Manatees are such adorable sea creatures. They are some of the main wildlife attractions in southwest Florida. Good thing you can catch these cute blobbers in the Manatee Park. This non-captivity water wonder park lies in 10901 State Road 80 (Palm Beach Blvd.) Fort Myers. The property has a suitable habitat for manatees which you can observe in abundance, playing around with other manatees. You can even see them up close through snorkeling in their crystal clear waters or kayaking, paddle boarding. Of course, there are picnic areas and other amenities the guests can enjoy plus a neat gift shop where you can buy cool souvenirs.
The park opened in 1996 and through the collaborative support of partners and sponsors, this 17 acre park came into existence. The park’s facilities were originally owned by the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau but are now being subsidized by Florida Power and Light. The trees and plants that give life to the park is courtesy of the many volunteers who helped in building the park and the Coccoloba Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. Today, after the aid of so many great institutions and people, the Manatee Park now gives entertainment and educates about the importance of the natural environment to almost 200,000 visitors each year.
The Manatee Park is an awesome place for both people and manatees. The place has a small lagoon where you can manatees swim in groups, being all curious to the divers and the kayakers who are in the place. The waters are so clear you can see the bottom. However, if you want to see these sea animals in action, you have to remember that timing is everything. The temperature in the water should be just right unless they won’t show up. Records say that these mammals make a splash if the water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico is below 86F. This means that they only show up when the water is cold, which means the winter months like in late December, January and February.
The manatees are already great in of themselves but there are more things you can do in the Manatee Park that you may enjoy. One of these is the butterfly garden that houses many colorful butterflies for the guests to enjoy and with them are birds and other wildlife that you can easily spot. The garden is so well-made that it’s used as a demonstration landscape for those who want to learn the art of landscaping.
Aside from amphitheatres and picnic pavilions, there is also a playground for kids and you may even go fishing here provided you have a license and you can also do kayaking as the waters in the park lead to a bigger kayaking trail that you can follow.
For more information regarding what’s good in Naples, Florida, check out our website and go to the Tourist Guide section to get recommendations on where the best places are in town. Or you can listen to our podcast Divine Naples Daily with Rich and Matt as they tell you the latest happenings in the Paradise Coast.
