Thanks to its relatively warm temperature of 73 °F (23 °C), the spring attracts many Florida manatees during the winter months. Blue Spring State Park, Orange City: "Are there any manatees in the park currently?" A record number of 553 manatees were counted recently by members of the Save the Manatee Club at the park. Blue Spring State Park: Manatees! One of the most popular spots to see Florida’s famous manatee residents, Blue Springs State Park covers more than 2,600 acres. The spring in the Park (Volusia Blue Spring) is the largest on the St. Johns River. Blue Springs is the Florida manatee winter sanctuary and temporary home for over 550 manatees in the winter months. From manatees to insects, the Lending Library is a fun way to enhance your child's experience in the Real Florida. Blue Spring State Park also offers the Bedtime Story Camper Lending Library of picture books for campers aged four to nine. For more about manatees at Blue Spring State Park, read: Best places to see manatees in Florida. Thanks to its relatively warm temperature of 73 °F (23 °C), the spring attracts many Florida manatees during the winter months. It is a very popular weekend activity for Orlando and Daytona Beach locals. Around 500 manatees, which are herbivores feeding off of marine plants, seek sanctuary from the cold winter waters of the Florida sea in the crystal-clear 72-degree spring waters of Blue Spring State Park — and it makes for an amazing sight to see. | Check out 14 answers, plus see 1,965 reviews, articles, and 1,898 photos of Blue Spring State Park, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 20 attractions in Orange City. Blue Springs State Park was established in 1972 to protect the St. Johns River manatees. The spring in the Park (Volusia Blue Spring) is the largest on the St. Johns River. 102 million US gallons (390,000 m 3) of water flow out of Blue Spring … Blue Spring State Park also offers the Bedtime Story Camper Lending Library of picture books for campers aged four to nine. Located north of Orlando in Orange City, this park is a designated manatee refuge where during winter months, from November to March, visitors can come and see the growing population of West Indian Manatees at the spring’s overlooks. I was impressed with this state park, which is VERY careful that the manatees are first priority -- but the facilities and boardwalk and everything else were in excellent repair. Swimming, tubing and diving at Blue Spring State Par k Blue Spring Run. In the early 1970s, only six or eight manatees visited the spring, Kenner explained. Blue Spring is a particularly popular spring in Florida due to its great location. During the summer months, humans converge on Blue Spring en masse to enjoy the cool spring … Located near Orange City, Florida, Blue Spring State Park is the largest spring on St. Johns River. Blue Spring State Park is well acclaimed for being the best place in Florida to see manatees in the wild, and we don’t mean a dozen or two. From manatees to insects, the Lending Library is a fun way to enhance your child's experience in the Real Florida. Manatees mingle in the warm 72º degree waters of Blue Spring State Park in Orange City on Friday, Feb. 1. During cold snaps, manatees migrate to huddle up in warm waters. That’s why the winter season in Orlando is the perfect time to catch a glimpse of Florida manatees at Blue Spring State Park.. Manatees retreat to the designated refuge each year because of … Blue Spring State Park. If your visiting Orlando, Blue Springs State Park is about forty five minutes from the Orlando metropolitan area. Blue Spring is a designated manatee refuge and the winter home to a growing population of West Indian Manatees. - See 1,965 traveler reviews, 1,898 candid photos, and great deals for Orange City, FL, at Tripadvisor.