The famed mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs have been luring guests from across the globe for over seven decades. Weeki Wachee’s glory days were the 1960s, and girls from as far away as Japan came to try out as mermaids. Perhaps the ultimate sign of its coolness then: Elvis visited!
Today, the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park — about a 3 1/2-hour drive from Sanibel — is open 365 days a year to delight your family with its live mermaid shows, along with numerous opportunities for exploring this quintessential Old Florida site, home to the deepest freshwater cave system in the country and abundant protected wildlife. Kayak trips down the spring run offer an escape into the quiet of nature amid a lush background of stunning blues and greens.
An added bonus for 2021? You can enjoy a fun and historical walking tour of nearby downtown Brooksville, where they are sponsoring the Florida Mermaid Trail. Guests search for 21 small mermaid statues hidden over a 2.2 mile route (if that sounds too long, there is a shorter 1.1 mile route) and post their finds on #FLMermaidTrail!
