Our Saturdays and Sundays have been taken up lately with sports, birthday parties, family gatherings and other soirees of one kind or another.
With soccer season coming to a disappointing and all too early end on Friday night, we realised we actually were going have a free weekend. So, on Sunday we headed out for a much-needed family day out to Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach … sans the teen who had a birthday party.
And, can I just say? How great is this place?
It’s educational, child-friendly, educational, outdoorsy, educational and free!
The center has a museum with lots of fun, hands-on exhibits, a long boardwalk and observation deck where we were able to observe and walk with the manatees.
We saw plenty of other wildlife too … rays, sharks and birds.
We loved the tidal walk that is sort of covered with what my boys called “a tunnel of trees.”
There’s also a gift shop, outdoor cafe and a new hurricane simulator to see.
The manatees usually come to this area every year in search of the warmer waters created by the outflow from the power plant. Sadly, our unusually cold snap has caused a high number of deaths of the already endangered beloved Florida residents.
Here’s hoping the warm-up in our weather helps out these majestic creatures.
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Tags: children, cold, day trip, Family, fun, manatee viewing center, manatees, Thoughts, wordful wednesday, wordless wednesday
Looks like a great place to visit. Happy WW!
Looks like a fun day! Happy WW!
OMG – You have amazing arms. How do your arms look like that? That’s it, all I have to say because I can’t get passed your arms.
Looks like a fun time.
My WW link for you
oh so very cool, I’ve never seen anything other then crabs and starfish this close.
What a really cool place!
I love your blog! Great photos!
Looks like a great day out, who knew an electricity museum could be so much fun!
looks like an awesome place to visit
Free?? WOW that place has a lot to do and as you stated also educational.. Must have been quite the experience for the boys… Did I miss something about soccer ending? what happened…
What a fabulous place! I just adore Manatees. It is something I miss dearly from Florida.
So, was it educational? You look like it was all fun!
We have an experience destination of sorts near us, under huge domes. The best place to get away in deepest winter – yet sadly, not free.
Looks like a winner and unbelievable free admission. Amazing. Not sure it’s my idea of a free weekend though, Free to me mean free to jell and do absolutely nothin… But looks like the kids really enjoyed it.
What an amazing experience. Don’t get anything quite like that here in the UK!
I love manatees, they’re so gentle. What a fantastic day out x