Cameras flashed while the mini-manatee batted at the float like a kitten with a ball of string. Flamingos, bears, bobcats, a rare Florida panther and alligators galore are exhibited along the park's picturesque nature trails. Bring a picnic and watch the kayaks glide by, then catch a scenic boat tour along Homosassa River. Check out the mermaid show at nearby Weeki Wachee Springs, a 200-acre natural springs water park. This charming natural spring park has preserved the area's rustic beauty, although amenities have improved since Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez first sailed here in the early 1500s.
Children also enjoy building sandcastles on the park's broad sand beach.
The family waterpark features a tubing lagoon and three twisty waterslides.