During the winter months, my family and I love to visit the TECO Manatee Viewing Center. Last month, I had the pleasure to visit the center twice in one week with my girls.
With the frequent drops in the temperature this winter season, there are more manatee than ever in the warm waters adjacent to power station in Apollo Beach, FL. On both days, we counted close to 60 manatees…
…and a dozen stingrays.
This free educational viewing center is operated by retired TECO volunteers, who happily educate the public about manatees and conservation.
Recently, the center renovated its hands-on education building with a 12 foot illuminated information panel, a life size skeleton exhibit…
…puzzles, a hurricane simulator and a video game where users pedal to help a manatee swim to safety.
Whether you walk the tidal nature trail or watch from the observation deck, every spot offers a great view…
…unless you happen to stop for a rest along the way.
And if you’re really lucky, you may discover manatees mating, like we witnessed on our second visit.
Hosted by Cecily and Mamarazzi
Denise
Living life as a mom on the run between races and raising three beautiful, brilliant children (ages 11, 7, 2). Before a blissful life as a SAHM, I taught elementary school for 7 years. In 2007, I discovered a passion for running. I'm currently training for a fourth marathon as well as a variety of other races and triathlons. In my spare time, I am the lead organizer for the Tampa Bay Bloggers on Facebook. I'm currently training for two marathons as well as a variety of other races and triathlons. From start to finish, I'm a mom on the run trying maintain an easy pace through it all.
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Michelle @ One Crafty Mama says:
You all take a lot of fun trips! We get to see manatees at Sea World. They are such strange looking creatures.
Lolli says:
What a cool place! I love all of your pictures!
Christina says:
Very cool place! Oh, to live in warm weather would be fantastic and be able to fun stuff like that year round!!
Life with Kaishon says:
That place is great! I love the picture of your daughter laying on the bench. She is so adorable : ).
LeAnn @ See Great Things says:
How fun to be able to go and see that!
Honey Mommy says:
That sounds like a great place to go visit. We often look for fun places to go in the winter when it is too cold to play outside!
Lindsay says:
Oh what I wouldn’t give to walk outside and see LIQUID! And to see living animals in the liquid.
That would be SO cool to see. Thanks for the pics!
Mamarazzi says:
i love places like this…great pics, looks like it was a blast!
Krystyn says:
Wow! That looks like a great place to visit. My kids love animals and I’m sure they would love this. Actually, we have a visit scheduled to the aquarium this weekend.
Carrie Keiser says:
That sounds like a cool place to visit.