Manatee Viewing Center

Free activity. No manatees at viewing platform but saw a couple out on the boardwalk trail along with a shark and many fish. We were there early March on a Tuesday Very busy right at opening - lots of school field trips as well. Saw stingrays in a tank - able to pet them if you want. Trails to walk. Nice place to spend some time

This was a fun free excursion for the day. There weren't any manatees when we went there in early March but we sort of expected that since it was hot out. They are generally there in the colder months. There were sting rays, mullet, and dplenty of Tarpon to see though. There is also a gift shop and a snack bar that serves regular food and desserts.

I have visited twice in the past 2 weeks. Once the manatees were very limited in number and not real active. I was told it was due to Tampa Bay warming up. So I went and saw the sea turtles and the butterflies and the ray petting tank. Had a good time. The other time I went there were so many manatee I couldn't believe it. Also saw jumping rays and sharks, tarpon, catfish, crabs, and birds. Walked the nature trail to the tower and back to the parking lot. It was a great day.

What a lovely day. I have a handicapped daughter in a wheel chair. Accessibility was great with boardwalk and cement paths. The only difficult access was gift shop. The manatees were cooperating and there were many plus other sea life. The tarpon were so big! I had never heard of a lady fish. The rays were spectacular & put on quite the show. Lots of gorgeous birds. There was even a Cafe. Free parking & admission! Go on a weekday if possible as less busy. Staff was knowledgeable and signage was great. A 5 star plus attraction.

Amazing experience! When we went earlier this week we were told there were over 700 manatees in the bay! We also saw several varieties of fish swimming in the shallows and had a chance to see stingrays in the tank. We chose to walk from the overflow parking to the manatee viewing area which was an easy trek. We followed that up with a walk down the boardwalk for another perspective on the manatees and a hike to the lookout tower. All the walks were easy and not difficult. Birds of all kinds were flying and wading. We did take the trolley to the turtle center which only had 1 patient at the time. The girls were working were very outgoing and knowledgeable.

Wow! This place is incredible! There were tons of manatees all over the place in the canal and we got to enjoy watching them for awhile. We also enjoyed visiting all of the other amazing areas at the center. They've done such a fabulous job of putting together a nice place to explore the area and see some sea life. There are also plenty of informational signs and staff who share facts so you can learn a lot about the animals and the area as well.

Fantastic area for walks and enjoying nature. My cousin recommended coming here before my husband and I went home to Kentucky. We were so surprised that an electric company has taken so much time and care of the area. The grounds are beautifully kept. It was great to see the manatees, Different species of other marine life and birds. Another plus, is that this is free to enter. So much educational areas as well. Well worth the 3 hours we spent here.

I live close to the Manatee Viewing Center and have the opportunity to spend multiple times each week there during the season. When Bay waters cool down below 68 degrees the wild manatees will come into the canal at the center to get warm. The docents and employees along the piers can certainly educate you about these gentle animals. Often you’ll see numerous sharks, rays, tarpon, other fish and various birds as well. The mangrove walk is shaded and there is a lot to learn about these unusual plants. There are well kept walking trails and an observation tower. You can also visit the Turtle Rehab facility and Energy Conservation Center. There’s no fee to visit or park. There is parking near the center and additional parking at the overflow lot and golf carts to help get you to and from the center if walking the trails is not your thing. Ramps are present for those who cannot negotiate steps. This place is kept clean inside and out. There is a snack bar and a very reasonable gift shop. There is an information center to teach you about the manatees and the mangrove forest.

Go early and use the overflow parking to avoid the crowds. There are nice shell paths to walk along seeing native plants and observing nature. Signs posted tell you some history and information. Walk up to the top of the observation tower and view the surrounding area as well across the bay. Signs posted here also give you some history. The Tidal boardwalk takes you under the mangroves and over water to several different points at which you can look for sharks, fish, rays and manatees! There is a Kona ice truck, gift shop, restrooms, picnic tables, a food counter, and manatees all within a short walk.

An amazing place to go to with kids or family out of state! What a great place to see the cows of the sea, tarpon, sharks, stink ray, and more. Lots of parking plus a shuttle to drive you closer to the entrance, multiple viewing points to see manatees, sand pit for kids, gift shop, and food! The stingray petting center was closed, I believe due to the hurricanes, but it was still a great experience, and FREE!

