quiet, nature-filled spot with walking trails, wildlife viewing, and access to the water. There's a small entrance fee along with a nominal parking fee (about $1.50 per hour). The park's trails are short and easy to navigate, winding along shaded paths that take you along the water's edge. While we didn't spot any manatees on this visit, it was still a nice, relaxing stop. Instead, we saw plenty of rabbits, squirrels, and lizards along the way. There's also a small fishing dock where people were casting lines, and if you're looking for something a bit more adventurous, you can rent kayaks at a nearby location within the park. We stayed for about an hour, enjoying the sunshine and slow pace before heading out. It was the perfect low-key outing -- light activity, peaceful surroundings read more

Well as long as looking at manatees IS NOT a goal, I recommend this place. We spent about 45 minutes here hopeful to catch a glimpse, without success. They have lined the bottom of the viewing area with black plastic and the water looks very murky as a result. We saw a few fish leap out of the water, less than a dozen lizards VC and the top few inches of one alligator. Parking was $2 an hour and easy to pay with a C QR code. The bathrooms were clean and there is a cut gift shop with a nice variety of items. The walking trails were plenty close to nature while still feeling protected from the alligators. They had a few volunteers available to talk to as well. read more

Easy parking and close walk from the lot down to the water to view wildlife! Manatees were hard to spot, but easier to view if you plan to stay for 20-30 minutes. Cheap parking, restrooms available, and nearby walking paths to lengthen your visit if you'd like! read more

Manatee Park - Welcome Center - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

No admission fee, just pay to park! Definitely worth it, walk along the river/canal or kayak along it to see the manatees! read more

Manatee Park - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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Cheap parking at only $4 and some change. This park is worth the stop! Time of year and temperature will play into how many manatees you will see. They have kayak rentals available. Picnic shelters are ample and they have a playground for the kids. Check their schedules for daily shows and educational speakers. We were able to see a few manatees. read more

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Nice manicured park with a channel having manatee testing in the warm water of an electric power plant. Plenty of parking w a reasonable rate of $5.12/day. Gift shop w some video screens showing manatee and then a walk way through some nice grounds until you reach the sidewalks along the channel. A few viewing areas to watch for manatees. Can also rent kayaks to go out into an adjoining river for closer viewing. We saw wuite a few manatee, some large fish, but no alligators. Fun on a cool day. read more

Manatee Park - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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a very peaceful and serence place. didnt get to see many manatess during our visit, but that is okay. the trail there is nice and not too long. parking is paid, and restrooms are available read more

What a cute little park! This is a great meeting spot for friends and families. I met my sister at manatee park and we enjoyed watching the manatee swimming and a nice afternoon picnic. There is plenty of parking and lots of picnic areas. It has a few short trails, playgrounds, and a kayak rental/ launch area. read more

Manatee Park - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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Went kayaking at the Manatee Park with the kids. A bit pricey but great memories! Manatees swim up right to the kayak, lots of spottings. Easy to maneuver river and the warm water runoff from the power company attracts the beautiful creatures! read more

We loved the manatee park! It's a beautiful area with wonderful walking trails. There is also a small playground for the children. We took my daughter there and learned different facts about manatees and the other wildlife there as well as facts about the plants that were growing in the area. There are a variety of paths that you can go down. When she is older we are going to look into their kayak tours since the adults in our group love kayaking (my daughter is only one). The have a small gift shop that is used to help fundraise for the area and we purchased a children's book, a stuffy, and a few shirts. This is the perfect spot for a family picnic where an appreciation of the life around us can flourish. read more

10901palm beach blvd Fort Myers fl Fort Myers Fl Learned my lesson but we were after all exploring areas . Manatees migrate seasonal so if you want to see them ,best times are December , January and February . Nope we did not see one at all . Park has a nice path to walk , playground and bathrooms so this is a plus Come in the cooler months if you want to see these beautiful sea cows . read more

I have lived here for five years and didn't know this place existed! What a cool and educational experience. The gift shop has some great option to make your visit even more memorable. We saw at least 27 manatees this chilly morning. We arrived early and there was plenty of parking for $2. I would highly recommend. There are free garden tours daily and kayaking for a fee. read more

