Manatee Park
Come paddle with us for spectacular views of manatees and some of the best waterways in southwest Florida. Enjoy the beauty of area waterways as you paddle up or down the Orange River, departing from Manatee Park.
Manatee Park is a non-captive refuge for the endangered Florida Manatee. Manatee's come to Manatee Park when the water temerature in the Gulf of Mexico drops below 68 degrees F (20 degrees C) as manatees search for warmer water. Optimum viewing times are the months of November through March due to the cooler gulf temperature. Manatees are generally not present during the warm summer months. During extreme drops in temperature, manatees usually remain close to a warm water source such as the discharge canal from The Florida Power & Light plant located at Manatee Park.
Opened in 1996, this 17 acre Regional Park has exceptional manatee viewing areas, an extensive butterfly garden, picnic areas & shelters, fishing pier on the Orange River, Canoe/Kayak rentals and launch to the Orange River. There is a program amphitheater and playground.
See an overview map of Manatee Park