What an amazing experience! I just happened to be in the area for a medical appointment, and decided to drop by. It was my first time visiting the viewing center. It won't be my last. Upon entering (it opens at 10:00am), I was told that manatees were going to be released into the canal that morning. I couldn't believe it. This was my lucky day! Every staff member that I came across was so excited about it. I can totally see why. Apparently it doesn't happen very often. I ended up staying there for a full 90 minutes. I just had to see every minute of it. It's an experience. I basically walked down through the mangroves on the Tidal Trail to the viewing area just to see all the manatees and fish that were huddled together in front of the power plant. The trail is very organized with boards describing the wildlife that you may encounter. The staff there are so friendly, and eager to answer any questions. It's so educational! I was just amazed by all the wildlife that I was seeing around me. Before I knew it, it was already time to view the releasing of the manatees. It was the best experience ever. It's something I never thought I'd ever witness. It's so great to see manatees making this sanctuary their home during the winter months. What an awesome place to view them in their own habitat. So, Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center is seasonal. It opens daily from November 1st through April 15th. Give yourself plenty of time to explore it. The trail closes at 4pm. There's normally a Rays Touch Tank for kids to interact with the stingrays. That whole area was not available during my visit. The stingrays were relocated due to damage to their habitat caused by the recent hurricanes. I missed seeing the observation tower as well as the displays inside the education building. I can't wait to go back to see it all.

We had a blast as a family touring the manatee and turtle viewing centers! I especially loved the multiple walkways around the area throughout nature. We saw over 100+ manatees and tons of sea turtles. We would recommend this for any families or friends wanting to get outside on a fun visit!

This is a free spot to view manatees! Who is giving it anything less than 5 stars?? Manatees have been on and off the endangered list for a while and it was a wonderful experience to see them basking in the waters in their natural habitat. An unexpected treat was watching these small sharks in the water who would occasionally jump out of the water and put on a little show. The employees were all friendly, helpful, and wonderful. The stingray exhibit is shut down due to the storm damage but they said they would come back next year.

Definitely recommend this for anyone who hasn't been. We had such a wonderful visit at the Manatee viewing center they have two different board walks to view manatees of they make an appearance also they have a stingray tank that you're able to pet the stingrays but wasn't open yet but will definitely be back for. They also have a cafe that we tried which was okay very generic but cheap. We also went inside the room that had a 3D diagram of a manatee and all kinds of facts about them. We also stopped by the gift shop that had so many cute manatee decors, shirts, toys etc. and did I mention it's free to get in so it's definitely worth a visit.

On December 31, 2024, we finally were able to make the trip to view these precious manatees. It was crowded and we parked in the overflow parking lot. We chose to walk to the viewing center and back - but that's a wonderful option just to meander the trail at our own pace. It was easy to find a spot to view the manatees once up on the viewing deck. How awesome that this is free for everyone to come and enjoy! Definitely have recommended it to several friends.

Great and FREE experience. Best time to go is during the cold months. The manatee hang out in the clean and warm water the power station pumps back into the bay. So much more to learn about these awesome water friends. There's a cute gift shop and snack stand. Very good place to take your kids.

The Manatee Viewing Center has been on my list to visit. It was a perfect FREE family day. It was quite busy but we were able to find parking with no issues. There are EV charging stations as well. There is a large area to view the manatee, rays and fish. There is a boardwalk through the mangroves. I would suggest moving your car to the overflow parking to take the shuttle to the turtle hospital to save you a shuttle ride there and back. The turtle hospital is also worth a visit. We were lucky enough to witness four turtles arriving at the facility and saw an intake.

We drove from St Pete beach to walk the trail, see the observation deck and see the manatees. Highly recommended! Plus it's entirely free! Definitely a great place.

The weather was just a little too warm for the manatees to come into the area but we did enjoy walking around. The boardwalk and the pier that we went on were very nice. They have a gift shop and a restaurant on site. It is very well maintained and no cost to the public.

Wonderful adventure for the whole family. Very educational. They have a small gift shop and a small menu to order from.

This is by far one of the best FREE attractions I love to visit with my family! We typically go a few times throughout the year and it has always been a pleasant experience. There is lots to see and do from spotting plenty of Florida's "gentle giants" to walking trails, a viewing tower, and an educational center. I recommend visiting their website at https://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee/ to learn more before visiting. Thank you to all the volunteers and employees that make this place happen!

