National travel site TripMemos named Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach one of Florida's top places to see manatees, adding another line to the free attraction's growing list of national recognition.
The center shared the nod on X on Monday, Aug. 17, thanking TripMemos for the inclusion in its guide to essential manatee-viewing locations across the state.
The timing is useful for residents planning fall visits with out-of-town guests. The center, located at 6990 Dickman Road, is closed for summer but reopens Nov. 1 for what will be its 40th anniversary season. It first opened in 1986 when Tampa Electric set aside a viewing area at its Big Bend Power Station, where warm-water discharge from the plant's cooling system draws manatees into a state and federally designated sanctuary each winter.
Free Admission, Trails and Amenities Await Visitors
The center is open daily Nov. 1 through April 15, 2027, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trails and the 50-foot wildlife observation tower close at 4 p.m. It is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and Easter, and closes at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Admission is free.
Amenities include boardwalks overlooking the manatee gathering area, a 900-foot ADA-compliant tidal walk on the Great Florida Birding Trail, a cownose ray touch tank, a 0.8-mile coastal habitat trail, an education center, the Southshore Café and a gift shop. Solar-powered charging tables are available along the trails. No pets allowed; service animals welcome. The average visit runs one to two hours, and a shuttle connects an overflow lot about a half-mile down Dickman Road to the main entrance on busy days.
Accolades and Visitor Numbers Continue to Climb
The TripMemos feature follows a string of accolades. The center is a three-time winner of the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice award for Best Free Attraction, finishing No. 3 nationally in 2026 after placing No. 2 three years running. In February, Florida Rambler listed it among the state's best manatee spots, and in July, America250FL included the center in Florida's pavilion at the Great American State Fair.
Last season drew 464,401 visitors, up from an estimated 367,000 the year before. In an April 22 post on X closing out the 2025-26 season, the center said visitors "came to connect with nature and learn about conservation."
Volunteer Docents Keep Operation Running
Volunteer docents help run the operation, and many have returned for more than a decade. Volunteers must be 18 or older and commit at least one day per week for the full season. Applications are available at tampaelectric.com.
Upcoming: The Manatee Viewing Center reopens Nov. 1 at 6990 Dickman Road, Apollo Beach. Free admission. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through April 15, 2027. Phone: 813-228-4289.
