Staycation Directory

Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach, FL

May 22nd, 2010

In 1986, Tampa Electric built a manatee observation platform at Big Bend Station and officially welcomed the first manatee watchers to its warm water discharge viewing area. Since then, the Manatee Viewing Center has hosted more than one million visitors who have come to see these endangered marine mammals.

The center features an Environmental Education Building where you’ll get a chance to learn about the manatee’s biological characteristics and habitat.
The center is open to the public from November 1 through April 30. The center is handicapped accessible, with vending machines, picnic shelter and gift shop.
A self-guided natural trail is also open, ideal for viewing the tidal flatlands.
Mangroves, one of Florida’s native trees, are a common and very important part of Florida’s estuarine ecology and economy.

The museum has an observation platform for viewing Manatees during the winter months. Displays and a video about Manatees are located in the education building. There’s also displays of coastal water birds, Florida landscaping, and power plant generation.

Big Bend and Dickman Rd

Apollo Beach, Florida

813-228-4289

Type of Admission: Free

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