What a wonderful thing to do in the winter. Manatees don't like the winter chill so they come to this power plant to stay warm. This is a wonderful park to come to . It's free to park and free to visit. You can get a little buggy to give you a free ride to the entrance of the manatee bay . I walked & it was a rather beautiful through such a wonderful nature. Entrance to the park there's places where you can just sit and have ice cream and take some cute photos. There's also a little café where you can get some food and snacks. There is a gift shop where you can buy everything manatee that you can imagine. Cousy, T-shirts, pajamas, knickknacks, and Christmas ornaments!! There's a museum where you could find out everything about manatees . And then there's the outdoor area where the manatees are hanging out with their friends, living their best life in the current of the power plant . There were hundreds , There is a wonderful docent they're giving wonderful information about manatees. This is a wonderful opportunity to be educated on how precious these creatures are and how lucky we are to get to enjoy them today. They also had some skeletons so you can see How they eat and what's under all that interesting blubber. What a wonderful place and wonderful staff .

Absolutely wonderful experience. Very educational and shows how humans can coexist with nature while minimizing the impact towards animals. Lots of information boards to educate wildlife ecology, conservation and renewable energy. Since the manatees hang out in shallow waters, you're guaranteed to see them! I even got to see up close a manatee mom with her baby. Observation tower was a long walk to get to, but gives a very nice view of the surround forest and nature reserve. The renewable energy centre remains open till 5pm even though the trails close at 4pm. I especially like that there are two electric charging stations at the front of the parking lot, and you can use the level 2 chargers for free!

Wow- what a gem of a place this was to visit! And Everything is free( thanks TECO) Stingray petting, bird viewing nature trails, manatee, tarpon, small fish and a shark! Beautiful paths, bath rooms, interactive activities for kids, a picnic area at the viewing area also--- an A plus day! We went around noon and it was pretty crowded. We left around 1:30 and they were opening the regular parking lot. I think the school kids come in the morning so the afternoon may be a better time to come? If you do t like crowds. They have ramps also for walkers and wheel chairs.

This place is awesome, especially since it is free. Totally worth a stop! We got to see a bunch of Manatees, as well as some little sharks, that we identified by their fins popping up! We also saw a stingray that jumped out of the water three times. There are also some cool nature trails that you can walk on to the viewing area, or there is a shuttle. I would definitely stop here again!

What an amazing place to leisurely walk around and see so many beautiful fish, birds and scenery. The manatees were really neat to see but the entire place was great. Free parking, free admission, food and a gift shop, and a set your own pace and take your time facility. Definitely recommend for anyone near the area.

This is a great place to bring all out of town guests and to experience wonder creatures that they would never see!

Beautiful sight to see! We saw mamas and their babies. Bonus- we saw rays and sharks. :) Super fun experience.

TECO Manatee Viewing Center is a famous winter attraction of Tampa Bay. When the ocean water is cold, manatees swim close to warm water nearby power plant. They hang out there with their family. It was so much fun to see them.This attraction is free and educational. It attracts visiters from all over the world and local people enjoy it too. I like it every time when I visit in winter. The Stingray tank is also fun. You have the chance to touch them and there are hand washing station to clean your hands. Manatee and stingray and fish and shark, they are all adorable nature animals. Thanks to TECO provides this service. It's a privilege for Tampa residents.

First of all, it's free. Why not?! It wasn't overly crowded. We were able to get a parking spot quickly but i can see how it can get crowded depending on the time of day you go. We went on a Monday afternoon. I took the kids after school to burn some energy! You can view the manatees or touch the stingrays. My kids enjoyed it! They have a gift shop area. Butterfly area. Indoor museum area to learn about the manatees. Outdoor area to just hang out. Stop and get some snacks or a drink upstairs at their concession stand. I think we were there for about 2.5 hours which was plenty of time! If you're in the area it's definitely worth checking out!

Wow I've lived in Tampa bay 3 different times for a combined 12 years and I've always wanted to stop by but never have. It was definitely fun and something the entire family can enjoy. If you have been unsure I definitely recommend. They have a nice walking path from overflow parking or a quick golf cart shuttle. Went with my nieces and nephews and they loved it. I liked the rays petting area. They are the official TB rays that are in the tank during the season.

