Florida·United States
Photo: Keith Ramos / USFWS · Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
Each winter hundreds of West Indian manatees gather in the warm, spring-fed water of Kings Bay at Crystal River to escape the cold Gulf. Citrus County is the only place in North America where you can legally swim with them, under strict passive-observation rules.
In season: Nov–Mar · Peak: Jan–Feb
Short, calm snorkels from small boats at dawn, floating quietly while manatees approach on their own terms. Parts of the bay and Three Sisters Springs are closed to swimmers on cold days to protect the animals.
The spring basin at the heart of the only place in North America where swimming with manatees is legal
Hundreds of manatees wintering in the warm springs
The quieter alternative up the coast
Book an early-morning tour with a licensed operator in Crystal River and watch the manatee etiquette briefing. Go on a cold morning in January or February for the most animals, and visit Homosassa Springs for a quieter view.
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