TECO Big Bend Station (Main Entrance/Guard house)

We went to the Manatee TECO plant where you can take the kids to visit the manatees that show up every year for the warm water. There is a long boardwalk where you can see all the manatees swimming in the water. There are information panels all alongside the boardwalk to show you different kinds of birds, fish and wildlife which is fun for the kids to try to pick out each of them. After observing the manatees in the water, you can walk back down and grab yourself something to eat at the South Shore Cafe and various other food vendors that are above at the establishment. There is also a store with knick knacks, stickers, shirts and souvenirs to buy from the place. Next to a store upstairs, there's a food store that serves sandwiches and ice cream. After you eat your ice cream next door to the food store is a little showroom that kids can go in and learn all about manatees and it's interactive so the kids can play as well as learn about them. It's free to the public and there is plenty of free parking as well right nextdoor.