Finding educational places to bring my girls is one of my favorite ways to spend a day off. We recently headed to Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton, Florida, because we’ve been several times, but that had just revamped a few sections, so I wanted to check it out. I was more than pleasantly surprised by what we found, and know that it’s going to be a favorite to return to, especially when friends come to visit!
The Gumbo Limbo Nature Center was originally opened the 1980s and has continued to expand and offer more programs to area residents. There are numerous nature trails, massive fish tanks, a huge turtle hatching and research center, a sea turtle rehabilitation and conservation center, an outdoor classroom, a butterfly garden, and numerous hands on activities as you walk through the buildings and grounds. And yes, there’s even a gift shop!
The volunteers and staff who work at the Gumbo Limbo are very knowledgeable and engaging, as they stopped us several times to talk with my girls and me. They let us know of upcoming events, pointed out some of the more interesting fish in the huge tanks, and gave us a heads up on where to stand for the best views for when they fed the fish so we’d have a fantastic front-row view.
They offer a wide assortment of classes for children, families and adults covering topics including Seashell Identifying, Mangrove Tours, Cooking Classes, Eco Watches, Turtle Walks and Junior Naturalist Programs. The programs range in price from free of charge up to $15 depending on the program and membership status of participants. You must sign up three days in advance for most programs, so make sure you call ahead to reserve space.
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is a perfect place to spend a few hours getting to know local fish and wildlife as well as the lush landscapes throughout their facility.
Mark your calendars now for their 8th Annual Sea Turtle Day Festival – March 2, 2013 – it’s one of our favorite local events!
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center is located at 1801 North Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, FL 33432. You can reach them at 561-544-8605 or online at http://www.gumbolimbo.org/. There is a suggest $5 admissions fee per person.
– That’s IT Mommy, Erin
* We did not receive monetary compensation for this review. The review is in our own words and is our opinion. Your results and opinions may differ. All photos taken by Erin Ryan unless otherwise noted.
1 comment
Oh my gosh, I was so happy to see the name in the e-mail subscription post (funny how familiarity makes you happy, yes?). I lived in south Fl. for many years and did volunteer work at Gumbo Limbo for a class I was in (way back when). It was there that an owl scared me quite a bit (I was not prepared for how big they actually get when their wings spread out), and I held my first opossum…Patty, I think her name was. It was an awesome experience. 🙂
So happy to see the pictures, thanks for the share!