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Came in early November and saw some manatees! There are multiple viewing spots (some shaded) and we found 5 (including a baby) in the most shallow area. There was a guide who was talking to guests and answering questions, she knew a lot! We learned that that females only have one baby, and on occasions they will adopt. The babies stay with a mom for 2 years. Their skin is like an elephant, and in the winter when it is really cold there could be up to 200. Local farmers have been donating heads of lettuce for them to eat, and they could eat 20 with no problem. The best times to see manatees are December - March. -$5 all day parking - restrooms - options to kayak - gift shop with manatee themed gifts read more

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I am a manatee-fanatee. Even though I didn't see any gentle sea cows today, this park is 5 stars all the way. Manatee Park is located just outside the city of Fort Myers, on a small river that branches off of the Caloosahatchee River, near the Florida Power and Light plant. ​This 17-acre Regional Park opened in 1996. It was built on land owned by Florida Power & Light and it is run through a cooperative effort of partners & sponsors. Parking is $2 an hour or $5 for the day. The warm water discharged from the power plant attracts the manatees during the cooler months from November until March. On a cold day it is not uncommon to see upwards of 50 manatees. Once the water in the Gulf of Mexico heats up, they head out there. Florida manatees have only recently been removed from the endangered status list, although they still remain threatened. There are 3 covered observation areas along the river with seating and telescopes for manatee viewing. The observation paths are connected by paths lined with native plants and butterfly gardens. In addition to viewing the manatees the park has a visitors center and gift shop, nature trails, interpretive signs, picnic tables, and kayak rentals. There are over 16 acres to paddle. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset daily including holidays, and kayak rentals are available through Manatee Kayaking Company. This is an educational and fun park to explore. read more

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Really nice walking trails to see manatees in different areas of the water. We really enjoyed our time here to see the manatees. There is a live webcam you can view anytime to see them too. Wonderful staff to assist if needed, parking staff wonderful, and a very nice store. We highly recommend a visit here. read more

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Great park to come see manatee in the winter. Family friendly with an educational program at 2pm daily. The water is a little mirky, but there were tons of manatee to see on the day we visited. Good public kayak launch which is free to use if you bring your own kayaks. You paddle through the mangroves for a bit before getting onto the Orange River. Winter parking fee is $2/hr for cars or $5 for the day. read more

Manatee Park - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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I didn't spot any manatees or momatees today but I did enjoy myself in this beautiful park. Not a zoo, this is a non-captive warm water refuge for manatees. That means that they can come and go as they please but you'll generally find the best results in the winter months when the water is warmer here than anywhere else in the Gulf of Mexico. Parking is only $2 an hour or $5 for the day. The gift shop (currently closed because of the pandemic) offers kayak and canoe rentals. There is a picnic pavilion (available to rent) and an amphitheater. Lots of walking trails that have educational information all along. The kids will definitely have a good time here. [Review 13295 overall, 613 of 2020.] read more

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Everything's great about this park. One warning about the kayak rentals. The are lots of manatees down the river and it seems like the further you go the more there are. The warning is that you are going DOWN river and you will have to paddle back upstream which isn't too bad if you're in halfway decent shape. read more

Nice park but if no manatees are around it is just pretty much a park. Think playground, a walking path by water, and picnic areas. There is a small gift shop that sells souvenirs of the manatees you may/may not see. You also have to pay for parking which feels cheating if you see no manatees and end up just playing on a playground. If I saw manatees, a solid 5 stars. No manatees, eh, it's just a park by a power plant. read more

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Great place to watch manatees during the cool season. The kayaking is such a neat experience and affordable for the experience. Great place to visit! We came twice in one week! read more

Manatee Park - Manatee and babies - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

We took my Sister in Law from New York to see the Manatee's! It was a beautiful day but the park was very crowded. The parking lot is limited and we couldn't find an empty handicapped spot to park in. There were long lines at the parking machines. $1.00 for and hour or $5.00 for the day. There is also a small concession stand with a small gift shop and bathrooms. The line was out the door for the ladies room. We proceeded on to sit and listen to a volunteer tell us about the manatees. The viewing area was packed to the gills lol! There were lots of manatees and their babies. You can see that a lot of them have scars from boat propellers. There are benches and small trails where you can see flora and fauna. A kayak rental place where you can go out and actually see the manatees close up. If you walk on the boardwalk towards the back, there is a beautiful view of the Caloosahatchee River. People are fishing from the boardwalk. There are boats and kayaks going down the river. I really enjoy coming here, but wish the park could be upgraded. It almost looks run down with its old concession building and bathroom. The grounds themself look like they could use a pick me up. This park is really wonderful a wonderful addition for the area. We love supporting our local community parks and businesses. If you have a chance be sure to visit these beautiful animals! read more

