Free Meet your HEAT friends for this event for all ages! View the manatees, visit the education center, walk along the butterfly gardens, hike a trail, and/or bring a picnic lunch. Wear your HEAT shirt to help you connect with others! There is a max of 75 attendees, so register early to save your spot. At Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center, there is a lot to see and do! Visitors can wander along boardwalks overlooking the warm-water area where manatees gather; visit a newly remodeled education center to learn about the plant-eating, warm-blooded “gentle giants;” and even get a bite to eat at the Southshore Café. Manatees aren't the only creatures you can see up close at Tampa Electric's Manatee Viewing Center – there’s also a Rays Touch Tank. Connected to the Manatee Viewing Center is a coastal habitat trail that winds eight-tenths of a mile through saltern, coastal high marsh and coastal strand habitats. It showcases a variety of plant and animal life, immersing visitors in a peaceful, natural Florida setting. Additional trails and boardwalks connect you to all of the Florida Technology and 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. Shoes and shirts are required during your visit. Closed toed shoes are recommended, and don't forget your sunscreen. Drones are also prohibited. Pets are not allowed. Only service animals are permitted on the grounds. Parking is free. https://www.tampaelectric.com/manatee