Manatees at Tampa Electric's Viewing Center

Florida manatees can’t tolerate the cold, so when the water temperature in Tampa Bay drops below 70 degrees, they seek out warmer water. The Manatee Viewing Center was created in 1986 when employees at Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station noticed large numbers of manatees gathering in the warm water of its discharge canal. In 2002, the center became a federally designated manatee sanctuary.

Ron and I visited the Manatee Viewing Center ten years ago, but since then, Tampa Electric collaborated with the Florida Aquarium to add a sea turtle rehabilitation center and a stingray touch tank. There was also a new 50-foot observation tower. I was looking forward to seeing all the changes. We started the day on the walkways along the canal where we could see hundreds of manatees resting or swimming, occasionally lifting their noses out of the water to breathe. One manatee floated on his back, warming his belly in the sun. We even spotted a couple of babies, staying close to their mothers’ sides.

After about an hour of manatee-watching, we took a break for lunch at Finn’s Dockside Bar and Grill, then returned to see the turtle hospital and climb the observation tower. It was a beautiful, clear day, and from the top of the tower we could see all the way across the Bay. We somehow completely missed the Education Building, but that gives us an excuse to go back next year. I never get tired of seeing those funny, gentle manatees.

mama and baby manatee

resting manatees

a Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, rescued from New England

Travel tips: The Manatee Viewing Center is open from November 1 to April 15 and is free to the public. The main parking lot is small, but there is more parking at the overflow lot. You can walk the half-mile trail from the overflow lot or catch a ride on one of the golf cart shuttles.