While last visiting my parents, I found myself heading to Crystal River, Florida. We took a tour to the Three Sisters Springs – a refuge for West Indian Manatees in the winter. The manatees (~500 last winter) come to the springs because of their constant 72 degree Fahrenheit temperature.

What makes Three Sisters Springs unique, among the primary springs in the area, is that it is accessible by land and open to the public. To access the other springs in the wildlife refuge, you have to go by boat. We weren’t able to see any manatees in the springs, due to the incredibly warm temperatures and heavy rain, but we did get to see some breathtakingly beautiful sights, and made friends with a raccoon (but really…don’t get too close to them!!).