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During our recent stay in Hutchinson Island, FL, we were provided with tickets to a couple of local family friendly attractions. I’m continuing our “Things to Do in Florida” series with The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center in Hutchinson Island, FL.
If you and your family love to learn about sea life, then you’ll want to check out The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center is located on Hutchinson Island, one of our favorite local destinations. The 57-acre attraction includes nature trails, 750,000-gallon Game Fish Lagoon, Sea Turtle Pavilion, Children’s Activity Pavilion, Sea Star Touch Tank Pavilion, Rays on the Reef Ray Pavilion, and the Frances Langford Visitors Center. The center provides excellent opportunities for education and research.
Rays on the Reef Ray Pavilion
The stingray tank is by far, my kids favorite part of The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. You can touch them, feed them and learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about stingrays. Since the rays in the Florida Oceanographic tank do not have to protect themselves from predators, they routinely have their barbs clipped and are safe to touch.
Falynn spent the majority of our time there and found her way back a few times throughout our visit. As much as I’ve always been told to stay away from them, the stingrays in the tank were playful, often coming up, out of the water to say hi and splashing us just for kicks.
We made sure that we arrived in time for the Stingray Feeding Program. During this 30-minute program visitors will learn about different rays and get the opportunity to have hands-on interaction.
Children’s Activity Pavilion
Next, The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center offers a Children’s Activity Pavilion with different areas for the kids to play. They can “go fishing”, put together puzzles and various other fun stations. Falynn had a blast driving the ship and fishing to see who could hook the biggest fish.
What I love about it is that although they are having fun, they are also learning. There is educational information everywhere you turn.
Sea Star Touch Tank Pavilion
Our oldest daughter spent the majority of the time in the Sea Star Touch Tank Pavilion. Even though she will run from a fly, she is absolutely fascinated by sea life. She never thought twice about holding her hand out for a hermit crab. She loves the touch tank because it gives her the opportunity to get up close and personal with these beautiful creatures.
There are always volunteers standing by to make sure the animals are treated right and are never in any danger. They can answer just about any question you might think of and they are excited about teaching their guests.
Nature Trails
While we started to walk down the nature trail, it was probably more than 90 degrees the day we visited so we didn’t get very far. There are two trails, one much longer than the other. We had to promise the girls that we would visit again in the fall and finish the trail. They love to look out for wildlife, butterflies and even lizards!
If you’re interested in a guided tour of the The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center nature trails, you can experience the sounds and smells of nature as a knowledgeable trail guide takes you on a one-mile loop walk to the Indian River lagoon and back while you discover different native plants and species.
Sea Turtle Pavilion
One of the things we didn’t get to do on our last visit to The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, was visit the sea turtles. The sea turtle pavilion introduces you to the five sea turtle species that are found in Florida. Three of them nest along the SE coast of Florida and most of those nests are found on the shorelines of six central coast counties of which Martin County is smack in the middle. You will learn how to identify their sea turtles, what their biggest threats are, and what we can do to be better stewards. In addition, they provide up-to-date information on the turtles that are in their lagoon.
Check out the video our Super Dad made with his underwater camera:
If you’re ever in the Hutchinson Island, FL area, we recommend stopping by The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center. Which part do you think you would enjoy the most? Comment below and let us know!
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Michele
August 27, 2018YOUR blog is so organized and I love it! I am not technology-savvy, as I am a pre-med/biology/nutrition girl, but I love how organized and how clear it is!
Keep at it.
safaritravelplus
August 27, 2018Such activities like trips and all make learning really fun for kids and actually aids in the learning. Awesome…
Suzanne
August 22, 2018Loving all the photos from this experience! Makes me want to see it for myself! Thanks for sharing. xo, Suzanne
Wanda Lopez
August 22, 2018That place looks amazing and I’m in Florida. Will have to plan a trip, I’m sure the girls will love it. I sure will.
Ladonna Batiste
August 22, 2018The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center is the place to explore and get a great aquatic adventure. Your pics are amazing. I enjoyed your post.
Maddy Gutierrez
August 22, 2018These photos are stunning! We are hoping to visit Florida in February and these are some great ideas for our trip!
LavandaMichelle
August 22, 2018What a wonderful post! This place looks amazing. I’d totally be up for going here with my family! Thanks for sharing.
Kiwi
August 21, 2018Florida is definitely the state to have a fun aquatic experience! This looks so fun and education thanks for sharing about this center.
Peter
August 21, 2018Jayden would never want to leave the oceanographic park. He lives to love all animals and know everything there is about them too
Vaishali
August 21, 2018We recently visited Sealife aquarium in KC and had a similar experience.
Jazz
August 21, 2018Your photos are fabulous! Now I need to visit my local aquarium.