This is such an interesting place to visit right. You are sure to see Manatees here in the winter because the power plant next door keeps the water warm. They have done so much to expand this area over the years. It has become so popular that the boardwalks and viewing area gets very crowded, even early. The parking lots get very packed as well. I will say they do a very good job with all the traffic that comes through. They offer shuttle service from the back parking lots. It is a great place to visit if you are interested in Manatees

Can't beat this. Bring the kiddos. Free parking. You'll see manatees during the peak season (winter). There are hundreds of them here. Also a nice stingray touch tank. Restrooms, cafe and a very reasonable gift shop.

What a wonderful gem of a place which survives on donations and backing from TECO. The staff is Knowledgeable and welcoming. We go once a year and always donate something. Great for kids and adults alike. Everyone loves their gift shop. To avoid crowds try to go mid week in the morning.

A hidden gem at the TECO plant where you can go and view manatees, especially in the summer. The manatees flock here in colder weather since the water near the plant is warmer. It is free to go to and has a nice little walkway. There is also a large parking lot which attendants keep organized. Highly recommended.

Everything is FREE!! I loved this. My 3.5 year old loved it. Touch tank with small sting rays, sandbox for the littles, nice walking (handicap accessible) piers out to several endpoints for viewing. We saw sturgeon, baby sharks, and manatees, which was our first time ever seeing them. It was super cool! I loved that everything was FREE, including parking and admission!! Picture ops, a small icee drink truck, and a gift shop as well. We already decided to go back again on our short trip! If you're visiting or not from here, it's a must see!

Pretty neat spot to checkout the manatees. Lots of walking trails as well. All of free to do.

Probably one of my favorite highlights from visiting the Tampa area, the manatee viewing center was both a relaxing and enjoyable experience of appreciating Florida animal life and also an informational tour about manatees and the electric plant adjacent to the viewing center. There are probably 4 parts to the experience (excluding the gift shop). The main attraction would be the short walk to the manatee viewing area where you will also get to see fish, birds, sharks, and if you're lucky, sting rays leaping out the water like dolphins! There is also the sting ray touch tank and the educational building with interactive exhibits and kid-friendly puzzles related to manatees (both free). Finally there are a few paid experiences (hurricane simulator for $3, "create your own manatee" souvenir machine for $5). It took me about 1 hour to do all the free activities! It got fairly busy and loud by 10:30 am on the Friday that I visited, but I was still able to see everything smoothly.

Cool experience viewing the manatees and walking the nature trails. Definitely worth a visit.

If I could give this more stars honestly I would! For one thing it's free! Secondly I'm obsessed with manatees so coming here was a big treat! We came on New Year's Eve and it was very very busy! Parking fills up fast so I suggest going when open or shortly thereafter! It's a very cool place for kids.. lots of interactive things inside building.. information about them plus a gift shop.. prices not unreasonable! It's a big canal that goes out to the gulf right at a huge Duke power plant! There was tons of manatees.. lots of little families of them! Some you could tell had been damaged by boats but most looked very healthy.. mostly they float without a lot of movement but when they do it's pure adorable.. to see them come up for air and go back down I could watch them all day! We went out on 2 different piers to see them better.. lots of tarpons, few small sharks swimming , in shallows you could see fish chasing minnows! There was also a spot to pet stingrays in a tank! You get all that for free! For us coming from new port Richie took right between 45-60 minutes and it was worth drive.. just a great way to spend the day.. oh and if your hungry they have a snack bar! They are not open all year so check the website for the scedule! You can not access the piers off season!

The Manatee Viewing Center is a fun place to see lots of manatees together. I would advise getting to the Manatee Viewing Center early in the day. The main parking lot fills up fast and the overflow lot is far from the entrance. I went over the weekend and saw tons of manatees hanging out! I was able to see babies and saw fish swimming around as well! The Manatee Viewing Center was clean and staff were friendly. The amount of manatees you see depends on the day you go and the time of years It is best to go in the colder months due to the manatees seeking the warm water. I would like more shaded areas by the viewing center. The pier is where I saw the manatees and only part of the pier was covered. Most of the pier was in the sun and it gets hot down here in Florida. On the way back to the car I walked the trails and saw the viewing platform! That is a great spot for lunch! You get shade and pretty views! I will definitely be back to the Manatee Viewing Center!

