This morning we had a bit of breakfast after sleeping in for a bit - but we decided to try something a little different: we wanted to take Madison to go see manatees. Based on some advice from Ye-Ye before we left, we found Homosassa Springs on the map and discovered it wasn't that far away. So once again, we packed into the car and drove south towards the gulf coast.
After a bit of driving by new places, the five of us stopped at Homosassa Springs. This is a state park with two entrances. You can drive to both of them, but you can also stop at one in order to take a boat to the other. We opted for the boat ride, and were quite happy to do so.
It was a twenty minute boat ride through the still and quiet of nature, where all the passengers were on the lookout for various creatures and vegetation. Turtles were sunbathing on logs and majestic birds swooped overhead, some landing in the shallows of the water to search for food. Just towards the end of the trip, we spotted an alligator to the left, resting in the sun.
After the boat ride, we walked through the next building and towards the source of the springs where there was scheduled a manatee program. Bleachers lined the boardwalk, and a volunteer ranger came around with large heads of lettuce. She hurled them into the water, and began to talk. Madison and the other children lined the front bleacher, and all of us looked into the water to watch for the tell-tale signs of approaching manatees. Sure enough, just as the ranger was speaking, three manatees came over to the "salad bar" to eat. An excited murmur came over the crowd - everyone was delighted to see these unusual and graceful creatures up close and in person in the wild.
There is an underwater observatory too. Right next to the source of the spring is a place where you can walk beneath the water level and look through large glass windows to see the manatees up close. The five of us went down to take a look - Madison got to see the manatee very close, along with all kinds of unique fish.
After the manatee viewing, we checked out the rest of the park. Obviously, she's not wrestling a real alligator here, but there was a large area for alligators, about ten or so by my last count. These were some large and menacing creatures, a few of them trolling around, eyeing the visitors that filed past them. Nearby this tank was a hippo. I am not making that up. This is an exotic creature that was a holdover from the park's early days when it was more a tourist attraction than a state park.
I thought it was ironic that we were just at the Fantasia Gardens yesterday, where hippos and alligators danced together.
ANYWAY, we made our way through a reptile house and saw some otters that were quite busy playing around. After that, we saw a presentation on various birds of prey.
Madison got to see the bald eagle up close, as well as a small owl. Afterwards, she got to feed a lot of the birds - Daddy brought along some quarters for the food machines. She threw over the deck some food for swans and other kinds of birds - too many to list here. Of course there were flamingos, but there were also ospreys and even a black swan.
This place even had wolves. And foxes too. It was quite surprising all the animals that were there, actually. Favor continued to follow us, as the rain only came to us at the end of our visit. We couldn't ride the boat back, but we did get to ride the tram back to the main visitor center. We got some pressed pennies - Madison loves to make those things. Just two days ago, we got a few from Weeki Wachee. Also, we got Madison a stuffed animal - a manatee of course. We asked her what she was going to name it. Her answer: Sunshine. From that point on, she's had her manatee under her arms, carrying it with her everywhere she went.
It got better for her because when she got home, Nana got her a smaller beanie baby manatee. Now there's a mommy and a baby manatee too. Tonight at bed, Madison had both by her side.
After a bit of driving by new places, the five of us stopped at Homosassa Springs. This is a state park with two entrances. You can drive to both of them, but you can also stop at one in order to take a boat to the other. We opted for the boat ride, and were quite happy to do so.
It was a twenty minute boat ride through the still and quiet of nature, where all the passengers were on the lookout for various creatures and vegetation. Turtles were sunbathing on logs and majestic birds swooped overhead, some landing in the shallows of the water to search for food. Just towards the end of the trip, we spotted an alligator to the left, resting in the sun.
After the boat ride, we walked through the next building and towards the source of the springs where there was scheduled a manatee program. Bleachers lined the boardwalk, and a volunteer ranger came around with large heads of lettuce. She hurled them into the water, and began to talk. Madison and the other children lined the front bleacher, and all of us looked into the water to watch for the tell-tale signs of approaching manatees. Sure enough, just as the ranger was speaking, three manatees came over to the "salad bar" to eat. An excited murmur came over the crowd - everyone was delighted to see these unusual and graceful creatures up close and in person in the wild.
There is an underwater observatory too. Right next to the source of the spring is a place where you can walk beneath the water level and look through large glass windows to see the manatees up close. The five of us went down to take a look - Madison got to see the manatee very close, along with all kinds of unique fish.
After the manatee viewing, we checked out the rest of the park. Obviously, she's not wrestling a real alligator here, but there was a large area for alligators, about ten or so by my last count. These were some large and menacing creatures, a few of them trolling around, eyeing the visitors that filed past them. Nearby this tank was a hippo. I am not making that up. This is an exotic creature that was a holdover from the park's early days when it was more a tourist attraction than a state park.
I thought it was ironic that we were just at the Fantasia Gardens yesterday, where hippos and alligators danced together.
ANYWAY, we made our way through a reptile house and saw some otters that were quite busy playing around. After that, we saw a presentation on various birds of prey.
Madison got to see the bald eagle up close, as well as a small owl. Afterwards, she got to feed a lot of the birds - Daddy brought along some quarters for the food machines. She threw over the deck some food for swans and other kinds of birds - too many to list here. Of course there were flamingos, but there were also ospreys and even a black swan.
This place even had wolves. And foxes too. It was quite surprising all the animals that were there, actually. Favor continued to follow us, as the rain only came to us at the end of our visit. We couldn't ride the boat back, but we did get to ride the tram back to the main visitor center. We got some pressed pennies - Madison loves to make those things. Just two days ago, we got a few from Weeki Wachee. Also, we got Madison a stuffed animal - a manatee of course. We asked her what she was going to name it. Her answer: Sunshine. From that point on, she's had her manatee under her arms, carrying it with her everywhere she went.
It got better for her because when she got home, Nana got her a smaller beanie baby manatee. Now there's a mommy and a baby manatee too. Tonight at bed, Madison had both by her side.
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