Manatees congregate in the springs in Central Florida every winter when the ocean temps drop. And for the past two decades, I have traveled to the area around my January birthday to swim with them.
This year, we booked an Airbnb in Fort McCoy and invited a friend to join us. “Kerr Camp” ended up being a perfect choice. It was clean, comfy, and cozy, with plenty of room to spread out and a big backyard for Oscar and Maddie.
You can find DeeAnn’s listing here:
Kerr Camp – Houses for Rent in Fort McCoy, Florida, United States – Airbnb
I also invited another SoFL couple to join us at the springs – friends I had not seen since we moved from Okeechobee in 2023. And much to my delight, they agreed! Hooray – the band was getting back together!
We met at the park when it opened at 8 a.m. It was a bright, cold morning with air temps in the 30s, and we knew the constant 72-degree water would feel warm!
As we made our way to the entry point, I could already see several round, gray blobs in the crystal-clear water, a sure sign that manatees were present.
I counted at least 25-30 in the swim area close to the spring. Although plenty of other people were enjoying the chilly morning with us, there were more than enough manatees for everyone!
Most of the manatees in the swim area were curious and friendly, and welcomed all the attention. I even had the joy of receiving a few affectionate nose-bonks,
And John found a “girlfriend” who seemed smitten with him and would not leave him alone!
At one point, I swam to the opposite shoreline and spotted an alligator snapping turtle, the largest freshwater turtle in North America!
After taking a few shots, we returned to enjoying the manatees.
Armored catfish surrounded the manatees. Many appeared to be cleaners, eating the algae off the manatee’s backs and around their eyes. But now and then, one would give a quick roll or shudder to shake off the pesky fish.
The park has established a roped-off zone to help fragile sea grass grow, and manatees wanting peace and quiet were resting in that “no swim” area.
Despite the fun, we eventually got cold enough to call it quits. We agreed to meet that evening for dinner at a local pizza restaurant and then go to bed early—we had another full day of manatees to look forward to tomorrow!
The next morning was just as cold, but the sun shone brightly, making it feel a bit warmer.
When we first entered the water, we spotted a mama with a tiny newborn baby, but they did not stick around long enough for more than a quick proof of life shot. We did, however, see at least two more moms nursing their young.
The sunshine was so bright it created diamond patterns on the manatees, making them beautiful to see but difficult to photograph.
There were even more in the spring than the day before, and we spent almost five hours enjoying their company.
Not a big fan of cold water or wetsuits, TG opted for a lunch meet up with some South Florida friends we hadn’t seen since our move.
That afternoon we walked to Kerr Lake,
Enjoying all the neighborhood sandhill cranes along the way.
After another quiet evening at the Airbnb, it was time to pack up and head home.
What a fun trip we had – made even more so by the good friends who joined us!
As we packed up the car, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with dear friends and with my beloved manatees. It was a birthday trip I will always cherish.
To see all the photos from my two days, click here:
On The Road with Tall Guy & JET 