If you think that visiting one of beautiful, local Florida springs is only a summer activity, you’ll miss out on a great adventure at Blue Springs State Park. Located at 2100 W French Avenue in Orange City, the park is known for its manatee visitors which congregate in the warm water refuge of the park. Due to these special winter guests, all water activities are prohibited during the winter months.
The manatees are drawn to the park due to its constant 72-degree spring water. They depend on the warm water for survival as they cannot tolerate water temperatures below 68 degrees. Even though manatees look like they have a healthy covering of “fat” or blubber”, they only wear about an inch of fat and cannot stay warm easily.
Official tracking of the manatees began in the 1970s with only 36 appearing in the spring in the wintertime. Today over 500 manatees will congregate each winter in this warm, safe haven.
Blue Springs State Park is also a great location for birding aficionados. The Florida scrub-jay calls the park home making it likely to catch a glimpse of one or hear its call. Camping, hiking, and spots to picnic also draw visitors during these cooler months.
The park is open from 8:00 until sunset all year and entrance is $6 per vehicle. For more information about Blue Spring State Park, visit https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blue-spring-state-park.