Address: 6990 Dickman Rd
Apollo Beach, FL 33572
Phone: (813) 228-4289
Season: November 1 through April 15
Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (closed Thanksgiving, at 3 p.m. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Easter).
Directions: How to get there.
Admission: Free
Parking: Free
Millions of visitors of all ages since 1986 have come to Tampa Electric's environmental education facility in Apollo Beach to experience Florida-friendly butterfly gardens, vibrant displays, a 900-foot tidal walk, games, a hurricane simulator and – when Tampa Bay water temperature falls below 68 degrees Fahrenheit – manatees! That's just the start of what you'll see at this natural-Florida destination like no other. Be there for the Manatee Viewing Center's 2012-2013 season when it begins on Nov. 1, 2012. No pets, please, but service dogs are permitted. Admission and parking are free!
The Manatee Viewing Center is home to Tampa Electric's largest photovoltaic (PV) installation. With a capacity of 23.8 kilowatts, the solar panels can generate up to 37,500 kilowatt-hours annually. That's enough electricity from a renewable source to offset the carbon dioxide four average-size cars could produce in one year. Not emitting that amount of carbon dioxide is equal to planting 7.5 acres of trees. Electricity generated by the installation, as with Tampa Electric's other PV arrays in the community, supports the company's Renewable Energy program. Learn more about how you can sign up and help support the use of renewable energies.
The Manatee Viewing Center is open to the public daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 1 through April 15. (The center is closed Thanksgiving, at 3 p.m. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Easter.) From home, you can operate the center's east and west Web cameras. Make your reservations here for your class or group to visit the Manatee Viewing Center. For more information, call (813) 228-4289.
Directions to the Manatee Viewing Center.
