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Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
14 reviews for Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center
14 reviews in English
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Review from Nikki F.
Cincinnati, OH
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
We randomly stopped here on our drive through Florida. IT WAS SO AWESOME!
There were about 30 manatees the day we went. I suppose the power plant emits heat or pulses and the congregate there.
Go see it even if it is out of your way. -
Review from Heidi C.
New York, NY
1/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
After driving about 30 minutes out of town, my family and I pulled up to a giant parking lot. It was packed. The attraction here is a large wooden pier built out over an inlet. It is right next to a coal-fed Electrical plant, and a lot of warm water is released which attracts Manatees, Rays, and even Sharks. We really hit the jackpot, there must have been at least 100 Manatees, many Tarpon and we did see one Shark.
Besides the viewing platform, there is a bird walk and a visitor center, but it's really all about the manatees. This was FREE and definitely worth an hour of my day.
The Manatee viewing platform is apparently November through April, so at other times of the year you may be disappointed to find it closed. -
Review from Heather N.
New England, ND
11/30/2011
If you are in the Tampa area.... this is a MUST for ALL AGES and it's FREE
There is no disappointment here.... there are plenty of manatee's to see! We went in the AM and the water was warmer than the air.
This place is wonderfully maintained and has a stunning Butterfly Garden.
We also saw a small shark and these huge fish (mullet fish?)... can't forget the pelican...
Plenty of parking.... cute but bit on the high side price wise of a gift shop; but hey, it's for the manatee's.... staff were very friendly and quite knowledgeable.
The staff were also quite knowledgeable about the power plant across the way as well.
Be prepared for a cool gulf breeze when here! -
Review from Jenn B.
Carnegie, PA
12/29/2011
My husband is in the Tampa area for business and we just happened to stumble across the Manatee Viewing Center on our way to Bradenton for the day.
This is such a great place! There's a lot to see: manatees, all kinds of other aquatic life, birds, a butterfly garden, a tidal walk through mangroves, and it was free! We went around 4 PM and saw about 25 manatees.
The viewing center is only open from mid-November to mid-April and the wind off the water can be cold. I was glad I had my jacket. -
Review from Mihae C.
Rockville, MD
4/17/2011 21 photos
I was so excited to come here and see manatees... but did see even one manatee :( We came around 1-2 PM, so it may have been a little too warm by that point, but I figured it was worth a shot.
As for the other parts of this place, there is a nice bridge to walk along, pretty water to view, and some nice nature to enjoy for those that enjoy nature. It's also free, so was of no cost to us. The parking is also free and plentiful, which is always a plus. We did manage to see some other wildlife and even a raven black duck(?) take flight which I'd never seen before.
Good luck to others coming to see manatees. Go early in the morning, like the other reviewers have recommended, when the weather is a little cooler and manatees are more prone to come through the waters for some cooling down time. Unfortunately, since we were driving from Atlanta down to Tampa, we got here a little later than we had initially planned. For those with more control on time factors, come early and hopefully see a manatee or two for me. -
Review from James H.
Savannah, GA
1/2/2011
Ok and free. A good spot to just get off the highway and walk about and take in the sights and propaganda from Tampa Electric on how grand they are. Oh and for added bonus, there is usually plenty of people watching to do at this spot of the Jerry Springer quality.
It is good to see Tampa Electric doing this for free and protecting the Manatee in the immediate waters. I just keep wondering what white meat the Manatee's might taste like... Chicken or Bald Eagle.... Hmmm. -
Review from Jamie H.
7/8/2010 1 photo
There's all sorts of things you'll see in the water & land. There's the manatee's which are known by marks or scars on their bodies.
When I went there was three rays & two sand sharks swimming around the manatees. Its very windy so I suggest going on a warmer day. -
Review from Kimi m.
El Cerrito, CA
7/11/2007 1 photo
I love manatees!
If you do too, and you happen to be in the Tampa Bay area, you should go to this free manatee viewing center. I go here nearly every winter when I am visiting my parents who happen to live only a few miles away. Manatees migrate to these warm waters in the winter and the power plant has created a sanctuary for them, including viewing stations. There's also a mangrove walk and a educational visitors center.
One star off because it's kinda hideous to see the power plant in the background, complete with those smokestacks.
Also, note that this place is only open seasonally from Nov. 1 through April 15th.Listed in: Tampa Bay, Florida
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Review from Maria S.
Naperville, IL
9/8/2008
This is a nicely done spot - the mangrove walk is beautiful and informative, and we almost always see a few manatees when we are visiting. Good for kids? YES.
Worth a trip if you are in the area. -
Review from Nicole K.
Riverview, FL
6/7/2010
Free, fun and impressive.
It's free. The gift shop and the Mold-A-Rama of a manatee are ways you could spend your money if you feel like it wouldn't be a complete trip without giving a bit of your money away.
Fun- If you go at the proper times (cold outside and early in the a.m.) you can see a ton of wildlife including: manatees, fish, rays, birds, sharks...
Impressive- The power plant, although not a sight you associate with enjoying the great outdoors and seeing wildlife, is impressive. So is the number of animals and people during the popular winter season. -
Review from Rebecca O.
Haverhill, MA
1/5/2009
What a great spot!
Nice to see a company doing something so positive for the environment.
There are two main walkways. One goes out into the channel. You can see lots of different fish and manatees swimming by. I would say this is where the action is. We saw several rays jump up of the water.
The second walkway goes back around by the road. This is the warmest water where the manatees hang out. At low tide we were probably 10-12 feet off the water and there were literally hundreds of manatees. I've never seen anything like it!
This place is as good for kids as it is for adults. TECO did a nice job and it is definitely worth a visit.
Did I mention it is free? Awesome! -
Review from Sally L.
Tampa, FL
11/15/2008 1 photo
As it's still early in the season (they just opened 2 weeks ago for this year, only being open between Nov 1 & Apr 15) I wasn't entirely sure whether we'd get to see a manatee on our visit. Luckily, we live in Tampa so if we didn't, we could always return in a few weeks when it's colder & they're more enticed by the warm water by the plant.
We first took the walk to the left (boardwalk? I've already forgotten what they called it) & saw a handful of beautiful birds fly by, a couple of lizards, & some catfish- & pencilfish-looking fish by the pier, but no manatees. Drat. Maybe we're out of luck?
Next, on to the more prominent manatee-viewing dock. Score! Although they didn't come right up to the dock for close-up silhouette viewing, we saw at least 6 stick their snouts above the water, or round their backs & tails, or just sort of float there with their backs showing.
Super exciting for me, who's only seen a manatee once before. I'll definitely be heading back in a few weeks when it's colder.
Bonus: manatee socks in the gift shop! -
Review from Sharon S.
Sun City Center, FL
12/1/2009
Very seasonal. It is great when the air is cool but the water near Tampa Bay Electric is warm. Been there when the Manatees were in close where you could see them, but a week later they were gone. Check to be sure viewing is good. Usually in February but by March they've headed elsewhere.
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Review from Therese T.
Houston, TX
11/25/2008
Teco, or Tampa Electric, has a side-museum of manatees. Open seasonally, the museum and viewing deck is open Nov. 1-April 15 only. Once you get to the viewing deck, there is a friendly docent who will have props including a manatee skull and manatee plush toys! The viewing deck provides a close but not too close view of manatees. Basically, the docent said, since the electric plant produces heat, the manatees who don't generate enough body heat need the heat to survive and therefore swim near the plant to keep warm: the colder the weather, the more manatees around the plant. And don't stop here: visit the museum in the complex and the gift shop complete with manatee socks, pajamas, tank tops, magnets, stickers and more!
