Most individuals know that winter season is the very best time to see manatees. But the place can you see manatees in Florida, any time of calendar year? The solution is Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park.
Spark some romance and strike the street. A working day journey is a fantastic way to link with your honey. Put alongside one another a playlist, get a several of your favourite road trip treats, and make the hour and 45-minute push to Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. There are many roadside stops together the way if you want to make it a real street trip, as well as other springs and parks nearby if you would like to make it a weekend getaway.
Up to date Oct 2022
Homosassa Springs Issues To Do
There is so significantly to appreciate about Florida’s Point out Parks, and Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park is a shining example of what helps make our point out parks so particular. You get a little bit of everything listed here — natural springs and a river see, wildlife, boardwalks, and walkways. It truly is really simple to discover the 200 acres of this park.
- Underwater Observatory of the “Bowl” – manatee and fish viewing
- Wildlife Wander – perspective numerous habitats, property to rescued wildlife
- Lu the resident Hippo
- Visitors Heart – showcasing this park’s storied background
- Springs at Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park
- Trails and boardwalks
We parked in the parking ton on US Highway 98. This parking great deal has a Welcome Middle with restrooms, a modest store, and a few displays showcasing the park’s history of just about 100 years. From in this article we boarded a tram that drove us down to the park’s customer middle and entrance. Hope crowds on the weekend. Soon after acquiring our tickets ($13 for each particular person around 5 several years of age), we passed via the doorways and into Florida’s beauty.
See manatees in Florida at Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park
The Underwater Observatory in the “Bowl” of the springs is one of the quite very first points of interest extra to this park during its early many years. In 1968 the underwater “fish bowl” was mounted, back when this park was a roadside attraction, relatively than a point out park. This bowl is a fantastic put to begin your day.
By visiting the Underwater Observatory 1st, we caught some sights of manatees in the wild in advance of they moved on in the afternoon. We also loved the boardwalk top up to the Underwater Observatory. There are many photograph options below.
This easy spot, billed as a floating observatory, was when a most important attraction for this part of the condition of Florida.
Soon after viewing the manatees and plethora of fish, we ongoing strolling past the observatory, toward the river. Before long we arrived to a beautiful picket pavilion that enabled us to glance out about the Homosassa River. A lot of boaters appreciated the weekend and securely moved bit by bit along the river to be mindful of manatees and other wildlife. It can be essential to love the spring water securely.
We backtracked and followed the walkway alongside the riverbank. We saw turtles sunning themselves on logs and a couple extra manatees in the wild. Hiking along the park’s walkways is quite simple.
We recognized a handful of men and women crowding together a bridge-like structure and soon discovered that this is exactly where some of the rescued manatees dwell.
Boardwalk leading to manatee viewing spot at Homosassa Springs State Park
Animals at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife Condition Park
There are loads of animals to see at the Wildlife Stroll. This winding walkway will make a comprehensive circle, so you will find no way to get rid of your way. All the animals along this beautiful Wildlife Stroll are rescued from various locations all-around the state. As substantially as probable, these types of wildlife is rehabilitated and despatched again into the wild.
Nevertheless, if it is not safe and sound for an animal to return to the wild for no matter what explanation, it finds a house listed here. Along our walk, we noticed Florida alligators, river otters, pelicans, flamingos, owls, deer, black bears, a Florida panther, and more. What a awesome mix of indigenous Florida wildlife and other interesting creatures.
Some may possibly review this element of the park with viewing a zoo, and the working experience is related, but to see a sample of Florida’s various wildlife in a person location like this is genuinely distinctive. Talking of unique, you will never be capable to forget about Lu the Hippo. A former animal actor, Lu is over 60 several years previous. He is a reminder of when this land was applied to demonstrate off animals that were trained to complete in flicks and tv. Hippos absolutely are not a Florida animal, but Lu the hippopotamus is viewed as an honorary Florida resident.
What a way to delight in a blend of previous university tourist attraction and gorgeous natural habitat in Florida.
Exclusive take note – Homossas Springs Wildlife Park is adorned with Christmas lights in a couple of places throughout the vacation period.
Florida alligators at Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park
The place to See Manatees in Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park
One of the have to-do activities in Florida is looking at manatees in the wild. These native animals are so particular. When entering Homossa Springs park, head to the left to the Underwater Observatory. Both of those inside the observatory and together the boardwalk main to and from the observatory you may possibly location some manatees.
To start with detail in the early morning and cool climate times are your finest wager for catching sights of manatees in the wild at Homosassa Springs. On the other hand, you can also watch a number of rescued manatees that continue to be at the park year-round. Their habitat is in close proximity to the heart of the park.
The manatee programs at this condition park are crucially crucial.
Owing to a number of environmental motives, which includes about-progress throughout Florida, wildlife experts are anxious about the amplified mortality amount of manatees. Just one way to bond jointly is to do some very good alongside one another, so I would persuade you and your honey to study a lot more about manatees and how we can assist them.
Exactly where else can you see manatees in Florida?
Practicalities: Parking, Food stuff and Beverage, and Restrooms
Really don’t assume anything at all extravagant at this state park. Even so, there are plenty of creature comforts. There are restrooms near the centre of the park, as effectively as the Welcome Heart at the Highway 98 parking great deal, and the Website visitors Centre that you should pass as a result of just before coming into the park itself.
There are two parking loads – just one off County Road 490 and the other on Freeway 98. Because we came from Orlando it was simplest for us to park at the parking ton on Highway 98. This is where by the Welcome Heart is, and where you will board a tram to head to the park entrance by itself. The trams come and go about each individual 15 minutes. There is also commonly boat transportation, but this is briefly unavailable.
The parking lot off County Highway 490 is more compact, but it does set you upcoming to the park’s actual entrance and the Customer Middle, with the ticket counters. At this visitor middle, there is a everyday cafe with sandwiches and snacks, as well as a present store. Some of the t-shirt layouts in this store are enjoyment and desirable.
Reward store at Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park
Puppies are not authorized in the park, but there is a kennel at the Welcome Heart the place your pup can dangle out even though you explore.
There is also a compact snack stand close to the middle of the park. This is a great place for a midday snack with chilly drinks, ice product, incredibly hot puppies, and other speedy snacks.
Pack some h2o to hold yourselves hydrated. You will not want to feel rushed as you examine this beautiful park.
Extra Ideas – Approach a Day to Examine Springs in Florida Near Orlando
What is In the vicinity of Homosassa Springs Condition Park
Driving to Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park from Orlando takes about an hour and 45 minutes. It is really not a really speedy trip, but it is well worth the drive. And if you want to make it a complete working day or a complete weekend getaway there is lots close by.
Together the push, my partner and I took observe of some areas that would be entertaining to halt in future time. On our the latest pay a visit to to Homosassa Springs we hadn’t designed enough time to cease along the way. But, there is a good deal to see.
In 10 – 20 minutes drive of Homosassa Springs State Park, you may come across lots of other parks, activities, and restaurants.
This condition park is also an easy trip from Cedar Critical, Florida if you might be looking for a enjoyable weekend getaway.
Costume comfortably and enjoy becoming in Florida’s all-natural natural beauty, alongside one another.