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Excellent spot for capturing an up close look at these massive beasts. Unfortunately the day I came there was only 1 to be seen. The pictures of the manatee posted are from my wife who went 10 days earlier. Lucky her. What we learned from resident experts: 1. High tide is better (but not necessary) 2. The colder the temperature, the better. Preferably cold for a few days in a row. 3. Best when the "Gulf" is cold - causes them to move up the river. Some trails to walk (wish there were more). You can rent kayaks. Souvenir shop. Restrooms available. Pretty interesting documentary movie. Parking is $2/hr ($5 for all day) read more

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A beautiful park with a handful of things to do! We went to see Manatees of course, and we were lucky enough to see some near the back along the river! The park also has two children's parks for the kiddos. They have a larger one for older kids and small one for toddlers. They also have kayak rentals here and a launch space to get onto the river, which is something I will definitely be back for! Great park, give it a visit! read more

We were in the area visiting and two of our group said they wanted to see manatees. Having heard about this park in the past we checked out the details and headed their on a cold, for Florida, morning. A perfect day for seeing manatees heading to this warm water spot. We got there around 9:30am and it was already hopping but when we left an hour or so later it was jammed! You can park for $2/hour of $5 for the day. An hour is about right if just viewing the manatees vs. kayaking too. A fun place - we saw many dozen of the beasts so a real successful morning. There are good educational materials about the sea cows. read more

I loved this place so much I came back again! It was a bit too warm for the manatees this time, so no luck there. I brought my girlfriend from the Midwest here for kayaking and had a wonderful time. Chose the double kayak for two hours and took the scenic view up the river. Got a little wet but nothing too bad, will definitely be back again! read more

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the best place i have ever been in my entire life!!!!!! i love this! we saw over 300 manatees and kayaked for 3 hours! read more

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While in Florida, my mom and I were in search of all things outdoor to stay safe during the pandemic. We found the manatee park and thought it would be a cute little walking spot. We wanted to go a bit earlier than we made it out, and by the time we arrived it was full-on Florida heat. We didn't see any manatees, but it was still a cute lil nature walk. They recommend visiting on a cooler day, because apparently the water is warmed by the nearby power plant (which sort of freaks me out...?) and the manatees are easier to spot in the cooler temperatures. Parking was easy and fairly inexpensive - I think it was $5? There is no fee for admission, so this is certainly a budget-friendly option. Some folks were wearing masks and some weren't. My mom and I certainly did, especially when we were close to other people on the walking trails. Masks were not enforced, but it is entirely outdoors, so do whatever makes you comfy! read more

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Awesome experience at Manatee Park! I came here specifically for the kayaking and knew there would be no manatees but I wanted to do something outdoors-y with my friend. The prices weren't so bad-$26 for 2 hours plus $5 for all day parking. We booked early on a week day so there was no one there. The lady who works there was pretty relaxed and nice. She showed us a quick tutorial on how to kayak and helped us get in. She also showed us the more scenic route compared to a harder one. It's a lot of water to cover in the 2 hours. This is definitely an inexpensive thing to do to enjoy the pretty outdoors! Although I hit into plenty of bushes... read more

Manatee Park - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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This is a really nice park, where if you're lucky, you can catch a glimpse of manatees. You just pay for parking and the park is free. After waiting for about 40 minutes to see a manatee above the water, I finally saw one. It was staying close to the surface and every 5 minutes would come up for air, where you could only see its snout. I came here on Sunday afternoon (March 10th- my bday no less) and the water temperature was above 80 degrees which accounted for why they weren't in abundance. A sign said that they typically are only there when the water is at 68 degrees, so seeing that single manatee was a special treat considering the temperature. Signage there also says that the best time to come is in January. It's still pretty cool that there's a place in town where you can go see manatees. I was visiting from St. Louis and that was my goal before leaving, to see a manatee, and thanks to Manatee Park, I accomplished that goal. I'm grateful. read more

