Manatee Park

"a wonderful place to take the family and kids for a day trip, or if you’re new to swfl. the manatees are gentle creatures, and you’re able to rent kayaks to ride alongside them in the water. there are trails to follow in nature and a fun park to distract the kids for a while so parents can take a breather"

"Cheap fun for all. Paid for parking. A very nice and clean park. The manatees were so neat to watch. The gift shop was reasonably priced. We did not kayak due to it being a very windy day. The paths within the park were clean, smooth, and easy to get around. The butterfly garden was beautiful."

"Love this park! If you are in the area and even just have 30 minutes to spare; stop by! You can see a lot of manatees, rent a kayak, and enjoy some of the boardwalks and nature throughout the park. The park also has a playground near the bathrooms and the parking lot! Parking can be hectic here, so it’s worth mentioning that parking is only $1 per hour for standard cars or $5 per day for standard cars. Note that Large vans and/or tour buses/vans have separate rates than standard vehicles. The parking kiosks accept cash and card, you may just have to use a different kiosk depending on your payment method."

"Great park! Parking was only $1 for an hour, and the kiosk closest to the gift shop accepts credit and debit cards. Plenty of spots to stop and view the manatees. We have visited the park in the past but were unable to spot any, but this trip we easily spotted many swimming around and coming up for air. There are some boardwalks and walking trails in the park to enjoy the area. Worth stopping by if you’re in the area!"

"The park is very small and picturesque, we went at around 9 in the morning and we saw many manatees poking their heads out and tails. I would recommend going there at opening time to see the manatees as they like it a little bit cooler and will surface more of their body at the temperature. The boardwalk was gorgeous, and very education for the little ones. They have bathrooms, playgrounds, and a butterfly garden. They also have kayaks you can rent and go around the mangrove forest being up close with the manatees. The parking was also very cheap with it being only 2/hr, and the place was definitely worth the time!"