There are dozens of reasons why Florida is a great place to live, but one of the top reasons has to be that the weather is nice and warm during the winter months.

Many of our friends and neighbors here in the Villages of Citrus Hills go north for the summer only to come running back at the first sign of winter.

Ironically, our local manatee population demonstrates the exact same behavior!

West Indian Manatees are prevalent animals in Citrus County due to their year-round population, especially during winter.

Manatee season in our area runs November-April, with the peak of the season running from December-February.

Another way that manatees are similar to our snowbird friends and neighbors is because once they find a place they like, they will return to the same spot year after year.

It is not uncommon for a mother and her calf to go their separate ways out at sea for the entire summer and then be spotted hanging out together in their usual winter habitat the following year.

As the manatees begin to migrate back towards our local springs for the winter, now is a great time to be planning your subsequent manatee encounter.

Whether you are looking to swim alongside the manatees, kayak near them, or observe them from dry land, there are great places to do all of those in Crystal River and Homosassa Springs!

Crystal River

The best places to see manatees in the Crystal River area are Three Sisters Springs and the Kings Bay Manatee Sanctuary.

Both of these places are best accessed by boat, but you can only get so close. To get up close and personal, you will have to be in a kayak or canoe.

Several tour companies operate out of the Crystal River area that specializes in manatee tours.

These companies can take you right up to the popular manatee areas, and many will instruct you on swimming right along with the manatees!

Homosassa Springs

If you are looking to learn more about manatees, Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park is the best place in the region.

There is a daily educational program that gives visitors some background on manatees, including their history and the rehabilitation efforts conducted at the park.

The Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park also has the “Fish Bowl,” which is an underwater viewing area similar to what you would expect to find at an aquarium.

This gives visitors the chance to get up close and personal with manatees without even getting wet!

Tampa Electric Company

Because manatees are attracted to warm waters, they also tend to be attracted to power plants. One fascinating place to observe them is from the Tampa Electric Company near the mouth of the Hillsborough River.

The warm water that the power plant discharges into the river is like a magnet for manatees. The company has built a visitor center, overlook, and walkway for visitors to observe this phenomenon.

Whether you prefer to break out your kayak and meet the manatees in their natural environment in Crystal River or stay on dry land and observe them from a distance at Homosassa Springs or the Tampa Electric Company power plant, make sure you take some time to get out and see these amazing sea mammals near the Villages of Citrus Hills this winter.