Fort Myers Has One Of The Best Places To See Manatees In The Winter

Even after being in Florida for 6 years now, I still get excited to see marine animals and Fort Myers has one of the best places to see manatees in the winter.

Here in Florida, we are all too familiar with snowbirds leaving their homes up north in search for sunshine and warmer temperatures. I've seen the roads just in the last few weeks in Fort Myers get increasingly more busy. I even got caught in beach traffic the other day on Fort Myers Beach. Well, much like the old folks, manatees also search for warmth, heading more inland to warmer waters. While they're called sea cows, they actually lack insulating blubber like other marina mammals so they don't do well in the cold. In fact, the cold stress cause lead to some serious health issues in these animals. So when temperatures drop, you're more likely to see manatees in natural springs and power plant discharge areas. And there's a place right here in Fort Myers that makes for prime viewing.

While the kids are still off from school, or if you're looking for some fun on the weekends, you have to check the Lee County Manatee Park. It's there that hundreds of manatees visit in the winter months. In addition to viewing areas, there's also picnic shelters, plant and butterfly gardens and kayak & canoe rentals that launch into the Orange River. The park is open 8am-sunset every day of the year. You can check out a live webcam of the park here

You can see the full list here, but according to FWC, some other places known for seeing manatees in the winter in the winter in Florida include:

Florida is a dream destination for a lot of people and 3 cities here in the Sunshine State land on a list of the best places to live in America.

Growing up in Chicago, it was always my dream to one day live here. It's been almost 6 years since I arrived, first in Sarasota. I've been in Fort Myers now for almost 5 and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. You really can't beat the fact that the weather is always nice (even on these days of 50 degrees in the morning..brrr), there's SO much to do year-round and the beauty of palm trees and our beaches is something you can never get tired of. For some, it's a retirement dream and for others it's a state where you want to put down roots and blossom. I really can't imagine, now, living anywhere else.

The list surprises me, considering my love for living here, with only 3 cities in Florida included. Money put their list together looking at factors including economic opportunities, quality of live and diversity, among others. Atlanta landed in the #1 spot. 3 cities in Florida made the list coming in at #'s 9, 33 and 43. You can see the full list here.

Money said Tampa is "a rare combination of action-packed and affordable". Home sales average just over $380,000. The publication said the downsides of the city include traffic and climate. (If you don't like the heat- stay out of the kitchen!)

Altamonte Springs isn't a city I've visited, though it's only about 30 mins from Disney and about an hour to the beach, so it's close to a lot of fun. Definitely worth bragging about, if getting a good education is important, the area has a 93% graduation rate.

Sarasota was the city I first landed in upon moving to Florida, and I absolutely love it. Money says Sarasota is a "paradise for beach, culture and wildlife lovers". But be ready to pay. The average home price last year was over $565,000.