I planned on posting this before football season but I just got sidetracked. This summer we had no real plans and as a lot of you know I live outside of Pensacola so I suggested to the wife, let's just have a staycation. She saw right through my suggestion, knowing it would involve me playing golf, drinking beer, fishing, and just hanging out in the pool. She suggested the Wharf in Orange Beach with us going to Waterville and us going to Vortex Springs in Ponce De Leon. I acquiesced to the idea of Waterville, (because I love Waterslides), but did not like the idea of Vortex Springs. If I'm going to springs in Florida, I want to see some ****. After further research we happened across Crystal River/Homosassa FL. We found a B&B on Crystal River that was @125 a night and made the decision to go there. We booked a trip with River Ventures to explore the manatees as well as the three sisters springs. We, (Me, my wife, and my 10 year old daughter), had the time of our life. The venture had beer supplied, which I will admit I drank too much of because I had to pee while I was swimming with manatees but, I'm pretty sure that urine flows through the wetsuit. The one thing they kept explaining was that as cool as our experience was, it's 100 times better in Feb/Mar, because the manatees congregate in this area as a result of the constant temperature from the springs. I will say this, while it would be cool to see 100 manatee with 1000 people, it was cool to see 5 manatee with 20 people. Not only that, but prices are way lower everywhere you go in the area because it is like Starkville in the summer. One of the most underrated things I have ever experienced is the Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park. It is absolutely incredible for the price. That's all about this area but I feel I left something out.If you go to Orange Beach/Gulf Shores with kids, do yourself a favor and go to the Wharf for Fireworks Monday. It is really cool.Night Court Bitches!
