If you are looking for an option to break up the visits to theme parks, I highly recommend a trip up to Crystal Rivers to experience the swim with manatees in the wild.
We took a detour via Tampa to visit the Tampa Buccaneers stadium for our NFL mad teen. If you have an NFL fan in your family then its a great stop to pick up merchandise and if timed right you could do an overnight to watch a game.
We drove on to Plantation at Crystal Rivers, a 3* resort with a host of activities on site for families. Crystal River is located on Kings Bay, which is fed by over seventy freshwater springs located close to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s here that Manatees come to spend the winter. The Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge is the only Refuge in the United States dedicated to the preservation and protection of Manatees. The video below shows the beautiful waters of Three Sisters Springs which I swam. Unfortunately no manatees this time of year as the water was a bit too cold and they favour the river more. Lots of fish and crystal clear waters with rainbows rippling along the white sands though. It’s a bit of a swim as you have all the force of the water coming from the spring towards you but on the way back it’s a perfect lazy river.
We checked in to an accessible room to find out what the accessible amenities were like. I also had chance to visit one of the non accessible rooms. Do remember this is a 3* and the main draw is the facilities and manatees. The room was perfectly adequate, with the usual amenities plus a fridge and microwave for those staying longer. The bathrooms could do with some updating and unfortunately the hot water wasn’t working in ours. Our host Laurie did come straight away to get this resolved but as we were only staying one night we opted to use the shower in another room rather than wait for it to be fixed. The other room we used was more updated and water was working well. They do have a range of rooms from Golf Villa suites to standard rooms so you have options to upgrade.
The resort has a pool and pool tiki bar which was great. The staff are very friendly and chatty, making you feel very welcome. We had dinner in West 82 Bar. I opted for the plant based burger which was excellent and we were lucky to be there for $5 martini night.
The resort has lots of activities for kids, where they can design their own sunglasses, make a 3-D manatee, and use scallop shells to make necklaces. And beyond arts and crafts, they offer outdoor dive-in movies and rainy-day activities that change with the weather. Other activities you can enjoy at Plantation are:
- Shuffleboard
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Life-size Games
- Shuffleboard
Plantation also has a full-service marina including the possibility to hire boats, world-class spa and a shop in resort. We didn’t try these but the spa had lots of options available and the shop was a good size and very well stocked.
Plantation also has a 27 hole golf course, designed by famous course architect Mark Mahannah. It’s a great option for a golfing holiday in Florida and also has its own restaurant for post game dinners. It has a variety of water obstacles on 16 holes and 53 bunkers, along with challenging fairways lined by mature emerald pine and oak trees native to the region. The golf course also features fourteen different bird species including bald eagles. The pro shop has been rated number one in Citrus County the past three years.
The main draw by far though is the Adventure Centre and Manatee swims. My slot at 7am started with an extensive safety and conservation film. They are very strict on how you can interact with manatees, so take notice as otherwise you could end up with a hefty fine or worse. We started our search in Kings Bay and were lucky to find a baby manatee who was very curious. These are beautiful and gentle animals who because they have poor eyesight, do come close to you to get a better look. For wheelchair users, you can take your chair up to the boat, but you do need to step into the boat and you would need to be able to climb up and down ladders on to and off the boat. My son didn’t come with me but if he had, he would probably be able to do it as he can weight bear and has good upper body strength to pull up. It may be more difficult for those with limited mobility. You are able to pay to go along as an observer though and can take pictures from the boat.
We would highly recommend either scheduling a night at Plantation and swimming with Manatees or taking a day trip from Orlando. We are able to book either of these options as part of your holiday experience, so get in touch for your next Florida vacation. The Real Florida Adventure & Swim with Manatees includes:
- Full Day Excursion to the Crystal River area on Florida’s Gulf Coast
- Chance to swim and snorkel with majestic Manatees in their natural environment
- Complimentary Mask and Snorkel
- Leisurely boat tour of Kings Bay and Crystal River
- Admission into Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park – home to the endangered Florida panther, black bears, red wolves, bobcats and alligators
- Thrilling airboat ride on the Withlacoochee River – see our next blog
- Roundtrip transportation from International Drive, Disney and Kissimmee areas of Orlando in a modern air-conditioned minibus or coach
- Packed breakfast and packed lunch
- Services of a professional, certified and licensed tour guide
- Gratuities, wetsuit hire ($10pp) and drinks are not included
The price is currently £107 per adult and £84 per child. This is a great price considering the manatee swim booked directly costs $75 so approx. £60.
World Explorer Holidays are Florida experts and able to tailor a holiday specifically for you. We can offer great advice and options to make your holidays extra special. If you have a holiday enquiry or a question about anything in this blog, then get in touch, we’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch on:
World Explorer Holidays 