A Manatee Came Right Up to Me...

Hi ,

I’ve had a lot of incredible moments in nature during our travels — but this one might top the list.

We were tubing down the crystal-clear waters of Blue Springs State Park in Central Florida on a 90-degree summer day. The water here stays a refreshing 72°F year-round. After one float, I ditched the tube and decided to swim the current instead. It was blissful. Quiet. Peaceful. Just me and the spring.

Then it happened.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a large shadow moving toward me. A manatee — this gentle, lumbering sea cow — swam directly toward me and popped its head up right beside mine. I froze, trying to hold my arms in the air and my legs away from it so I wouldn’t touch her. The current was strong, and I was flailing a bit to stay upright. But she just brushed past my belly like a slow-moving hug, lifted her nose to the surface, and kept going.

It felt like she looked at me. Like she was saying thank you for doing my best to keep the humans at bay.

Because sadly, not everyone did.

Despite clear signs and rules, a few people were patting another manatee like it was a petting zoo. I yelled. I don’t usually do that — but this was sacred. You’re not allowed to touch them. They’re wild. And this is their sanctuary, not ours.

That moment stuck with me. The stillness. The awe. The reminder that when we respect the wild, it offers us something deeper than entertainment. It offers connection.

That manatee encounter was completely unexpected… and it’s what I’ll remember most about our whole Florida trip.

Maybe that’s what I love most about travel — how it constantly surprises us when we slow down and stay open to magic.

Talk soon,
Caroline x

P.S. It feels good to be adventuring again. Follow us on instagram Here’s what we did yesterday:..