Audrey’s Bucket-list: Swim with the Manatees

There is one place in the entire world that you can legally swim with wild manatees. This is in Crystal River, FL. My first bucket-list trip I planned was this one, and it was perfect from start to finish. Swimming around in the creeks and seeing manatees float by is the coolest experience ever. They even will come up to you! Just don’t touch them as it is illegal, they will touch you if they’re curious. Manatees have smooth brains and are incapable of feeling aggression, so they’re very gentle and curious. Snorkeling in Devil’s Den Cenote was magical and staying at the cat sanctuary was so special as well! This trip is a road trip from Nashville.

Wednesday:

7:00 am- Leave

5:00 pm- Check into Cat Sanctuary and play w/ Kitties!

NOTES: bring food and fire equipment

Thursday:

Leave by 9 am

10 am: We stop halfway to crystal river and go to Devil’s Den and snorkel

12:30 pm: Grab lunch real quick at The Freezer

3 pm: Check-in at Hippie Hut & Shower/ chill

5 pm: Dinner at Crump’s

Friday

7:00 am- wake up

  7:30 am - head to kayak pick up

  -8:00 am- arrive at Crystal River Kayak for kayak pick up 

  -8:30 am- Manatees!

  -1:30 pm- return kayaks

  -2:00 pm- Crystal River boardwalk/generally walk around

  -4:30 pm head to hippie hut to shower and such

  -6:30 pm- Crackers for dinner to see the monkeys

Saturday

9 am: go to Homossassa Spring Park

11 am: Ice Cream Tacos at Twistee Treat

12 pm- Leave Hippie Hut/florida

6:00 pm- Arrive in Atlanta and check in at hotel

7:00 pm- Medieval Times!

10 pm- Church bar if you’re still going

Sunday

Go home