Spot a Sea Cow

WHEN TO SEE THE MANATEES OF TAMPA BAY

Now's the perfect time to get in touch with Tampa Bay's cuddliest aquatic mammal, the West Indian Manatee. The hefty herbivores spend most of the spring and summer lounging about offshore in the Gulf of Mexico. But sure as the changing of the seasons, as soon as the days get shorter and the water temperatures begin to drop into the 70s -- (that's cold for Florida) -- the manatees make tracks upstream to springs and power plant outfalls where they'll stay toasty for the winter.

ZooTampa Veterinarian

MEET LISA SMITH

This endangered species has been at the heart of ZooTampa's commitment to conserving Florida wildlife for over 20 years. Meet Lisa Smith and discover more about the Manatee Critical Care Center, where they treat injured and sick manatees and eventually return them to the wild, healthy and happy.

Guests watching the manatees come up for air at the TECO Manatee Viewing Center boardwalk.

Keep a eye open for the tell-tale shadows just below the water or the sight of a snout breaking the surface - they breathe air, just like we do.

Check out the rays touch tank underneath the viewing center docks.

Walk the trail to the water or the observation deck.

MANATEE

VIEWING LOCATIONS

TECO Manatee Viewing Center

6990 Dickman Road, Apollo Beach

About 20 minutes southeast of downtown stands the Tampa Electric Co.'s Big Bend power plant -- you can see the stacks on the horizon from just about anywhere around the edge of the bay. For thirty years, the power station's warm water discharge has drawn manatees by the hundreds like so many portly patrons of a Russian spa. An expansive boardwalk gives visitors a great view of manatees lolling about in the warmth. The manatees share their bathing grounds with skates, rays, and spinner sharks, which get their name from their habit of leaping into the air and doing pirouettes. Manatees, we must note, don't leap. They leave that to the dolphins. The free attraction includes a nature center where you can learn about the life and times of manatees and a nature trail that through the mangroves where you can spy on the local wildlife.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park

1101 W Sligh Ave, Tampa

They may be big, but manatees are also delicate. With no natural predators, their greatest risks are cold water and boat propellers. Thankfully, Tampa’s Bay's marquee zoo is Florida's only non-profit rehabilitation center for injured West Indian manatees and only one of three facilities in the state certified to do the work. Since 1991, the zoo has treated more than 370 manatees and released more than 200 of them back into the wild, including many at the TECO Manatee Viewing Center. The zoo's exhibits include an underwater viewing area where you can come face-to-face with its resident manatees and with some just passing through.

The Tampa Riverwalk

Downtown, between Tampa Bay History Center and Water Works Park

Downtown sits at the spot where the Hillsborough River meets Tampa Bay. The islands and channels at the mouth of the river create an oasis for a wide variety of wildlife right in the heart of Florida's third-largest city. That makes the local waterfront a great place for spotting manatees during a stroll. Keep an eye over the handrail and check for a whiskered snout to break the surface of the water. Boat docks at Water Works Park or Garrison Channel are great places to get up close. Slide a kayak or paddleboard into the water and see who comes to visit. But there's an important warning: Look, but do not touch. Manatees are protected by state and federal law.

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL

Visiting Weeki Wachee Springs State Park offers a unique opportunity to witness the gentle giants of the sea, the manatees, in their natural habitat a little outside of Tampa Bay. As you navigate the crystal-clear waters, the serene ambiance and lush surroundings create an ideal setting for spotting these graceful creatures. The park's underwater observatory provides an intimate view, allowing visitors to observe the manatees' playful antics and peaceful demeanor up close.