Believe it or not, more than just cultural folklore once saw manatees as actual, real-life mermaids. Sure, ancient sailors were spending an excessive amount of time in the sun. But one thing is for sure—manatees are one of the most fascinating marine creatures you’ll ever come across.

Manatees are found throughout Florida, but The Palm Beaches have long been known as a haven for them, and Florida Power & Light runs the place to see these famous “sea cows:” Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center.

Manatee Lagoon Highlights

First of all, admission to Manatee Lagoon is free, and so is parking! You can’t beat that.

The discovery center sits on a prime manatee-viewing locale: the shoreline of Lake Worth Lagoon, also known as Intracoastal Waterway, in Riviera Beach. Dedicated observation decks allow visitors to scout for manatees cruising by, even in big herds. Don’t worry—you can’t miss them. Manatees usually grow to be 9 feet long and can weigh close to 1,200 pounds!

The best time to see them is between Nov. 15 and March 31, when the waters are colder and these gentle giants huddle together for warmth. See if you can spot any manatees on the Manatee Cam.

The Exhibitions at Manatee Lagoon

Manatees aside, the 16,000-square-foot center also features engaging, educational exhibits for visitors of any age to learn all about these threatened and unique creatures and the natural wonders of the Lake Worth Lagoon.

Current exhibits include:

• Photo Exhibit – Learn About Lake Worth Lagoon: This photo display showcases wildlife above water and under as well as beautiful environmental scenery around The Palm Beaches.
• Manatees and Seagrass: This exhibit casts a light on manatee mortality event along the east coast. It aims to teach visitors about what contributes to the loss of seagrass as well as steps everyone can take to help.
• Self-guided Tour: Explore and learn at your own pace through educational videos on a variety of topics, including manatee biology and more. To start the tour, you just have to scan the QR codes around the facility.
• Photo Exhibits – Wonderlands Of The Lake Worth Lagoon Watershed: This exhibit presented by the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management showcases wonderlands of woods, wetlands and ancient sand dunes located within the Lake Worth Lagoon watershed.

Make sure to stop by the gift shop after you have toured the exhibits!

Sustainability

Manatee Lagoon is not only a place to educate the public about these wonderful creatures, but also a center to inspire visitors to preserve and protect Florida’s environment and wildlife.

The center is a showcase for FPL’s clean energy innovation. It features FPL SolarNow trees and canopies for the production of clean energy for the local community. The solar structures together have the combined capacity to generate enough solar energy equivalent to powering approximately 26 classrooms for an entire day!

Here are a few ways you can take advantage of emissions-free energy at Manatee Lagoon:

• Sit at picnic tables shaded by the solar canopies and enjoy the views of the Lake Worth Lagoon.
• Meet “Sunny,” a 3D animated junior solar tree. You can find him in the interactive exhibit under the two solar trees.
• Charge your electric vehicle for free at the charging station on site, which is part of the FPL EVolution program. With more than 1,000 charging points available, FPL EVolution is driving the electrification of Florida’s transportation.

Manatee Lagoon is open daily through manatee season (November 15 – March 31) from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The facility is closed on Mondays from April 1 to November 14.

Things To Do Nearby Manatee Lagoon

And there are plenty of things to do nearby after visiting the manatees. Singer Island has top-notch beaches, the waters under Blue Heron Bridge are world-renowned for snorkeling and diving, and Sailfish Marina has saltwater fishing charters and a terrific bar to sip on cocktails at sunset.