Karen Morse
August 21, 2018Talk about a trip with the kids that is totally worth it! I love that they got to learn more about the animals! It’s going to be memorable as well and they’re going to appreciate these animals more. I hope parents consider going here if they’re planning a vacation with the kids!
Trina
August 21, 2018What an amazing place to explore! I hadn’t heard about it before, but I want to take the kids out to see it soon!
Carol Cassara
August 21, 2018Loving this! It’s good to expose kids to places that involve interacting with animals because it gives them a chance to appreciate and care for these animals more. It’s something that could help them realize what they can do to preserve the world they live in.
Marya
August 21, 2018We live in central Florida but haven’t gone. The real beautify of Florida is its natural environment.
Monidipa
August 21, 2018These sounds so educational for kids and fun for everyone. Anyone would want to visit there. Your kids looks like they are really enjoying it.
Lisa Favre
August 21, 2018I love the fact that at the The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center there is a children’s pavilion where they can do all sorts of activities! Now that’s my kind of vacation: seeing the kiddos enjoy!
Angela Ricardo Bethea
August 21, 2018Sounds like a great place to visit with plenty of amazing stuff to do. I’d love to try going to the sea turtle pavilion.
Chubskulit Rose
August 21, 2018That turtle and dolphin statue is beautiful. Such a great place to bring the kiddos.
Princess Quinn
August 21, 2018I would love to see sea creatures up close too. Especially t^÷ fascinating sea horse. It is so tiny yet it can reproduce to a thousand little babies.
Amber Brault
August 21, 2018Great ideas!! I will be bookmarking this post as we will be visiting Florida this January!
makeetz
August 21, 2018You make me really want to go Florida now! Thanks for the helpful information
Annie Cho
August 21, 2018This looks like such a fun place to take your kids! I love that you can pet sting rays!
xoxo
Annie
Rachel
August 21, 2018I love taking my kids to hands on exhibits. They have had such fun learning in all different ways.
Jessica
August 21, 2018Need to add this to the bucket list! I love how interactive it is with the kids.
Kim Glad
August 20, 2018This place looks educational and fun! We may just have to plan a little road trip up there for the day!
Evelyn Hernandez
August 20, 2018I live in South Florida and haven’t visited Hutchinson Island yet. Maybe one day I will just pack up the car and take a road trip.
Heather Castillo
August 20, 2018You definitely need to! It’s our favorite place!
adriana
August 20, 2018This sounds so fun for the kids especially! Definitely need to check this place out!
Bella
August 20, 2018looks like you had an amazing time!!! I am actually heading to Orlando next month I am beyond excited!
Amber Myers
August 20, 2018This would be a lot of fun! My daughter loves animals, so she’d be all about this. We’ll be in Florida in October, so I’ll keep this in mind.
LaDonna Maxwell
August 20, 2018How beautiful! I’d love to see the seahorses.
Casey
August 20, 2018Wow,… This place is amazing. Both of my kids will love this, just love the way you can touch and interact with the fish, turtle, etc… I think I have planned this out for our next break. Thank you!
Tara Pittman
August 20, 2018These do look like fun places to visit. You have to first get me away from the beach as that is my favorite.
Heather Castillo
August 20, 2018The beach is right across the street!
Alli Smith
August 20, 2018I would love to take the grandkids to visit Hutchinson Island and especially the Oceanographic Coastal Center. They enjoyed swimming with the sea turtles when we took them to St. Maarten and I know they would love this place.
Sarah Bailey
August 20, 2018It really is amazing all the different things they are to do in Florida! This sounds like such an amazing centre to go and visit as well! I would love to go myself.
Terri Steffes
August 20, 2018Adding this place to our Florida adventures. We love Florida and try to go at least once a year.
Tasheena
August 20, 2018I have to add these places to our itinerary for the next time that we visit Florida. So many wonderful things to see and do.
Melissa Chapman
August 20, 2018You really got to see so many great creatures and really experience what that part of Florida has to offer. It is great to take those nature trails and enjoy the sea turtle area.
Tomi C
August 20, 2018Interactive attractions like Oceanographic Coastal Center always rank high on my list of places to visit. Being able to touch things when we’re always telling our kids “don’t touch this, don’t touch that” is a welcome change. Looks like your family had a wonderful time.
Ashley
August 20, 2018My son would have an absolute blast at this place!! Especially touching a sting ray! How cool!
Candy
August 20, 2018We just visited something like this in Alaska. Totally enjoyed ourselves. We would have to visit if we go to Florida.
Jeanette
August 20, 2018There are a few people that we know that live in Florida. And I would bet they would love post like this so they have ideas of what to do in Florida. It looks like the zoo is a beautiful place to go.
robin rue
August 20, 2018That sounds like an amazing place to visit. I would LOVE to take a trip there with my kids someday!