The Gumbo Lindo Nature Center in Boca Raton, Florida: Sea Turtles, Sharks and More!

Yesterday, my husband and I took our kids to the Gumbo Lindo Nature Center . This is a nature center that is owned and operated by the city of Boca Raton, Florida. It is on land which is part of the beachfront Red Reef Park. It is not actually on the beach, however it does access directly to the Intracoastal Waterway. It is named for the popular name of the Bursera simaruba tree species which is located on the property.

This nature complex includes an indoor museum with exhibits, fish tanks, several large tanks for sea turtles, sharks, lobsters, rays, and fish - all caught and released locally from the Intercoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.

Also, there is a plank trail through the adjacent woods with an observation tower, and a clearing for observing butterflies. The local college here, FAU (Florida Atlantic University) also does observation on sea turtles during their mating season (from March to October). From the observation tower you can see both the Intercoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. The views are breathtaking!

At the outdoor tanks with the sea turtles, sharks, rays, etc. there is a handler who feeds the animals while providing educational information about the inhabitants of the tanks. He conducts a question and answer session after feeding the marine life.

One of the things that he mentioned was that once the animals (who have been caught in nets, etc. right on the property, get to a certain size they are then released back into the waters and new, smaller animals are brought in.

Both I and my children just loved spending the day there. We learned lots of new information and got to see sea turtles and other marine life up close and personal.

The entrance fee is a donation, suggested at $3.00 per person - however you can donate less or more as you would like. It was an economical, educational activity for my whole family and if you are ever in South Florida I highly recommend going and learning about some of the beautiful Florida marine life!

Gumbo Lindo Nature Center is located at 1801 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33432.

The website is located at http://www.gumbolimbo.org/

So, if you are ever in the South Florida area and want something a little different than Disneyworld, etc. and love nature then I am sure that you will love spending a few hours at the Gumbo Lindo Nature Center in Boca Raton!