Great winter activity in Tampa! And one of the few things you can do for free on top of it! This place gets very busy. The main parking lot is almost always full, but there is a lot of parking in the overflow lot. You have the option to take a tram over to the viewing area or walk on a boardwalk and trail. The viewing center is a long pier. There's tons of manatees. On sunny days they are easier to see in the water, when it's cloudy they mostly look like shadows until they surface to breathe. There's also a stingray tank and gift shop. The trails are also enjoyable.

So we may not have seen any manatees, but this facility is so nice!! Very fresh and upscale, lots of to see and do, plenty of space to relax and vibe. We cut our visit a little short (maybe an hour) because we had to get on the road home (we're from Texas), but you could easily spend two or more hours here just enjoying the center (to say nothing of the hiking trails-- I wish we'd had longer to explore them! Next time!). We went out on the pier and enjoyed searching the waters for manatees, listening to the informative spiel on the PA, reading the info plaques, basking in the sunshine with cooling breeze, and taking photos. The power plant is actually quite striking and pretty in its own way (in my opinion), an engineering marvel. There were lots of activities for kids like arts and crafts, a sandbox to play in, and a string ray exhibit to pet the critters (they were very friendly and would surface often, and also looked well cared for). Small gift shop sells curios, plush, apparel, and the like. Restrooms available on the ground floor and upstairs. A snack bar with reasonably priced meals! Lots of tables to sit. The staff all looked genuinely happy to be working here! Friendly, conversational, smiling, all while providing guidance. So refreshing.

The colder the weather, the more sea life you'll see. One of the best free activities you can do with the family. They also have a great walking trail with lookout tower and alternative energy learning center.

A local jewel that we always enjoy sharing with visiting friends and family. We are so fortunate to have something like this in our area free of charge. On our last visit it was pretty crowded as there were several school buses there. Unfortunately we arrived late morning and by then the manatees had moved out to warmer water so the observation decks were closed. The only way to see the manatees was to make the long trek to the end of the fishing pier. I was unable to make the walk so I found a nice bench for people watching while our guests walked out to the pier. They were thrilled with the manatee activity that day! We all really enjoyed playing with the rays as well. If the main parking lot is full (likely) they'll send you to the overflow lot but be aware that the shuttles take you to the Aquarium; they do NOT take you back to the main observation area.

So fun! I had no idea what to expect - I thought this was a low key, hidden spot since it's at a power plant, but to my surprise it was completely built out and almost Disney-esque, with free shuttles from the overflow parking lot to the viewing center. It was packed on a cool winter Saturday but we were still able to get good views. The viewing center has a cafe, tables, and different docks you can walk along to see the manatees, as well as a stingray petting area. There are several nice trails around the area as well. 10/10 recommend for a fun weekend activity!

This is a free and amazing place to visit. My advice, if you are going on a weekend or holiday they are open, go early or be ready to hike! The first lot is fairly small and fills up quick. There is an overflow lot that is half a mile from the platform. I am attaching a picture that I screenshot from a sports app showing the distance. Wear shoes that are made for a walk also! The trail is dirt and shells and flip flops are not a good call. They have shuttles that run but are just oversized golf carts that don't fit that many people. Just give yourself enough time and plan accordingly. Once you get there, you will be stunned by the number of manatees that are there! We also saw sharks, huge jacks and various other fish. They have a sting ray touch tank also and a lot of educational information. It is worth the drive, just be prepared!

Who knew next to a a power plant, there is a nature center. Around December, there was the polar vortex of 2022. It made FL ocean waters cooler. So, the manatees swims into warmer water. It was cool seeing manatees so close. They look like a big stuff squishmallows, that I want to hug. The nature center doesn't cost anything to visit. There is a gift and snack shop within property. Additionally, there is a hiking trail; which easily can be walked.

Cool spot! We went early afternoon and didn't see any manatees at first. We walked around the whole place, did some trails and climbed up the viewing tower. It was pretty and gave us something nice to do outside. We circled back and checked out the viewing point for the manatees one more time before we left and we got to see one! It was pretty exciting. Fun to do at least once but not sure if it's anything special enough to do again

Free to park and free to view - this was a great site. Nice gift shop and an inexpensive snack stand. They also have plenty of seating. The grounds are wheelchair friendly.

