Blue Spring Manatee Kayak Tours

The Write-Up

The full story

At Blue Spring State Park, guided kayaks slip into crystal-clear, 72-degree spring water where manatees roll and graze beneath the boat. Guests call drifting alongside them, noses, backs and tails breaking the surface, one of the highlights of a Florida trip, like stepping into another world. Knowledgeable guides read the animals' mood and detour into quiet side channels for eagles, turtles and glassy views.

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Similar Feel

More places with this feel

Matched by vibe, not by neighborhood: the places across Greater Orlando closest in spirit to Blue Spring Manatee Kayak Tours.

Wekiwa Springs State Park

Parks & outdoors · Apopka · $

The old-Florida counterpoint to the theme parks, an emerald Apopka spring feeding the Wekiva River with clear, cold water guests call magical.

1800 Wekiwa Cir, Apopka, FL 32712

Paddlefish

Seafood · Disney Springs · $$$

Seafood aboard a steamboat setting at Disney Springs, with waterfront views and a rooftop deck, picturesque and relaxed.

1670 E Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

Aquatica Orlando

Attractions · International Drive · $$$

At SeaWorld's water park, the Dolphin Plunge clear tube passes Commerson's dolphins, and Roa's Rapids runs faster than a lazy river should.

5800 Water Play Way, Orlando, FL 32821

Merritt Island Bioluminescence Kayak Tours

Attractions · Merritt Island · $$

On dark lagoon water around Merritt Island, dinoflagellates flare electric blue with every paddle stroke through a clear kayak.

951 Kiwanis Island Park Rd, Merritt Island, FL 32952

CoCo Key Water Park

Attractions · International Drive · $

A low-key hotel water park on International Drive that sells day passes, so no resort stay is needed.

7400 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819

Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures

Attractions · Kissimmee · $$

From Southport Road, airboats skim East Lake Tohopekaliga into marsh grass where captains spot gators, turtles and wading birds.

2001 E Southport Rd, Kissimmee, FL 34746

Keep Going

More in Day Trips

Other places in Day Trips, closest to Blue Spring Manatee Kayak Tours first.

The Twisted Chopstick

Japanese & sushi · Sushi · $$

DeLand's cozy, Godzilla-themed sushi stop on Woodland Boulevard, family-run and relaxed as a second home.

412 S Woodland Blvd, DeLand, FL 32720

BakeChop

Restaurants · Restaurant · $$

Cozy, quirky scratch kitchen on Artisan Alley in DeLand, where staff stay sweet and welcoming even when the line is out the door.

110 Artisan Aly, DeLand, FL 32720

Cress Restaurant

Fine dining & steak · New American · $$

Warm, intimate room in historic downtown DeLand, farm-to-table in spirit, with a global menu following Florida's seasons.

Cress Restaurant, 103 W Indiana Ave, DeLand, FL 32720-4209, United States

Kelly Park / Rock Springs Run

Parks & outdoors · Park · $

The spring run is the draw here: clear, cold water from Rock Springs into a lazy channel made for tubing.

400 E Kelly Park Rd, Apopka, FL 32712

Wekiwa Springs State Park

Parks & outdoors · Park · $

The old-Florida counterpoint to the theme parks, an emerald Apopka spring feeding the Wekiva River with clear, cold water guests call magical.

1800 Wekiwa Cir, Apopka, FL 32712

1921 Mount Dora

Restaurants · Restaurant · $$$

Modern Florida cooking in a historic 1921 house, and the meal feels personal rather than formal.

1921 Mount Dora, 142 E 4th Ave, Mt Dora, FL 32757-5584