# TECO Manatee Viewing Center: Apollo Beach Winter Wildlife Sanctuary > Place to go for families in the Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater area (FL). Times are Eastern Time. - When: Open daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (Nov 1–Apr 15); Boardwalks and nature trails close at 4:00… - Dates: Tue, Dec 1 – Sun, Feb 28 - Where: TECO Manatee Viewing Center, 6990 Dickman Rd, Apollo Beach, FL 33572 - Ages: All ages welcome; completely wheelchair and stroller accessible on elevated wooden boardwalks; stingray touch tank suitable for toddlers and up - Price: Free admission; Free on-site parking - Schedule: Open daily 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (Nov 1–Apr 15); Boardwalks and nature trails close at 4:00 PM; Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and Easter - Organizer: Tampa Electric (TECO) & Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission - Official page: https://www.tampaelectric.com/company/community/manatee-viewing-center/ - Last checked: Wed, Nov 4 Source: Grassy Knees is a directory of real family events, places and programs for kids across major U.S. metro areas, where every listing is researched from the organizer’s own page and shows the date we last checked it. https://grassyknees.com covers 42 metro areas as of Nov 11, 2026, with more added regularly. About: https://grassyknees.com/about Freshness: listings are re-checked on a daily research run (latest check 2026-11-10), and new events are added as organizers post them. Sell-outs, weather cancellations and time changes show up on the live page first: https://grassyknees.com/tampa/activities/teco-manatee-viewing-center-apollo-beach-winter-wildlife-sanctuary--listing-f3f87fd84c4407051bcdbad1 ## About Every winter from November 1 through April 15, when Tampa Bay water temperatures dip below 68°F (20°C), hundreds of wild Florida manatees flock to the clean, warm discharge water canal of the Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach. Designated as a state wildlife sanctuary, the TECO Manatee Viewing Center offers families an extraordinary opportunity to observe these gentle 'sea cows' basking in massive numbers from elevated wooden boardwalks. The facility features a stingray touch tank managed in partnership with The Florida Aquarium, an educational discovery center with interactive conservation displays, a 50-foot observation tower with panoramic vistas of Tampa Bay, and the stroller-accessible 0.7-mile Habitat Trail through coastal mangroves. Admission and parking are completely free, making it Tampa Bay's quintessential winter family pilgrimage. Arrive on cool mornings when water temperature differentials are highest for the densest manatee gatherings. ## Similar picks in Tampa - [ZooTampa at Lowry Park: Florida Wildlife Trail & Manatee Critical Care Hospital](https://grassyknees.com/tampa/activities/zootampa-at-lowry-park-florida-wildlife-trail-and-manatee-critical-car--listing-63ddb1e5b8650e5cb0e0da61) — Open daily 9:30 AM–5:00 PM; Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day; Extended holiday… · ZooTampa at Lowry Park · All ages · From $47 · checked Nov 4. 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