Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center
Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center is a 57-acre marine life nature center offering educational programs that teach the importance of environmental stewardship. Guests can interact with stingrays and local invertebrate species, attend programs that teach about local gamefish, sharks, and sea turtles, and explore the Ocean EcoCenter that includes interactive exhibits and aquariums.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
730 reviews
Excellent
468
Very good
194
Average
57
Poor
7
Terrible
4
Robert Martin
115 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
This is how an aquarium should be. This place is basically where they take in sea creatures that are hurt and take care of them. Way better than just taking animals out of their environment to display in aquariums. When you first get there they have a nice gift shop with a bunch of cool stuff. Then you step outside into the main area with all the sea animals. They had a stingray program where you could touch the stingrays, they had a program where they fed the fish, and they had a program where they teach you about sea turtles which was my personal favorite thing considering I love sea turtles. Then they had a big building called the ocean eco center where they had some exhibits on the first floor and on the third floor they had an observation deck where you could see the ocean in the distance. They also had some walking trails as well as a touch tank. After I recommend going across the street and going to the beach because that was beautiful too.
Written February 25, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SueMe1962
Coral Springs, FL38 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
We are a family of seven and we booked a private tour on the day the center was closed. What a great time we had getting to feed the rays and the fish. It is a much bigger place than you realize and you could easily go back and do other things that you didn't get to on the tour so take advantage of the membership they give you with the tour.
Written July 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel3Kids
115 contributions
Feb 2023 • Family
This was a great place to spend a few hours in the Stuart area. We arrived right at opening and were able to touch the stingrays before the feeding talk at 10:30. If you arrive early enough before the feeding, you can feed the stingrays. The stingray talk is followed by talks on game fish and turtles. Both were well done and provided lots of interesting information. There is also a touch area for some other sea creatures along with an exhibit area with some smaller tanks. There is a one mile walk out to the Indian River Estuary through the mangroves which was also interesting. We spend about three hours here and had a great time. The price is very reasonable and there are no extra fees once you enter. The kids around us seemed to be having a great time.
Written February 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miles Archer
Boca Raton, FL7,104 contributions
Apr 2022 • Solo
Good for kids and for adults who don't scuba dive. Here you get to see the sting rays being fed, and gamefish being fed. There's also sea turtles feedings. There were kids here when I came. Covid protocols are not in force. Each visitor decides whether to wear a mask and whether to maintain social distancing. Adults are charged $16. Kids under twelve are changed half price. The facility isn't open on certain days.
Written April 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lisa P
Woodridge, IL690 contributions
Jul 2024 • Friends
The Oceanographic center is very clean and pretty but there is not much to do they're for an $18 fee per person for adults. I know most of the money goes to the center. They only thing to really do there is see the turtles and touch the stingrays. Large pond with fish, a few reef sharks and a few stingrays. Very nice gift shop but expensive. Not crowded because we went off season. But if you have a large family, it is not worth the expense!
Written July 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen F
16 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Really for children . We went 2 seniors and while it was nice we’d never do it again because it is for young children. Place is gorgeous in the pavilion. So clean and few children were we wound up.
Beautiful gift shop full of families and children crying a LOT because they want everything.
Staff super nice. We paid under $17 each and felt it was a donation. Didn’t really get anything out of it.
Beautiful gift shop full of families and children crying a LOT because they want everything.
Staff super nice. We paid under $17 each and felt it was a donation. Didn’t really get anything out of it.
Written April 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon V
Chattanooga, TN7 contributions
Apr 2021 • Family
On a blustery day we 5 adults 2 children visited this center. Conservation was stressed throughout our visit, Informing & delighting us with nature. The children’s activities are imaginative & hands on. Take your time & enjoy. Do not hesitate to take the nature walk!
Written April 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Duffle Bag Traveler
West Palm Beach, FL256 contributions
Jun 2020
Purchased a Groupon special. Due to COVID there is a 50% capacity restriction, face masks required, and there's hand sanitizer throughout the center. The stingray feeding and touch tanks with hermit crabs, urchins and sea cucumbers were nice interactive marine exhibits. There are walking trails varied in length. Unfortunately, we visited on a hot afternoon and didn't get to do any hiking. If you like to hike, go in the morning.
Written July 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beachfamilybum
139 contributions
May 2024 • Family
This place was a great way to spend the afternoon and learn about sea turtles and stingrays. Staff was pleasant and knowledgeable. We had fun and learned quite a bit! Will recommend and go back for another visit.
Written May 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Me
Duffield, VA165 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
My husband and I visited this week and loved it! I petted the stingrays. We viewed numerous sharks, numerous varieties of fish, stingrays, birds, natural grasses, sea turtles, sea urchins, crabs and more!!! There are 3 petting tanks and they are really cool. There is also 2 walking trails with education opportunities along your walk. Inside they have so much learning capacity it's unreal. This place is beautiful. Breathtaking. Peaceful. A MUST SEE FOR ADULTS AND CHILDREN. They also have volunteer opportunities.
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Would you recommend taking our 15-month old daughter?
Written January 28, 2018
Probably not. There are several hands-on exhibits which my grandchildren loved, but they are older. There is plenty of space to walk around and enjoy nature, but I don't necessarily think a 15 month old would get much from this.
Written January 28, 2018
Yes, there's a small ramp with long attached handrails. There's plenty of shades benches throughout the property.
Written March 29, 2017
It is an outstanding spot to visit for adults and kids. They are staffed by full time employees and a number of volunteers. Cost should be an issue for a visit as the whole experience is educational and fun.
Written March 17, 2017
Check the website and time ur visit to take advantage of talks and tank program. In between there's plenty to see, staff is great.
Written August 7, 2016
What is cost per person? Is there a senior fee?
Written October 27, 2015
Hi, the adult fee is $12, kids 3-12 are $6, and under 3 are free. I am not sure about senior discounts. Our family is a member, so we can go anytime with no charge. You can get a membership with a donation (there is a minimum amount), but it helps the center and is a great reason to go over and over again with the kids.
Written October 28, 2015
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