I am back on my travels and having to take advantage of using up my annual accrued leave. Virgin Atlantic Holidays came up trumps for the second time in three months and we are going to stay in Celebration between the Main Gates of East and West to the Walt Disney World.

The weather will be reasonably warmer than the UK and heating our bones will be welcome. The philosophy is used by the Manatee who shelter over the winter months in the clear blue waters of the natural springs that are scattered around the coasts and inland rivers of Florida.

The most obvious venue to view these placid mammals is Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park where there is a plentiful variety of other Floridian wildlife on display as well as the Manatee. There is a viewing platform at spring level so that you can watch any hungry Manatee surfing the buffet below the surface.

The park is around a two hour journey from Celebration and north of the city of Tampa but we can make a full day of it and maybe visit Crystal River or Silver Springs and do a glass bottomed boat cruise.

We had visited Blue Springs State Park on our last visit in September and did see a sole Manatee arrival in the clear water but at this time of year it is such a popular attraction that the recommendation is to arrive very early in the morning to line up to enter at opening time. When it has reached capacity, traffic waits in the country lane whilst a one in and one out policy is applied so as we are limited on time I doubt we will do a return visit this time.

Our last night before returning to the UK is going to be in the historic district of Bradenton so there will be the opportunity to visit the Manatee Viewing Center

This is a free facility and offers great viewing positions to see the basking Manatees in the warmer waters where they congregate in large numbers.

I hope that I have the opportunity to capture some great wildlife images and get a good dose of Vitamin E.