Manatee Park Fort Myers
If you’re looking for something fun for the whole family, go check out Manatee Park! We got the chance to go check it out, and it was great!
Manatee park is a non-captive warm water refuge for the Florida Mantatee. During the cooler months, when the Gulf temperature is below 68 degrees, the manatee flock to these waters to stay warm. The best months to view these beautiful creatures are Late December, January, February, and into March. Although the park is open year-round, 7am-dusk, you typically won’t see any manatee in the warm summer months. If you happen to live on a Cape Coral Gulf access canal, you may just see some swimming through your canal from time to time!
The park is located at 10901 State Road 80 (Palm Beach Blvd.) Fort Myers, Fl 33905 and is directly across the street from the FPL (Florida Power and Light) power plant. The warm water comes from the power plant to provide the warmth that our manatee seek out. The power plant uses the Caloosahatchee river water to cool their turbines, which heats the water and then flows out to the park.
There is plenty more to do once you’ve spent time watching the manatees. Manatee Park offers Educational programs, fishing, gardens, playgrounds, restrooms, walking path, wildlife viewing, kayak and canoe launch and picnic areas.
It was raining on and off when we went, so we opted out of the kayaking. Rain didn’t stop other people from participating though! We saw plenty of people out on kayaks, with the manatees (a guided tour of course), and you can also venture out onto the Orange River for some extended, unguided kayaking.
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The walking paths were a beautiful way to see native landscaping. The picture below is of a Strangler Fig, growing around a palm. Strangler Figs are a native tree, but also an invasive species that does just what the name suggests, strangles another tree. Nice huh? Most all of the landscaping is labled, with signs posted with the names of the particular tree or shrub. If something is not labled, we found the staff that was walking arounf very helpful and knowlegable about all the landscape. Manatee park has an extensive butterfly garden, and is also a demonstration landscape for the Florida Friendly Landscaping Program (FFL). This means using low-maintenance plants and environmentally sustainable practices. You can read more on this program Here.
The park has 3 shelters, a pavilion, chickee hut & amphitheater, all of which are available to rent out. Admission to the park is free, you just have to pay to park. $2 per hour, or $5 for the day.
If you enjoy nature, you won’t be dissapointed with your visit to Manatee Park!
