• placement: superzone
  • path: destinations/pois/hero
  • containerId: gpt-ad-355822041569
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "points-of-interest/lee-county-manatee-park/1185396",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

Lee County Manatee Park

Single manatee

Getty Images/iStockphoto

December through March, manatees flock up the Orange River to this warm-water discharge canal from the nearby power plant. The waterway is now a protected sanctuary, with a landscaped park and playground in addition to viewing platforms at water's edge, where manatees swim almost at arm's reach. Calusa Blueway Outfitters rents kayaks (kayaks/canoes from $15/20 per hour).

The park is signed off Hwy 80, about 6.5 miles from downtown Fort Myers, and 1.5 miles east of I-75.

  • placement: superzone
  • path: destinations/pois/middle
  • containerId: gpt-ad-953533986237
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "points-of-interest/lee-county-manatee-park/1185396",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}

Must-see attractions

Explore all
  • placement: superzone
  • path: destinations/pois/superzone
  • containerId: gpt-ad-785806308601
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [320, 50], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "points-of-interest/lee-county-manatee-park/1185396",
  "refresh": 30,
  "refresh_limit": 3
}