Day 5 – Manatee Springs

We woke up that morning  to this view:

Then we headed out the door for a short drive up to Manatee Springs.  Where we saw not manatee, but deer.  Lots of them.  And they were completely unconcerned with lots of people being around.

Like so many springs in Florida, this one flows right up from a huge series of underground caves.   The water is clear, cold and beautiful.

 

It fed right into the Suwannee River, which was just a short little walk from the head of the springs.

We saw a tiny little alligator there in the Suwannee.  He was about as cute as an alligator is capable of being.

Some of us were brave enough to get into the freezing cold water.  

Layton and Mandy pretty much refused to get more than their feet wet.  I was right there with them.  Waist deep was as far as I could make myself go!  Layton actually cried because he thought it was too cold.

All and all another great little state park.


P.S.  If you haven't already seen them, you can look at a few wedding photos I did here and here.