So, we headed out around 9:15 this morning to use our inflatable kayak on the Crystal River. It is appropriately named for it is so clear you can see the whole way to the bottom. Ken was so excited at the prospect of seeing his 1st manatee! Well, his wish came true very quickly. We paddled to 3 Sisters Springs area and saw our 1st manatee when we got near that area. Then there was a small roped off area where a dozen manatees were "hanging out". So cool!! There are many boat tours that come to that area so people can snorkel and swim with the manatees. It can get rather congested but the manatees don't seem to mind! On our way back towards Pete's Pier and Marina we had such a thrill - we got up close and personal with a manatee and her baby calf. We got to sit in our kayak and be right beside them for at least 10 minutes and we were the only people there at the time! So special!
We did more kayaking around the area and saw a few additional manatees. Then we paddled to Hunter City Park and ate our lunch - a small, but cute park! Kayaked for about 4 hours and felt very tired when we left Pete's Pier, but happy!
Back to the campground to unload the kayak and dry it off before putting it away. Took a walk around the campground and are amazed at the number of acres it covers and how most sites (398) seem so private and natural. Really does feel like a state park or Corps of Engineers park.
Found out there is a Rails to Trails bike trail about 15 miles from the CG that goes for about 40+ miles. We plan on doing at least some of it, but I think we may need a day to recoup before we tackle our next adventure. I don't think we have taken a day to just relax since we arrived in Florida!
The weather here continues to be incredible. We have had only 1 day with alittle rain since we arrived. Today was 84 degrees - amazing!
I really love Florida!!
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| Great site for Willie! |
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| Love the natural vegetation and the private sites! |
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| This shows you the depth of each site! |
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| Paddling into the 3 Sisters Spring! So serene! |
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| Lots of manatees together in one area! |
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| Lots of boat tours for snorkeling and swimming with the manatees! |
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| Coming up for air!!! |
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| A mother and her baby calf. The babies are white! |
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| Information "station" our in the middle of King's Bay! |
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| These campsites are unbelievable! |
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| The heated pool at the campground! 82 degrees! |
OMG! This is exactly where we saw the manatees a week or so ago!!! I was reading and everything looked so familiar. When you said at first that it is the only place where you can see the manatee's - I was thinking "they lied to us". But then I realized that we were at the same place. The Rainbow Springs State Park and Campground is about 45 minutes away.
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