Tampa’s Manatee Viewing Center is Top American Attraction
Greetings! Did you know that the Manatee Viewing Center was named one of the “top 10 free attractions in America by USA Today?” Well, it’s true! And this is the perfect time to visit there. Situated off of Tampa Bay, the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center “has officially reopened for the season in Apollo Beach at 6990 Dickman Rd. Consider this your sign to enjoy one of the best family-friendly activities the region has to offer.”
Like humans, manatees are warm-blooded and are “drawn to warm water, and Tampa Electric provides exactly that. The company’s Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach circulates water from Tampa Bay for cooling before returning it clean and warm to the bay. During the winter months, manatees leave colder waters and migrate to this welcoming refuge.”
“Because of this unique migration, Tampa Electric built the Manatee Viewing Center to give the public a safe way to observe manatees as they gather. The discharge canal is a state- and federally designated manatee sanctuary that provides critical protection from cold temperatures for these gentle animals.”
“Each season, the 50-acre Manatee Viewing Center draws hundreds of thousands of visitors. Since opening in 1986, more than 7.4 million visitors have passed through the center.”
The Manatee Viewing Center always draws great crowds. “Last season, Tampa Electric’s award-winning Manatee Viewing Center set a new record, hosting 1,100 manatees at one time. That total surpassed the previous record of 850, which was set the winter before.”
Here’s their Address:
Manatee Viewing Center
6990 Dickman Rd.
Apollo Beach, FL 33572
Hours: Open daily from Nov. 1 through mid-April, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trails close at 4 p.m. The viewing center is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Easter.
Phone: (813) 228-4289
Tampa Electric offers free parking and admission to all visitors!
To learn more about the endangered Florida manatee, below is an awesome award-winning Kobee Manatee® book for children at the Manatee Viewing Center!
Synopsis: In late September, Kobee Manatee® is on a twelve-hundred-mile mission to get back home to Florida from Cape Cod, Massachusetts before the impending cold threatens his life. On his southbound journey, he meets two new friends: Tess the seahorse, who loves to learn, and Pablo the hermit crab, who is in search for a new shell. Will Kobee and his friends make it to Florida in time? Children learn all about manatees and their habitat!
We Have Excellent Reviews for Kobee Manatee!
“Children can learn a great deal about manatees and their habitat by reading about Kobee and his friends and their traveling adventure.” – Dr. Katie Tripp, Director of Science and Conservation, Save the Manatee Club
“This luxuriously illustrated, infectiously charming story makes us want to save the manatee and have a plush version to hug.” – ForeWord Clarion Reviews
“A swimmingly fun, educational trip sure to be enjoyed by young friends of the manatee.” – Kirkus Reviews
“Kobee Manatee: Heading Home to Florida is a recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award. The Mom’s Choice Awards® (MCA) evaluates products and services created for parents and educators and is globally recognized for establishing the benchmark of excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. Using a rigorous evaluation process, entries are scored on a number of elements including production quality, design, educational value, entertainment value, originality, appeal and cost. Around the world, parents, educators, retailers and members of the media trust the MCA Honoring Excellence seal when selecting quality products and services for families and children.” – Mom’s Choice Awards
And Great News …
… All Kobee Manatee® Children’s books are available at the Manatee Viewing Center!
If you are in Florida and you see a sick or injured manatee, please call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: 1-888-404-FWCC. They are the folks who are responsible for rescuing us in Florida.
Here’s the Save the Manatee Club link to learn more about manatees …
Here’s a cool link for you to learn more about how we’re rescued and brought into rehabilitation …
~ Robert Scott Thayer
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