Outdoors & Nature· wildlife
TECO Manatee Viewing Center
Apollo Beach, Apollo Beach|Free
When Tampa Bay cools below about 68°F, wild manatees crowd the warm-water discharge canal at Tampa Electric's Big Bend plant, and this free center's boardwalks put you right above them. It's open seasonally November 1 through April 15, daily 10am-5pm (trails close at 4pm), with a stingray touch tank, butterfly garden, and a 50-foot observation tower; admission and parking are free.
Why our team sends guests here
Come on a chilly January morning right at opening — the colder the night before, the more manatees you'll count, sometimes by the hundreds.
manateesfreefamily-friendlyseasonalwildlife
Stay near Apollo Beach
Book direct with the team that wrote this guide — no Airbnb-style service fees.
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