Manatees & Wildlife Near West Palm Beach: Local Host Guide

Winter in West Palm Beach isn't only about the beach. From mid-November through March, it's a wonderful time to see Florida wildlife up close: manatees gathering in warm water, wading birds nesting along wetland boardwalks, and sea turtles recovering at a local hospital. Even better, most of the places below are free to visit. Here's where we send guests who love nature, especially families with curious kids.

Hours, programs and closures change with the seasons, so please check each official website before you head out.

Manatee Lagoon: the easy, close-to-home favorite

A short drive north of downtown on North Flagler Drive, Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center sits right on the Lake Worth Lagoon. In cooler months, manatees gather in the warm-water outflows from Florida Power & Light's neighboring Riviera Beach Next Generation Clean Energy Center, and the center's observation deck looks right over them.

Manatee season runs from November 15 through March 31, and the center says your best chance is when local water temperatures drop below 68 degrees, often after a few days of cold weather. These are wild animals, so sightings are never guaranteed, but on a good day you might see dozens at once.

Admission and parking are free, and you don't need a reservation for a regular visit. Inside, two levels of hands-on exhibits cover manatees and the lagoon, and outside there's a picnic area with shaded solar canopies. The gift store sells snacks and ice cream, which kids tend to consider essential. The center is open daily during manatee season and closed on Mondays the rest of the year.

Check the manatee cam on the center's website before you go to see what's happening in the water.
Check for deck closures: the upstairs observation deck sometimes closes for private events, and the center posts those dates on its Plan Your Visit page.
Leave the dog at home: pets aren't allowed (ADA service animals are), and there's no swimming, fishing or feeding wildlife.

Good manatee manners

Manatees are protected by both state and federal law, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) asks everyone to watch them passively. If you're paddling or on a boat during your stay, keep these FWC guidelines in mind:

Look, but don't touch, and never feed manatees or give them water.
Don't chase a manatee for a closer look, and give them room to move.
Never separate a mother from her calf, and keep noise and splashing down if one surfaces nearby.

Grassy Waters Preserve: a piece of the Everglades in the city

On the western edge of West Palm Beach, off Northlake Boulevard, Grassy Waters Preserve is a 23-square-mile wetland that supplies the city's fresh water. The city describes it as a remnant of the once-great Everglades system, a mosaic of wetlands, tree islands and hammocks.

The main entrance is home to the Nature Center and the Cypress Boardwalk Trail, a 1-mile round trip that's wheelchair and stroller accessible. Commonly seen wildlife includes snail kites, wood storks, white ibis, great blue herons, otters and alligators. The Nature Center and trails are free. Paddling is only possible on a guided tour, which requires a reservation, so check the city's program calendar. Dogs aren't permitted (service dogs are), and the preserve is closed on major and government holidays.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands and Green Cay: a birder's double feature

If you don't mind a longer drive south, these two county wetlands, just a few minutes apart, make a wonderful morning.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach has a three-quarter-mile boardwalk over a constructed wetland, with benches and shaded gazebos along the way. It's known for active nesting sites of wood storks, egrets, glossy ibis, great blue herons and more, and the county notes that the most birds nest from late winter to early summer. Alligators are often visible, too. Admission and parking are free, but parking can fill up from late winter into early spring, so expect a wait at busy times. The boardwalk usually has an annual maintenance closure in October or November, posted in advance on the county's page.

A few minutes away in Boynton Beach, Green Cay Nature Center and Wetlands has a 1.5-mile elevated boardwalk through 100 acres of constructed wetland, plus an indoor nature center with live animal exhibits and much more parking. The boardwalk is open from sunrise to sunset, while the nature center keeps shorter hours.

At both, pets, food and drones aren't allowed, so have breakfast before you go.

Loggerhead Marinelife Center: sea turtles in Juno Beach

Heading north instead? Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach runs a sea turtle hospital, and admission is free. Its daily public guided tour introduces you to the current patients and their stories (recommended for ages 10 and up), and the campus is mostly outdoors with large shaded areas. Children under 16 need to be with an adult, and pets, food and drinks can't be brought onto campus. It pairs nicely with our day trip to Jupiter.

Tips for a wildlife day

Go early: mornings are cooler and calmer, and parking is easier.
Pack for sun: boardwalks can be in full sun, so bring hats, sunscreen, refillable water bottles and binoculars if you have them.
Keep your distance: stay on paths and boardwalks, and never feed or approach wildlife, including alligators.
Traveling with a pup? None of these spots allow pets, so see our pet-friendly West Palm Beach guide for dog-friendly ideas.

Come back to SoSo

After a morning on the boardwalk, there's nothing like coming home to a quiet house, a full kitchen and room to spread out. If you'd like to balance wildlife with beach time, our guide to the best beaches near West Palm Beach has you covered, and our season-by-season guide explains what winter here is really like. Browse the BnBs, check dates on Airbnb, or send us a note. We're always happy to share what we've been spotting lately.