粉丝们发言了!
The 海牛观赏中心 has just been selected as one of the USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice travel awards 最佳免费景点. Congratulations to the manatees, 鲨鱼, 射线, butterflies 和 other wildlife – 和 the hardworking humans, too – who contributed to this honor. And thanks to all our fan-atees for voting for us.
The 海牛观赏中心 is closed for the season. See you when we reopen November 1st.
你好,人类! Come visit us at 坦帕电’s 海牛观赏中心!
海牛喜欢温暖的海水. And by a stroke of POWERful luck, 坦帕电 can provide it to them! Our 大弯电站 in Apollo Beach circulates water from Tampa Bay for cooling, then sends the water flowing clean 和 warm back into the bay. In the winter months the manatees leave colder waters to return to this warm 和 welcoming refuge.
Because of this uniquely unusual migration, we’ve built the 海牛观赏中心 so everyone could have a chance to see manatees gather. Our discharge canal is a state 和 federally designated manatee sanctuary that provides critical protection from the cold for these unique, 温和的动物.
地点: 迪克曼道6990号.佛罗里达州阿波罗海滩33572
小时: Open 每天 from November 1 - April 15, 10 a.m. 到5点.m. 步道下午4点关闭.m. We are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day 和 Easter. 有问题? 请致电 813-228-4289.
坦帕电 is proud to offer free parking 和 admission to all who visit!
Snouts up - the manatees are the star of the show, but there’s much more to see 和 learn! The 海牛观赏中心 is just one part of the 佛罗里达的保护 & 技术中心. 客人可以 下载此地图 自由自在 Avenza地图应用程序 to see their exact location on the FCTC campus.
佛罗里达的温柔巨人
At 坦帕电’s 海牛观赏中心, there is a lot to see 和 do! Visitors can w和er along boardwalks overlooking the warm-water area where manatees gather; visit a newly remodeled education center to learn about the plant-eating, 温血动物”温和的巨人;” 和 even get a bite to eat at the Southshore Café.
Manatees often swim in water less than six-feet deep, where underwater vegetation is most abundant. Sadly, this makes them susceptible to boat strikes. Scientists estimate there are about 6,000 manatees in Florida's waters, 和 they need our help!
Check To See If Manatees Are At The Center Using Our Live Webcams!
The 海牛观赏中心 摄像头东 和 西方网络摄像头, sit high above the center's gardens 和 boardwalks 和 are operational through the end of the center's open season on April 15. Take control of the camera to explore. When the water temperature drops below 68 degrees Fahrenheit you're likely to see many manatees!
注意: You have two minutes to use the camera before control goes to the next in line. If no one else is line, you will be able to control the camera until the next request. You can direct the camera's focus by clicking on the spot within the camera's viewscreen.
Please allow a moment for the camera controls to respond to your comm和s.
潮汐走
A featured part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, the 海牛观赏中心's tidal walk offers more than just vibrant birdlife – it’s also one of the best spots to view manatees! 在这900英尺高的地方, ADA-compliant walkway you’ll see a variety of native coastal plants 和 trees, 还有动物的生命. 在走道的尽头, you can view manatees in 大弯电站's clean, warm water discharge canal.
为光线让路!
Manatees aren't the only creatures you can see up close at 坦帕电's 海牛观赏中心 – there’s also a Rays Touch Tank.
坦克, part of a partnership with the Florida Aquarium, is the off-season home of the actual mascots of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays. It offers a fascinating look at cownose 射线 swimming just inches away, lightly grazing your fingertips as they glide past.
As of March 25, 2024 the 射线 have moved to their other home at Tropicana Field. The 射线 touch experience will be unavailable for the remainder of the season.
小径和塔
Connected to the 海牛观赏中心 is a coastal habitat trail that winds eight-tenths of a mile through saltern, coastal high marsh 和 coastal str和 habitats. It showcases a variety of plant 和 animal life, immersing visitors in a peaceful, 佛罗里达的自然环境. Additional trails 和 boardwalks connect you to all of the Florida Technology 和 Conservation Center.
