Manatees winter refuge Blue Spring State Park
Photo by Eileen Ludwig
The Manatees look like rocks on the shores of Blue Spring run where they lay in the sunny areas trying to stay warm. It is best to visit during the week and arrive early. Cars line up to enter the Park. Get an annual pass and support the State Park system. Manatee season is mid-November through March.
Photo by Eileen Ludwig
The spring pumps out 104 million gallons of water a day. Steady 72 degree temperature attracts the Manatees up to the Blue Spring Run to get close to the spring at the head of the cove. The cold weather chills the water (below 68 degrees) in the St. Johns River driving them to find warmer water. The natural Seagrass on the shores has been eaten so they have to travel when the sun is high and the water warmer back down river for food returning to the Run for warmth. The Manatees mill around swimming in and out of the sunlight sometimes joining large groups of others sitting still in shallow edges of the shores.
Photo by Eileen Ludwig
The park is over 2,600 acres with the largest spring on the St. John River. The park has River Cruise down the St. John river for those who want a scenic afternoon relaxing with nature. In the summer months there is Canoe and Kayak Rentals.
Photo by Eileen Ludwig
Manatee Festival in Orange City January 22 and 23, 2011 with free shuttles to the Blue Spring State Park to view the Manatees. Food, drink, arts, crafts, shows, demonstrations, fun house, and games. Might be worth a trip on this special weekend.
Resources
State Park Information http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.cfm
Manatee Festival http://www.themanateefestival.com
Posting from last January at Blue Spring http://www.freelancetourist.com/manatees-blue-spring-state-park/
Directions
Blue Spring is located west of Orange City. Take U.S. 17/92 to Orange City, go west two miles on French Avenue to the entrance.
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Eileen Ludwig, travel writer of Freelance Tourist brings to the world insights about places to travel, discounts, Staycations, Restaurant Reviews, movie reviews, and fascinating tibits. She is owner of three other sites: Photography, Web Design School, and Social Media School Each are in different stages of development and evolution.
This is what we did today RT @eileenludwig http://www.freelancetourist.com/blue-spring-state-park-manatee-winter-refuge/
See Manatees Blue Spring State Pk http://www.freelancetourist.com/blue-spring-state-park-manatee-winter-refuge/
Nice photos. When did you find so many manatees together at one time?
Tangerine Florida recently posted..Manatees in Blue Springs State Park
Wow…this looks very cool. We will be in Florida the weekend of March 17th. Do you think the Manatees will still be there?
Twitter: eileenludwig
Hello Deb,
They go up the River run when the water temp drops further down in the River. If it is cold in March (not usually) they will go up river to the spring. It all depends on the weather.
Eileen
I love the Manatee photos. Really nice.
http://www.freelancetourist.com/blue-spring-state-park-manatee-winter-refuge/ #Florida #Travel
Great manatees photos! I’d like to take my wife out there some time to see the manetees, but it may be too late in the year. I’ve hiked the trail around the swamp and out to the river ~ it’s an experience all in itself. I love Blue Springs State Park.
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[...] post added January 2011 http://www.freelancetourist.com/blue-spring-state-park-manatee-winter-refuge/ Posts Related to Manatees Blue Spring State ParkBlue Spring State Park Manatee Winter [...]
Is Manatee Festival an annual thing? I’d love to get down there to see them.
Twitter: eileenludwig
Yes Festival is every year – check at the link in January to see the new information
The photos are really inviting, I would love to visit this place on the first week of september I’m pretty sure my family would love it.
Stephanie Freeman recently posted..Motorola DROID 3 Review
I like the photos that you have here in your website because it is simple yet relaxing to the eyes. I wonder how you were able to capture this calming photo of yours. perhaps, you have a very extraordinary hands. I wish you can share us more photos like this.
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Fascinating Eileen. So many manatees together. I’ve read about them but never seen them for real so thanks for writing this.
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I am actually scared of this creatures but I really like looking at them. They are really one of a kind and I know people who are taking good care of them really spent a lot of time and effort just to keep them healthy and well.
Alena, LOL, why would you be scared of what is basically a water cow? Ah, you might be scared of cows too. So, that might not be a good comparison. Also, nobody takes care of them. They are in the wild.
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[...] with consistent temperatures. Many state parks have protected areas surrounding the springs, Blue Spring State Park Manatee Winter Refuge is just [...]
Thanks for the fantastic photos- manatees are fascinating creatures. I’ve never seen them myself but I hope to in the future and this looks like an ideal place to do so- there’s certainly no scarcity of them here! Parks such like this are so important to conservation; without them many more species would be on the brink of extinction. I know that people sometimes object to keeping animals in so called artificial environments, but often this is the best option. We need to remember that unfortunately we don’t live in an ideal world and if every animal was simply left to roam freely, some species would die out. As is evident here, refuge park is not synonymous with caging or restricting animals; in fact quite the opposite is the case. It looks like a great job has been made of creating a natural, spacious environment for the manatees here.
@Alena, I really don’t think there’s anything to be scared of with a Manatee. As far as I know they are not aggressive. Like cows they are only likely to get upset if you threaten their young. The pictures are wonderful. I think the idea of a winter refuge is wonderful.
Manatee Festival this weekend RT Blue Spring State Park Manatee Winter Refuge #travel http://t.co/5TBUkBPQ #florida