This is a great place to view Manatees or the Chubby mermaids! Brought family that were visiting and they loved it!

Amazing experience! Loved seeing the manatees! Especially the calves!!!! We also got to see lots of black tipped sharks and tarpons. The gift shop is really nice as well. Lots of options with something for everyone!

I wanted to see a Manatee and heard this was a good place to see them. We got here when it opened and had no problem finding a parking spot. The place fills up fast so it's a good thing to come early before the crowds and the heat. The park is big with numerous different trails and observation areas. We saw only a couple manatees in the middle so I used a viewer (50 cents) to see them up close. The viewer also let you see the fish circling and jumping around the feeders. It would be hard for kids to see them because of the fencing unless someone lifted them. A raised stand would be nice for younger children could see better. Bringing feeders closer would help see them better, too. There is a Ray tank inside which would be more fun for the kids. Also, there is a Gift Shop with cute items with manatees, rays and other sea creatures. Ornaments that would be great for the holidays, t-shirts, books and other items. The Manatee Viewing Area is sponsored by the TECO power plant-which is a wonderful thing for them to do. The company added scrubbers in 2005 to meet new federal air pollution standards that require it to cut total sulfur dioxide emissions by half. The Big Bend units were some of the dirtiest power plants east of the Mississippi River. In 2004, they emitted more than 82,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The scrubbers reduces sulfur dioxide emissions m, one of the primary causes of acid rain, from smoke stacks by mixing limestone with the pollutant to produce gypsum. They are converting the coal burning power plant to natural gas. By 2023, they will only have 2% coal burning units. This is still too much. Greener energy sources are needed to be adopted by all power companies. Overall, the visit to the Manatee Viewing Area was enjoyable. Manatees are now becoming overly reliant on power plant sites that produce artificial heat, which makes them stay in areas that might not have enough food. The decrease in the food supply is caused by a change in the water's quality due in part to excess nutrients resulting in harmful algal blooms. Manatees are dying this year (2021) in unprecedented numbers because of loss of food. We need to go back to seeing manatees in the wild and not these viewing areas. 12/17/21

Got there an hour and half before closing time and had to park and walk from the overflow. The walk was pleasant and the attraction was well worth it. We saw over a hundred manatees and we enjoyed the very nice sting Ray portion. Cafe had cheap eats if you're hungry and the gift shop had good prices. Def recommend coming here!! #2 free attraction in the country!

The Manatee viewing center was so much fun! My husband and I went on a cool, breezy day in January. Parking lot was a bit busy, but we managed to find a spot after circling around once. We first went to the nature trail, which is probably about a mile long round-trip, and in the middle of it there is a really cool observatory viewing tower where you climb up some stairs and can see a nice view of the bay. Then we went to the actual Manatee viewing spot. You basically walk out onto a long bridge/pier and there are literally hundreds of manatees all huddled around the warm water. It was so much fun and the manatees were so cute! A perfect place for anyone, including families , to go and enjoy nature. I would recommend going on the week because of parking

This is a cute place. There are trails, a few fun places for the kids to play at, and animals. The kids liked the open spaces to run and goof off, but also enjoyed the bike and hand pedals to "make electricity". I may need one of those at home so the child can get some energy out in exchange for charging his switch to play with. There is a stingray tank, but they were closing up when we decided to see them. That will need to be done on our next visit. We were able to see 7-8 manatees, just not at the lookout near the gift shop. They were spotted as we walked the long dock. We also saw lots of very large fish in the water. One neat thing was there were picnic tables set up at a few places. Using solar power, you could charge your electronics either by wireless docking stations or with a chord plugged into the table. They kids liked talking about that as well. Only con, which is more personal than anything, is there was very little shade. The sun was beating on us and that made walking to each attraction uncomfortable.

The best part about this place is that it's absolutely FREE to get into the Manatee Viewing Center. They do accept donations. You can view the manatees from different viewing points and there are different walking trails you can explore. The center has food for purchase and some paid activities. Awesome place for kids as well as adults. We visited on Monday, but it was a holiday, so it popular day. Parking was full and we had to park on the street. Other than that it's a wonderful place to see these amazing creatures.