Take a selfie with Florida's endangered species at Manatee Lagoon

If you haven't been to Manatee Lagoon in a while, it's time for a family visit. Exhibits include three life-sized manatee statues, a seagrass exhibit and a Florida mangroves exhibit. Entry to Manatee Lagoon is free. Parking is also free.

FPL’s Riveria Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center attracts manatees to its warm water in winter.

If you can't visit in person, you can always watch the gentle sea cows via Manatee Lagoon’s 24-hour underwater manatee cam or above water manatee cam.

Recurring events

Manatee Rescue Adventure

When: Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: The program is located on the exhibit floor, near the classroom.
Cost: Free
Features: Younger guests get to experience a simulated manatee rescue.

Manatee Tales: Adventures with Mia & Friends

When: Saturdays, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. This is a kid-friendly story time program that fosters curiosity that children have about marine life. Advance registration required. Visit this page for dates and availability.

The facility was built in 2016 as part of FPL's environmental mission to teach the public about manatees. It includes interactive educational exhibits, solar trees and opportunities for selfies are featured at this waterfront attraction in Riviera Beach.

Manatee Lagoon, an FPL Eco-Discovery Center exhibit in Riviera Beach.

As you will see, manatees occasionally hang out in the warm water discharge from the FPL power facility, especially in winter, and the facility includes a deck for watching them, and webcams for watching them online.

Credit: Manatee Lagoon, an FPL Eco-Discovery Center, Riviera Beach

In Florida, manatee season begins on Nov. 15 and runs through March 31, and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the season. The attraction is open year-round, however it is closed on Mondays from April to mid-November.

For more information call 561-626-2833 or visit visitmanateelagoon.com.

Manatee Lagoon is at 6000 N. Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach.

Manatee Lagoon includes the following:

Interactive educational exhibits
Augmented reality 3D animated solar tree exhibit
Lagoon-side presentations focusing on information about manatees, usually at 2 p.m.
Waterfront deck overlooking Lake Worth Lagoon with opportunities to watch wildlife, including manatees usually during winter
Picnic area
Gift shop
Wonderlands of the Lake Worth Lagoon Watershed photo exhibit from Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management
Live webcam

Public Walking Tours are offered daily at 2 p.m., except the 2nd Sunday of each month during the season. Registration requested.

Sensory Saturdays occur every third Saturday of the month from 8 to 9 a.m. The center will adjust lighting and sound levels, and will provide sensory-friendly kits with activities tailored to individual needs. Free admission; RSVP here due to limited space.