You can easily spend a leisurely (or more active) day at Manatee Park. Get out on the water in a canoe, take a long walk, or explore the butterfly garden—then unwind over a picnic meal. Throughout the year, the park also hosts educational programs on topics like fish identification and butterfly gardening.
Dogs aren’t allowed in Manatee Park.
Park facilities include restrooms and a gift shop.
The park is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Manatee Park is located off Florida State Road 80 (Palm Beach Boulevard), and the most convenient way to get there is by car.
The park is open daily till dusk. The best time to see manatees is in late December, January, or February, when gulf temperatures drop and the animals seek warmer water.
Manatee Park isn’t the only place to see manatees in the wild in the Fort Myers area. During the winter months, head to Lovers Key State Park at the southern end of Fort Myers Beach, where manatees often gather in the warm waters of the canals. Park staff will let you know if sightings are likely.