The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center is a marine life nature center that spans 57 acres, located on Hutchinson Island. The Center is in Stuart, Florida, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River. The Florida Oceanographic Society operates the Center, and it’s a hands-on educational center for children and adults. Coastal hardwood hammocks and mangrove swamps surround the site.
Visitors to the Center can interact with animals in the Invertebrate Touch Tank and the Stingray Tank. The Coastal Center has nature trails winding through a mangrove forest and learning opportunities related to the resident sea turtles, local shark species, and game fish that live in the 750,000-gallon Gamefish Lagoon. The Gamefish Lagoon is home to over 20 different species of fish, and it’s a massive saltwater fish tank.
The Sea Turtle Program at the Coastal Center introduces visitors to the five turtle species found in Florida, three of which nest along the southeast coast.
The Ocean EcoCenter is a 5,000-square-foot space dedicated to 2,000 gallons of aquariums. The focus of these aquariums is on showcasing local fish and invertebrates. Educational games and interactive opportunities are meant to educate the public about Florida’s coastal ecosystems and encourage environmental stewardship. The Ocean EcoCenter features the Estuaries Galleries, where visitors learn about life in the mangroves. Rays on the Reef Pavillion lets visitors learn about different types of rays and interact with them in a hands-on way.
The Children’s Activity Pavilion is next to the Stingray Pavillion, also with hands-on activities, and next to that is the Sea Star Touch Tank.
There’s also an outdoor Butterfly Garden at the Coastal Center.
The Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center is an outdoor facility, so the weather does impact their program times and hours of operation. Each day the Center is open, they offer a stingray program, a game fish feeding program, and a sea turtle program.
Special programs hosted by the staff of the Coastal Center include guided sunrise beach walks, where participants learn about the biology and conservation of sea turtles with an educator. Guided night time sea turtle walks are offered at different points in the year, as well as summer camps.
The Florida Oceanographic Society operating the Coastal Center was founded in 1964 as a nonprofit with the goal of preserving the Floridian coastal ecosystems.
The prices to visit the Coastal Center depend on age. For adults, the price of a regular admission ticket is $16, and for children, it’s $8. Children two and under are free; members are free, and active and retired military also get free admission. This information is subject to change, so please verify before your visit.
The Florida Oceanographic Society is a nonprofit whose mission is to help inspire the protection of the coastal ecosystems of the state through research, education, and advocacy.
The Coastal Center is on NE Ocean Blvd. in Stuart, Florida.
The Nature Trail is a mile long, but there’s also a shorter trail path that’s just 1/3 mile.
The Ocean EcoCenter and the Frances Langford Visitor’s Center are indoors, and the Sea Turtle, Stingray, and Sea Star pavilions are covered. The lagoon and nature trail are outdoors and uncovered.
Active and retired members of the military receive free admission, as do Coast Guard, National Guard, and Reservists, but they have to show their military ID.
Read on about more things to do, see, and enjoy on Florida’s Treasure Coast.
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