at 10:30 and again at 1:30.


floridastateparks/bluespring/