Florida can lay claim to a lot of things - weird and wonderful things at that. We're talking about being one of the few places you'll see a Key Deer habitat, one of the smallest deer in North America. Or how about the fact that it's the only state that borders both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico?! Pretty cool stuff, right? But there's another thing that Florida can claim that nobody else can - it's home to being able to have a supervised swim with manatees in Florida. If I've piqued your curiosity, read on if this is an experience you'd like to check off your bucket list. It's one of the coolest animal encounters in Florida.

Crystal River is along the western coast of Florida.

Crystal River is a delightful coastal city where guests can legally swim supervised with manatees in Florida.

Many people might not realize that Crystal Springs is considered to be the Manatee Capital of the World!

Kings Bay in Crystal River is fed by springs that stay the same temperature year-round - between 72 and 74 degrees. This means that come wintertime, manatees in Florida flock to the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge to stay comfortable in the warm waters.

Every year, between 500-1000 manatees, come to Crystal River to escape cold waters. In addition, up to 100 manatees remain in the area throughout the year as well.

Visitors can swim with manatees in Crystal River. This spot in Florida is one of the only places in the world where you can swim with these lovely animals that are sometimes referred to as sea cows.

So, if you want to know, "Can I swim with manatees in Florida?", the answer is yes! This is both a responsibility and a privilege and Crystal River takes swimming with manatees very seriously.

In-water guides are trained to make sure that this beloved species is treated with care and kindness in the water.

All swimmers who participate in these manatees in Florida tours will be led through instructions before even entering the water - everyone needs to learn their “Manatee Manners” before swimming.

Guests looking to take these year-round manatee tours can find touring companies who operate with a special use permit. Even if you don’t want to swim with manatees but just want to see some up close, you can head over to the boardwalks at Three Sisters Springs Refuge in Crystal River.

Have you ever been to Crystal River before? Did you ever swim with manatees there? If so, feel free to share your experience in the following comments section. I also encourage you to check out Discover Crystal River for more information that'll help you plan your memorable excursion. You can book this incredible experience swimming with manatees in Florida directly at TripAdvisor.

Aside from getting to swim with manatees in Crystal River, how about checking more experiences on your bucket list when you're in Florida? For ideas, take a look at this piece about Florida bucket list destinations.