Date of trip: January 2008

I’ve lived in Florida so I have a soft spot in my heart for the manatee. Sometimes called “sea cows” these enormous aquatic creatures reach an average of 10-14 feet long as adults and live on a mostly vegetarian diet. They are slow moving and gentle and spend most of their day eating and sleeping.

In the United States, manatees are found almost exclusively in Florida as they live in shallow, coastal waters and can not survive in temperatures below 60° F (15° C). During winter months, they congregate in the Crystal and Homosassa Rivers where hot springs keep the temperature at 72° F year round. In this area, visitors can see manatees and it is the only place in the world you can swim with them. We chose to visit Homosassa instead of Crystal River because, although there are fewer manatees here, there are also fewer people and smaller tour groups.

Highlights:

-Swimming with manatees is a controversial practice. Some people believe it disrupts their normal activities and puts them in danger. I think in some cases this is true and I agree that more regulations are needed. Anyone can just rent a boat and go out on the rivers with no instruction or license. Tour operators on the other hand must have several permits and are required to show an educational video to all their charges. The operators I met, including our own, Air Tank Divers, really seem to appreciate and love the manatees and want to educate the public. Our instructor, Captain Don, made the rules of our manatee encounter very clear to us. You are to let the manatees lead. If they come up to you and initiate contact, you can touch them in certain areas but you must give them space to leave at all times and never chase or grab them. There are also sanctuaries marked that are off limits to people.

Once we got in the water, there were manatees everywhere! Some kept to themselves and some came right up to our faces to check us out. A few even rolled over on their backs so we could scratch their stomachs! It felt like swimming with elephants. They have tough skin and toe nails on their flippers. I was nervous in the beginning because they are so massive, but they move so slowly and gently it seems impossible that they could ever hurt you. They are without a doubt the sweetest and most docile animal I’ve come across. They also seem to love cameras and kept sticking their noses in ours!!

-The Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park was originally a privately owned zoo. When the state purchased the property they decided to turn it into an educational visitor center featuring local animals. Non native species, including Lucifer the hippo, would be transferred to other locations. Lu was popular with the locals and angry letters flooded state offices demanding he be allowed to stay. The governor decided to grant the hippo honorary Florida citizenship, making him an instant native of the state and permitting him to live in the park for the rest of his days. Lu shares the park with birds, otters, a black panther and, of course, manatees! If you don’t want to swim with the manatees, this is the best place to view them from dry ground. You can watch staff feed them or go in an underwater viewing area for a closer look.

Homosassa Springs and the manatees that winter there have a complicated relationship. The manatees need the warm river to survive the cold season. They also rely on the people of the community to protect them by driving their boats responsibly and keeping the river clean. Though the animals have no natural predators, they are endangered with less than 3,000 remaining. People are their only danger and their only hope. The people of Homosassa Springs are equally reliant on the manatee as tourism is their only industry. Millions of visitors travel here every year just to see the manatees. Without the manatees there is no Homosassa and without Homosassa there are no manatees. I know the town works hard to maintain the delicate balance necessary to preserve both. I hope people will be able to have the incredible experience I did here for many, many years to come.

For more pictures, please visit my Photo Gallery or click on any of the photos posted above.

Homosassa Springs Links:
Air Tank Divers Manatee Tours
Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Check out My Adventures to read about my trip to swim with the manatees in Homosassa Springs, Florida. You can see pictures on my Photos page or by clicking into the album through one of the images posted.

We all know that eating local foods is part of traveling, even for Americans exploring our own country. Travel + Leisure Family has put together a list of the best snacks to try in 30 different states. Among the selections are black and white cookies in New York, coconut patties in Florida and moonpies in Tennessee. Yum!! You can check out the full list in this month’s issue of T+L Family or on their website below.

T+L’s United States of Snacks

Travelers are always looking for ways to be more efficient and save time. TripIt.com, a free trip organizer, can help. Just e-mail them all your travel confirmations (flight, hotel, car rental, etc) and they will create a master itinerary on a webpage which you can print, share or upload to a PDA. They will even add in weather forecasts, maps, driving directions and city guides!

San Fransisco is home to the largest Japantown in the United States and if you are a fan of Japanese pop culture, staying at the Hotel Tomo during your visit is a must. Newly renovated last spring, the rooms are filled with anime artwork, Japanese lanterns and bright colored, modern furniture. Special game suites are also available featuring beanbag chairs, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii and six foot LCD projection screens for the ultimate playing experience. Hi-tech vending machines in the lobby sell T-shirts and watches and Japanese spa treatments and dining are available.

Hotel Tomo

Source: Travel + Leisure Family

This weekend, February 29th-March 2nd, the Jacob Javits Center in New York City will host the 5th annual New York Times Travel Show. It’s the largest consumer travel trade show produced in the United States with over 30,000 attendees expected. There will be travel seminars, world dancers, food exhibits, a spa pavilion offering massages and hundreds of booths offering information, deals and trip contests for destinations around the world. To give you an idea of just how big this show is, Rick Steves will be there as will Arthur and Pauline Frommer and Ian Cross and Megan McCormick from Globetrekker. Of course, I’ll be there too!!

The show is open to the general public on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or at the door. You can save $5 if you use pay with an American Express card (promo code AMEX for web tickets).

The New York Times Travel Show

Just a quick reminder:

If you are looking for posts you’ve read on the site in the past, you can use the search box in the top right corner of the page. Also, if you are looking for a post I wrote about a trip I took, you can use the link above the search box “Where has Alena been?” which will take you to a list of all my trip posts and allow you to click directly on the destination you want.

Dear Alena,

I’m terrified of heights! Any tips for folks afraid to fly?

Kelley in Hawaii

You are definitely not alone. Even seasoned travelers like myself have days when flying has us feeling stressed. The truth is that flying is much safer than many activities we do every day. Your chances of being involved in a plane crash are about 1 in 11 million while your chances of being killed in an automobile accident are 1 in 5000. It’s often said that the most dangerous part of air travel is your drive to the airport!

That said, if you are feeling anxious before a flight there are some things that might help. Travel with a friend or family member for support and try working off some of your energy pre-flight by exercising or stretching. A doctor can prescribe you a mild sedative to relax you or you can try drinking a glass of wine or cocktail. Just don’t get intoxicated or you may be denied boarding! Bring a comfortable pillow and some music. A magazine or book with pictures and information about your destination might help to focus you on why you are flying in the first place. If you are visiting a friend or relative, carrying a photo of them will remind you of your goal.

Last spring, I wrote a post about Flying Without Fear, a website dedicated to helping those with your affliction. You can check out that post here to read more about what they have to offer.

Remember, getting on a plane is only a means to an end. The world is an amazing place! You can do it!

Have a great trip!

Sometimes it’s hard to decide if you should carry a bag around while on a trip. You want your hands free but you may need it if you spot a cool souvenir. I like these Kiva keychain bags because they allow you to have it both ways. They fold up into a small keychain that you can slip into your pocket or clip to your pants but, if you find yourself in need of a bag, they open up into your choice of a duffel, tote, backpack or sling. They are made of nylon so they won’t stand on their own or hold as much as a true pack, but they are much easier to carry around and perfect for small items you might pickup throughout your day.

$9.95 Amazon.com