Halfway along the habitat trail is a boardwalk that takes you to our wildlife observation tower. Marvel at the surrounding habitat, including the estuary below, from a 50-foot-high vantage point. On clear days, you can see all the way across Tampa Bay! Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at one of the tables at the base of the tower. We have solar tables throughout the trails where you can relax under the shade of the solar panels while charging your phone or other electronics.
教育建筑
Inside the environmental education building, colorful displays immerse you in the world of the manatee 和 its habitat. Inspect actual manatee bones 和 piece together puzzles. Me和er through a mangrove tunnel, drift along a seagrass bed 和 take a dive into a spring. You can also learn about a few of our local manatees. 面对面, or we should say snout to snout, with the dangers manatees face 和 learn how we can help protect these marvelous mammals!
志愿者
With so many excited visitors, our volunteer docents are a critical part of the 海牛观赏中心’s operation. Many of our docents have been with us for more than 10 years, returning season after season. Being a docent at the 海牛观赏中心 is a rewarding experience, in a uniquely beautiful 和 fun location!
If you would like to volunteer, we ask that you commit at least one day a week for four hours for the duration of the center's season (November 1 - April 15). If interested, just send us an email from our 澳门网上真人赌博官网页面 (be sure to select 海牛观赏中心 in the pull-down box). Interested docents age 18 和 older are welcome to apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
A. We are closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, 和 Easter. On Christmas Eve we close at 3 p.m.
A. Parking is free to the public 和 overflow parking is available as warranted just to the south of the MVC.
A. 这取决于你! You are welcome to stay as long as you like. 澳门线上真人博彩官网早上10点开门.m. 到5点.m. 每天. The average group spends one to two hours. (The wildlife observation tower 和 habitat trails close at 4 p.m. 日报).
A. Florida weather can be unpredictable, so please check the weather forecast before arriving. We are open rain or shine. Shoes 和 shirts are required during your visit. Closed toed shoes are recommended, 和 don't forget your sunscreen.
A. Yes, we wouldn't want you to miss the opportunity to capture your favorite moments! Please note, professional photography 是严格禁止的 without prior consent.
Drones are also prohibited.
没有MVC的镜头, either still image or video, may be used for any purpose other than personal use. 因此, 繁殖, modification or retransmission in any form, 无论如何, for reasons other than personal use, 是严格禁止的.
A. To support the safety 和 wellness of team members, we have temporarily paused meet 和 greets.
A. Smoking is permitted in designated areas only.
A. 宠物不得入内. Only service animals are permitted on the grounds.
A. Yes, 和 we encourage you to 团体预订.
A. The 海牛观赏中心's docents (volunteer educators) help educate thous和s of center visitors each season about the Florida manatee, coastal vegetation 和 bird 和 fish habitats. The docent's primary responsibility is to greet 和 interact with visitors 和 school groups on behalf of 坦帕电 to promote environmental stewardship.
At the 海牛观赏中心, there are opportunities to share with visitors information about the protected manatee as well as the diverse plant life 和 amazing wildlife that inhabit Florida's coastal habitats 和 Tampa Bay waters. Many of our docents have volunteered for over 10 years, returning season after season. 志愿者ing for the 海牛观赏中心 is truly a rewarding experience for you 和 for the visitors!
If you are age 18 or older 和 would like to volunteer as a docent, the 海牛观赏中心 will provide you with training materials you need to answer an array of common questions.
We ask that docents commit at least one day a week for three hours for the duration of the center's open season, from November 1 through April 15. During that time, the 海牛观赏中心 is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. 到5点.m. (the wildlife observation tower 和 habitat trails close at 4 p.m. 日报). 注意: the center is closed Thanksgiving, at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day 和 Easter.
If you are interested in volunteering 和 becoming a docent, send us an email from our 澳门网上真人赌博官网页面 (be sure to select 海牛观赏中心 in the pull-down box).
