Enterprise reporter Jack Lemnus always brings visitors to the Manatee Center at 480 N. Indian River Drive in Fort Pierce.

Founded in 1996, the center fosters curiosity and appreciation of the Treasure Coast’s ecology. It is a place to gather, learn and connect with the natural beauty and wild wonder of the Indian River Lagoon.

Q: What can you do there?

When it gets cold up North, two things drift south to the Treasure Coast: snowbirds and manatees. Both are chasing warmer water, and I know exactly where to send the first group to meet the second – the Manatee Center in downtown Fort Pierce.

Inside are aquariums, hands-on exhibits and children’s activities built around the lagoon ecosystem. Outside, an accessible boardwalk and observation deck look out over the creek, with a butterfly garden and displays on the mangroves and seagrass beds that keep this estuary alive.

Q: What is the “can’t miss” activity or thing to do?

Watching these beautiful, buoyant sea cows surface in the lagoon and play under the sun is an instant hit of dopamine. Other states may have pristine beaches, but there are only a handful of places on Earth with miles of balmy coastline graced by these ancient creatures.

Q: What is it known for?

The site sits on Moore’s Creek right where the Fort Pierce Utilities Authority’s power plant used to discharge warm water. While the plant is no longer there, the manatees still show up in winter to hang in the shallow waters and soak up the heat.

They sometimes surface in the warmer months too, so it’s always worth stopping by there.

The center is open year-round, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.

Jack Lemnus is a TCPalm enterprise reporter. Contact him at jack.lemnus@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1345, or follow him on X @JackLemnus.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida Manatee Center is great place to take out-of-town guests

Reporting by Jack Lemnus, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers

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