I recently snagged a vacation deal to Orlando, Florida. The catch? It’s August, which means peak heat and humidity—not exactly Florida’s finest traits. But I live in the heart of the Midwest, where I wring the sweat out of my shirt every day. Florida offers the same near-100% humidity, only without all that severe thunderstorm, tornado, and flooding drama my region is famous for. In Florida, the midday rain passes quickly and makes the afternoon more pleasant.

I landed in Orlando with one thing on the brain: manatees. Swimming with manatees was something I’d always wanted to do, but I learned summer was off-season. Turns out, winter is when the manatees typically flock to the warm Florida waters—just like the rest of us.

Some areas of Florida, however, serve as year-round refuges for these gentle sea cows. Crystal River Springs is one of those. Armed with snorkel gear and a wetsuit, I slipped into its tepid 72-degree water, where hundreds of manatees are spotted each year.

We were given one primary rule: no splashing. All movements had to remain below the surface. We couldn’t kick our feet and could only move by swimming with cupped hands underwater. Despite their size, these 1,200-pound “sea cows” were surprisingly swift.

Our guide led us to a spot where they’d recently spotted a mother manatee and her calf. At first, I saw nothing and doubted such massive creatures could hide so well. But then I was startled by the gray behemoth’s outline mere inches away.

Rule number two: don’t touch the manatees. But I was assured it was okay if the manatees touched you, and that they only do this if they trust you. I was thrilled when a baby manatee, affectionately dubbed Nugget by our guide, booped me twice. We spent two serene hours swimming alongside that mother and her calf, and even got to witness the baby nursing.

As the afternoon waned, so had my desire to see huge swarms of manatees. There was no more disappointment about my off-season arrival. Instead, I cherished the intimate moments, the ones that could only happen because I took this off-season journey. And now I have this unforgettable story to share for the rest of my life. Thanks for reading it.

Until next time…

Brandie