f we have learned anything from the ongoing pandemic, it’s the value of quality family time. For years my wife and I contemplated taking a Florida vacation with our kids, but time, bills and other roadblocks seemed to get it our way. Months of quarantine finally jolted our priorities and last December we decided to go “all in” and take a once-in-a-lifetime vacation that we’ve been dreaming of for years. Our trip of course included a budget-breaking week in Orlando to see a magical mouse, but I wanted our vacation to be more than just spending our hard-earned time off at Disney.
Crystal River, Fla., which is about an hour and a half drive from the Disney World resort, is best known for its manatee sightings. Florida manatees move into warmer waters when the water temperature drops below about 68 degrees Fahrenheit and this coastal city in western Florida shelters manatees year-round.
Places such as Captain Mike’s Swimming With The Manatee offer a variety of tours during the peak winter season that let you get up close and personal with these amazing sea creatures. As a life-long boater and a frequent visitor to Florida, swimming with the manatees is something I’ve always wanted to experience but never did. To be fair, I’ve had previous opportunities, but this was something I wanted to do with my wife and kids and this trip was my chance.
We had a short instruction meeting followed by a required safety video on how to respect the manatee and then we were out the hotel doors and heading towards the dock and our most exciting adventure of our trip.
If there was a downside to our tour, it’s that it only flamed the desire for all of us to return soon and do it again, which works for this dad.
614 NW US-19 Crystal River, FL., 34428
352-571-1888
www.swimmingwiththemanatees.com