Get up close to Florida's famous manatees at Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center. In the cooler months, a large number of this endangered species seek refuge in the warm, clean water of Big Bend Power Station's discharge canal. Tampa Electric has set up a viewing area here where visitors can observe these gentle creatures. Watch them for a bit, and then enter the indoor education center to learn more about the manatees and power station. You'll be able to take part in activities and peruse information displays. Don’t miss the hurricane simulator, where you can experience the blast of strong winds and learn how Tampa Electric deals with serious storms. The many outdoor activities include an award-winning butterfly garden and a tidal walk. Put Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center and other Apollo Beach attractions into our Apollo Beach trip maker tool, and watch your holiday take shape.
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Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center reviews
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Rating the Manatee Viewing Center anything less than 5 stars just seems wrong. This fun, educational, and FREE tourist attraction is a must-visit for manatee lovers. It's the very definition of the... more »
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The manatees are so amazing. One of my favorite animals. The fact that Tampa Electric built this visitor center/educational center says a lot about their values to me. We have been there many times.... more »
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Loved spending some time here. Didn't get a great view of the manatees but we shared time and space and could see manatee fins, tails, exhalations. Large variety of fish seam near the walkway, as well as sharks, and rays that leapt from the channel in a sparkle of spray. Petted rays in the display tank, what a joy.
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You get to see the manatees up close in the water during the colder months. Seeing the power plant up close is also cool, pretty loud though so its not exactly peaceful. They have attendant (biologists-in-training) to answer any question you might have. More than just a dock, they have a education center, food truck, and bathrooms.
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