Silver Springs Manatee Viewing (Go-with-the-Flow Edition)

This one’s all about walking in 😂 On 12/23, we drove 🚗 from Tampa to Silver Springs State Park around 11 AM and lined up to rent a boat. ⚠️ If you don’t have a GoPro or an underwater camera, highly recommend renting a Crystal Tandem 🚣 (transparent kayak). ⚠️ No shoes allowed in the clear kayak—go barefoot 🦶. So wear flip-flops and just leave them at the back of the kayak. We rented a kayak for 2 hours for $70, plus the park access fee—around $76 total. After buying tickets, you fill out a waiver and leave your car keys with the staff. Then you get your life jacket 🦺 and paddle. The staff also gives you a map, but honestly, you can just follow the crowd. 👉 Short version: The initial stretch of the river has no manatees—you can paddle through quickly 😂 But when it’s sunny, you can take super clear photos of the crystal-clear water. Once you reach the wider and deeper part of the main river, the manatees show up～～ If you’re unsure about the location or can’t read the map, just ask people following the tour. #Tampa #Wildlife #TampaTravel #SilverSprings