Note: Do Not Swim With Alligators.
When the manatees are running make sure you get to the part early in the morning to avoid the crowds. If the park is over crowded, it will close to new visitors.
This is Blue Spring State Park in Florida. This video was taken after New Years 2011. Manatees enter the spring to escape the coldness of winter. There were 188 recorded manatees in the spring that day. The day was was chilly, and, early in the morning, the manatees were mostly laying on the bottom of the spring. As the sun rose higher in the sky, the manatees were more active.
Swimming with the manatees is not allowed. However, after the manatee run, swimming is allowed in the spring. There are alligators in the spring. I found a sign warning about swimming with alligators. So, swimming with manatees is not allowed, but you can swim with the alligators.
Part of the warning sign states not to entice alligators or mess with their nesting mounds. This warning must be for the same type of person who needs a warning label on strollers stating to take the child out before folding the stroller and putting it away.
There were three alligators spotted in the spring. The manatees and alligators didn't seem worried about each other.
The spring is a fisherman's dream. There were thousands of fish in the spring, that day. Unfortunately, fishing was not allowed in the spring. Does this, then, make a fisherman's bad dream?
Activities in Blue Spring State Park: Boat Tours, Cabins, Camping, Canoeing and Kayaking, Hiking and Nature Trail, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Swimming, Tubing, Wildlife Viewing
For More Information:
http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.cfm
2100 W. French Avenue
Orange City, Florida 32763
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