Manatee Spotting

Blue Spring State Park. January and February are the top months for sighting sea cows at this designated manatee refuge, but they begin to head here in November, as soon as the water gets cold enough (below 68°F). Your best bet for spotting a manatee is to walk along the boardwalk. The park, which is 30 miles southwest of Daytona Beach on Interstate 4, was once a river port where paddle wheelers stopped to take on cargoes of oranges. Home to the largest spring on the St. Johns River, the park offers hiking, camping, picnicking facilities, and two-bedroom cabins (two-night minimum weekends and holidays). It also contains a historic homestead that's open to the public. 2100 W. French Ave., Orange City, Florida, 32763. 386/775–3663; www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring. $6 per vehicle, up to 8 people; $2 pedestrians, bicyclists. Daily 8–sunset.

Manatee Scenic Boat Tours. This Ponce Inlet operator takes you on narrated cruises of the Intracoastal Waterway. Kids will love looking for the creatures also known as sea cows, and your guide might tell you how (sun-delirious?) sailors may have mistaken them for mermaids. 4884 Front St., Ponce Inlet, Florida, 32127. 386/267–4972; www.manateecruise.com. $25.