I came here with my family while visiting for the holidays. I really wanted to visit as much as I could and I saw this on Google. We were worried that the gulf water wouldn't be cold enough to see any manatees but there were plenty. This park was great for families. You pay to park it's $1 per hour. And the rest of the park is free. You walk along a path or you can rent a kayak and kayak in the waters to see the manatees. We saw a lot of them and it was really cool. They were all hanging out in a little cove to get to the warm water. I would definitely come back and I bought a Tshirt. I think this would be great to visit with kids but definitely come during the winter months to see more manatees. read more

Manatee Park - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

Nice park, I didn't kayak but it looked like fun. I didn't see a manatee but it was still nice to walk around read more

Manatee Park - Twins? - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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I'm not sure if I came at a bad time, but this wasn't as exciting as I hoped it would be. To walk around the place I'd say it's a good 20 min tops. I thought I'd see manatees a lot closer then the gates and fences allow you. I saw NO manatees. $2.00 per hour parking or $5.00 for the whole day. Not sure how anyone could be there a whole day. I paid the $5.00 because I had no idea how long it would take. I sat on benches just to kill time and get my $5.00 parking worth. I did walk away with some gecko pictures and a snake that crossed my path and nearly scared the breath out of me. I don't know about snakes in Florida, so I gave him his respectful space. If there is a next time. I'll try February and only stay for an hour. read more

Manatee Park - Black snake - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

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Nature experience. Clean. Plenty of space for parking and walking around. Clean facilities. Recommended.

This is a pretty cool place to go for only a $5 parking fee. Plenty of parking with rates starting at $2/ hour or $5/day. This tight wad felt $5 was a better deal. Jan to March are the best times to water these sea cows swim in this canal warmed by the nearby natural gas fired power plant. Plenty of places to get some Fitbit steps. Picnic area for lunch and clean modern rest rooms. Fun place to spend a couple hours. read more

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A great place to spend quality time with friends and family take a picnic basket and have some lunch under a pavilion Has a cute park for kids and a small gift shop . Couldn't see any manatees the water was really dark. And it was cold. read more

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This was my first time coming to this park and it was an amazing experience! First, we sat down and had a picnic and just took in the beautiful park one breath at a time. After, eating we walked around the park and took some amazing pictures and even though we didn't see any Manatees just the thought of them being in the water was exciting! The next time I come out here I will make sure we kayak! I've always wanted to kayak and the fact that they offer this here is amazing! I can't wait for my baby to get older so he can enjoy wild life with us, it's such a treat! Also, I love how they had a lot of information about Manatees everywhere you walked. It was really good to read how similar they are to humans. read more

Manatee Park - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

The park is beautifully kept! You can tell that they take care of the grounds very well. There was no trash, large limbs or anything else obstructing the way. The trails were very nice to stroll through. I would be wary if you're handicap or have a hard time on mulch. Parking - You have to pay for parking. All the signs say $2 per hour but the machine charged is $1 for hour. Although this isn't a bad deal, if you don't see any manatees and don't stay long it feels as you're being cheated a little. If you want to see manatees you almost need to rent a kayak or canoe. This is my second time to the park. The first time I came I rented a canoe with friends. We saw the occasional outline of manatees but nothing crazy. My second time we just walked around and saw absolutely squat. We were there for less than 10 minutes overall. Seeing as how they're wild animals, this is understandable. There are cute manatee statues all over the park to take pictures with. There is also a small gift shop to purchase souvenirs. read more

Manatee Park - Entrance - Parks Near Me - Fort Myers, Florida

such a beautiful park! loved spending time here with my family. It was also very clean.

Visited Manatee Park when the temps dropped and drove the manatee from the gulf seeking warmer waters. This is a great attraction especially when it's been cool for 2-3 days. read more

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This park is directly across the street from FPL power plant. Manatees need warm water so they discovered the warm water extracted from power plants is the place to be when it dips below 70 degrees. Manatee Park is a non-captive warm water refuge for Florida Manatees. Best viewing months are December to February when the gulf temperature is below 68 degrees. Open seven days a week from 8 am to dusk for only a parking fee of $2 an hour or $5 day. They offer kayak and canoe rentals from 9-4. It's a cute little park with some nice walkways, a butterfly garden, and a chance to see manatees. Luckily we were able to see them when we went canoeing. read more

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