04 Feb Manatee Viewing Center at Big Bend Power Plant

One of the best places to see manatees in all of Florida is at the Manatee Viewing Center beside Big Bend Power Plant. The warm (and clean) water surrounding the plant attracts manatees, especially when the outside temperature drops to 68 degrees Fahrenheit (~20 Celsius) or below. Stroll along the boardwalks to see manatees swimming in the water or take a stroll down the habitat trail to check out an array of wildlife and plants. 

Contents:

1) Location of the Manatee Viewing Center

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee 

3) The Best Time to Visit

4) Manatee Facts

5) Attractions at the Manatee Viewing Center

6) Online Webcams 

1) Location of the Manatee Viewing Center

The Manatee Viewing Center is located south from Tampa, next to Apollo Beach. It is right beside the Big Bend Power Plant. You might wonder why manatees gather around a power plant, but it is due to the warmer temperatures of the waters in the winter months. Big Bend uses water from the bay to cool down their machinery, and the water then returns to the bay clean and warmer than before.

For another fun, family-friendly activity in the area, head to the Ringling Museum to learn all about the Ringling Brothers Circus. Additionally, check out this one day itinerary for Sarasota if you need some additional recommendations. 

Parking

Simply drive to the location linked above on google maps for the Manatee Viewing Center. There is a large parking lot right next to the main building, and you can park there. 

Nearby Lodging

For nearby lodging, check out options in Apollo Beach. Otherwise, consider staying in the city of Tampa.

2) Opening Hours and Entrance Fee

The Manatee Viewing center is open from November 1st to April 15th, and it is closed in the summer months. The opening hours are 10:00am to 5:00pm every day. However, the observation tower closes one hour earlier at 4:00pm. Furthermore, the viewing center is closed on some holidays, including Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and Easter. 

On a positive note, there is no entrance or parking fee. 

Walking along the boardwalk to the water

3) The Best Time to Visit – Manatee Viewing Center

The best season to visit the Manatee Viewing center is in the winter, specifically the months of December and January. More manatees tend to hang out in the area when the temperature is around or lower than 68 degrees Fahrenheit (~20 Celsius). If you are lucky, you might even see dozens or hundreds of them swimming out in the water at that time. 

However, it is also possible you will be a bit unlucky. I visited once in February when the temperature was in the low 70s Fahrenheit (~21 Celsius), and I only saw two manatees that day. On the other hand, I have visited before in December and saw dozens of manatees swimming around in the water. 

Estimated Visit Time

I would plan anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours for visiting the Manatee Viewing Center. This gives you enough time to stroll down the boardwalk searching for manatees, check out the gift shop, pet a stingray, learn something new in the environmental education building, and walk along the habitat loop trail. 

4) Manatee Facts

In Florida, you will mainly see a subspecies of the West Indian manatee called the Trichechus manatus latirostris. There are two other manatee species you could possibly see here: (1) Amazonian manatee (2) African manatee.

The manatee’s nickname is the “sea cow” or the “gentle giant”. Manatees have an average length of 10 feet (~three meters) and weigh an average of 1,000 pounds (~454 kilograms). Additionally, you might be surprised to hear one of the manatee’s closest relatives is the elephant. 

Do you also want to see some alligators while in the state of Florida? Then head to Myakka River State Park, for you might even have the chance to see dozens of gators.

Manatee Hair and Habits

Manatees boast a little bit of hair. There is some hair scattered around their bodies, but the majority of their hair is at their whiskers. The whiskers aid in searching for food. Manatees are herbivores, and thus they stick to aquatic vegetation for their meals. 

Every time I have seen a manatee swimming along, they are moving fairly slowly. However, a manatee can actually swim up to 20 mph (~32 kph). I am trying to imagine a manatee flying through the water at such a high speed. For reference, Michael Phelps swims at only about six mph (~9.7 kph). You can thus imagine Michael swimming three times as fast, and only then would he match a manatee at its top speed. 

On the other hand, manatees sleep anywhere from two to 14 hours each day. When in this state, they only need to surface every seven to 20 minutes compared to every three to five minutes while awake and active. 

Protection of Manatees

On a sadder note, manatees are passing at a higher rate than in previous years. However, let this be motivation to us all to take better care of our environment and oceans. In doing so we will also help protect the manatees. They are considered a threatened species, and thus there are heavy punishments and fines for capturing or killing a manatee. 

Amazon has a bunch of manatee items, including this manatee plush + national geographic book set. Kids will love to snuggle up with the manatee while reading all about them. Additionally, the Wildlife Plush brand donates 10% of all proceeds to wildlife conservation.

A manatee swimming around in the water

5) Attractions at the Manatee Viewing Center

The Manatee Viewing Center not only provides the opportunity to see manatees but also to learn about them and the dangers they face. After your visit here, why not spend the rest of the day relaxing at the beach at Siesta Key?

Boardwalk

The main attraction at the Manatee Viewing Center is the manatees themselves! You can walk along two different boardwalks for the chance to see manatees swimming in the water. If at first you do not see any, be patient and wait to see if one comes up to the surface after a couple of minutes. Otherwise, you can see if anyone else spotted a manatee or is pointing to their location. 

Stingray Exhibit – Manatee Viewing Center

Before you walk along the boardwalk for the manatees and underneath the gift shop, there is a stingray exhibit. An employee will be in the area to explain everything you need to know related to safety as well as general information about stingrays. Visitors are welcome to put their hands in the water and pet a stingray. I can say I pet a stingray previously here, and they have a smooth, sleek texture. 

Please note, there is no splashing allowed in the stingray pool. 

Environmental Education Building

Here you can learn all about manatees, their habitats, and the most pressing dangers facing their existence in today’s day and age. Additionally, detailed information is available concerning a few of the manatees in the area. 

To download some activity or coloring sheets, visit their website.

Habitat Loop Trail

The trail is approximately one mile long, and is free for the public to enjoy. Signs will distinguish the variety of plants and trees in the area, and also keep an eye out for any wildlife. Additionally, along the trail there is a boardwalk leading to a 50 foot high observation tower. 

Gift Shop – Manatee Viewing Center

Pick up a manatee stuffed animal or other souvenir to remember your visit. If you are unable to stop at the gift shop, you can visit their online store. 

Big Bend Power Plant

6) Online Webcams

• East webcam: access link 
• West webcam: access link

Some are lucky enough to live close to the Manatee Viewing Center or can visit while on vacation in Florida. For those not in the area, you can still enjoy seeing manatees through a webcam on your computer or phone. 

The viewing center website has two webcams set up. One is on the east side of the boardwalk while the other is on the west side. Only one person can access the webcam at a time. Therefore, you will be put in a queue if someone is already utilizing it. When you have control of the webcam, you can move it around to try and spot some manatees. If no one is in the queue behind you, feel free to utilize the webcam for as long as you desire. If there is a queue, you will only have control for two minutes. 

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Happen to be in the Pittsburgh area anytime soon?: Riding the Monongahela Incline in Pittsburgh.

Or the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia?: Falls of Hills Creek Waterfall Trail.