Happy passive observing!<\/p>\n
The Little River: Manatee Bend Park<\/p>\n
It might not be Miami\u2019s largest or most aesthetically pleasing park \u2013 but with a name like this, it\u2019d be suspicious if one could not see manatees here. Situated just west of Biscayne Boulevard and south of NE 79th Street (where the historic Little River actually bends), Manatee Bend Park is a bona fide local hot spot where the gentle giants gather.<\/p>\n
The Little River: Belle Meade Island Bridge<\/p>\n
The bridge that connects Belle Meade proper to Belle Meade Island is another great spot to see the mammals. New Times\u2018\u00a0very own Tom Finkel says you can see them passing through in the mornings and evenings on their daily peregrinations from Biscayne Bay and back. Look for the telltale circular ripples their bodies create as they move through the water below the surface.<\/p>\n
The Little River Dam<\/p>\n
Manatees like to gather near the dam on the river near NE 82nd Street and NE Fourth Place, says Christopher Boykin of Miami Waterkeeper. \u201cIt\u2019s best when it\u2019s cold. We have seen 50 manatees during a cold snap in Little River!\u201d Amalia Fernandez, an executive assistant at Miami Waterkeeper, tells New Times.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t believe her? Check out the screenshot below!<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/google_maps_screenshot_manatees_at_little_river_dam.webp.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s proof manatees love to gather at the dam on the Little River north of NE 82nd Street.<\/p>\n
Virginia Key Lagoon<\/p>\n
Aggregations<\/a> of manatees have been known to inhabit the Virginia Key lagoon off the Rickenbacker Causeway during winter months. Visitors<\/a> can pay to paddleboard and kayak in the lagoon.<\/p>\n Everglades National Park: Flamingo Visitor Center<\/p>\n Situated about 38 miles (a one-hour drive) south of the Homestead entrance point to Everglades National Park, the visitor center<\/a> has boat ramps where manatees congregate year-round. (\u201cIf you\u2019re lucky, you might also see American crocodiles,\u201d says one Redditor<\/a>.)<\/p>\n North Miami Beach: Oleta River State Park<\/p>\n Visitors to the state park<\/a>, which is located in North Miami Beach and is one of Florida\u2019s largest urban parks, have spotted manatees (and dolphins!) swimming in the nearby waters over the years.<\/p>\n South Miami-Dade: Black Point Park and Marina<\/p>\n Manatees have been a common sight along the docks and shallow waters surrounding the Black Point Marina<\/a>, which is the largest public marina located in Miami.<\/p>\n South Miami-Dade: Boat Basin at the Deering Estate<\/p>\n The historic estate<\/a>\u2018s\u00a0boat basin on Biscayne Bay is considered one of the best places in Miami to see manatees up close. The supply of fresh water combined with the calm nature of the bay draws manatees to congregate and mate (!)<\/a> in the bay.<\/p>\n West Palm Beach: Manatee Lagoon<\/p>\n