The winter home of nearly 20% of Florida's West Indian manatee population, this wildlife refuge protects almost the whole of Kings Bay. Up to 800 of these gentle, endangered sea creatures have been counted in a single January day and, like any wildlife spectacle, this draws crowds of onlookers, as well as swimmers and snorkelers.
One place to begin is Three Sisters Trail, which leads to Three Sisters Springs with a boardwalk for strolling through it all. The area features underwater vents, sand boils and manatee-filled crystal-clear spring water that feed Kings Bay, the headwaters of the Crystal River. There's no on-site parking, but you can take the trolley to the boardwalk.
