The Little River: Manatee Bend Park

Situated just west of Biscayne Boulevard and south of NE 79th Street. Manatee Bend Park is a bona fide local hot spot where the gentle giants gather.

The Little River: Belle Meade Island Bridge

The bridge that connects Belle Meade proper to Belle Meade Island is another great spot to see the mammals. You can see them passing through in the mornings and evenings on their daily peregrinations from Biscayne Bay and back. Look for the telltale circular ripples their bodies create as they move through the water below the surface.

The Little River Dam

Manatees like to gather near the dam on the river near NE 82nd Street and NE Fourth Place

Virginia Key Lagoon

Aggregations of manatees have been known to inhabit the Virginia Key lagoon off the Rickenbacker Causeway during winter months. Visitors can pay to paddleboard and kayak in the lagoon.

Everglades National Park: Flamingo Visitor Center

Situated about 38 miles south of the Homestead entrance point to Everglades National Park, the visitor center has boat ramps where manatees congregate year-round.

North Miami Beach: Oleta River State Park

Visitors to the state park, which is located in North Miami Beach and is one of Florida’s largest urban parks, have spotted manatees and dolphins! swimming in the nearby waters over the years.

South Miami-Dade: Black Point Park and Marina

Manatees have been a common sight along the docks and shallow waters surrounding the Black Point Marina, which is the largest public marina located in Miami.

South Miami-Dade: Boat Basin at the Deering Estate

The historic estate‘s boat basin on Biscayne Bay is considered one of the best places in Miami to see manatees up close. The supply of fresh water combined with the calm nature of the bay draws manatees to congregate and mate (!) in the bay.

West Palm Beach: Manatee Lagoon

While it is not in Miami, the Manatee Lagoon is considered one of the best spots in hailing distance of the 305 to see manatees. Located at the FPL Eco-Discovery Center, the free attraction has an observation deck for viewing manatees up close near the Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center.